Each of the 17 men and women pictured here are currently languishing behind bars, after being jailed for violent offences committed in South Yorkshire.
They have all been sent to begin prison sentences ranging from 16 months to 33 years, during sentencing hearings held during the course of 2026.
Five of them have received life sentences for murder over shocking killings carried out on the county’s streets.
Other defendants have been convicted of crimes including wounding with intent and attempted murder.
Some of these defendants owned up to their wrongdoing through guilty pleas entered at various stages of proceedings.
Others, however, were convicted by a jury of their peers at the conclusion of a criminal trial.
Below are links to court reports for the violent defendants featured in this article.
- Murder gang jailed for 118 years after young man is killed in drug feud
- Ethan Hallows: Murderer who fled to Dubai after young dad was gunned down in Sheffield is jailed for life
- Drugged-up duo fired sawn-off shotgun at woman's bedroom window over village feud
- "Dangerous" Barnsley woman Joanne Kaye left ex fearing for her life during eight-hour violent ordeal
- 'Dangerous and violent' Sheffield man, 22, who cut victim's throat in Hoyland pub brawl jailed for 23 years
- Sheffield “monster” with history of brutal violence towards women almost severed victim’s ears
- Barnsley chef stabbed pal in chest while “blind drunk” after all-night cocaine and vodka binge, court hears
- Masked men chased victim around Barnsley pub before beating him with baseball bats
- Jail for Barnsley man who kicked stepdad repeatedly in face as he lay unconscious
- Ryan Bradley: Man jailed for Doncaster stabbing after arrest six minutes after 999 call
- Jail for Sheffield man who trapped two women in flat and attacked one with baseball bat
There are a number of support services that can assist victims of crime.
- Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or Victim Support’s supportline on 0808 1689 111.
1. Violent offenders jailed over South Yorkshire attacks during 2026 hearings
Top row, left to right: Demi Dunford; Osai Williams; Alex Taff; Andrew Horton and Ethan Hallows. Second row, left to right: Joshua Stevens; Luke Rushforth; Joanne Kaye; Lewis Parker and Mark Warren.Third row, left to right: Jayne Bladen; Christopher Baulk, Joshua Redfern and Jack Hardwick. Bottom row, left to right: Samual Goodings; Ryan Bradley and Anthony Jones | SYP
2. Demi Dunford, Osai Williams, Alex Taff and Andrew Horton: Drug gang jailed for 118 years for murdering rival in city shooting
Four people - Demi Dunford, Osai Williams, Alex Taff and Andrew Horton - were found guilty of the murder of Abdullah Hassan in a fatal shooting in Sheffield in 2023. The mastermind behind the killing, Demi Dunford, aged 29, was jailed for a minimum of 31 years over Abdullah Hassan’s death, after being found guilty of murder following a trial. She organised the “cold blooded, targeted shooting and murder,” jurors were told by prosecutor Stephen Wood KC, when the case was opened at Sheffield Crown Court last year. Abdullah, 25, was shot in an incident on Callow Drive, Gleadless Valley, in the early hours of April 9, 2023. He was lured out of his flat in the dead of night and figures lying in wait “emerged from the shadows” and gunned him down. Abdullah had received a call from someone pretending to want to buy drugs from him. Dunford, of Derby Street, Heeley, organised the hit and recruited Alex Taff, 31, Osai Williams, 29 and Andrew Horton, 47, to help her execute the plan. They were all sentenced in January 2026 on the basis that although only one person pulled the trigger, they were all involved. Osai Williams, 29, was found guilty of murder, grievous bodily harm, two counts of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, possession of controlled dugs and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 32 years. Demi Dunford, 29, was found guilty of murder, two counts of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, possession of controlled drugs and possession of a prohibited weapon. She was sentenced to 31 years. Andrew Horton, 47, was found guilty of murder, two counts of robbery, theft from person, fraud and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was sentenced to 28 years. Alex Taff, 31, was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 27 years. | SYP
3. Ethan Hallows: Jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 33 years
Dad-of-two Kevin Pokuta was just 19-years-old when he was fatally shot as he sat in a car on Page Hall Road, Page Hall, on December 12, 2023. On Friday, January 23, 2026, Ethan Hallows became the second person to be sentenced for Kevin’s murder, during a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court. Hallows appeared emotionless as The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, jailed him for life and told him he must spend a minimum of 33 years behind bars - minus the 264 days he has spent on remand - before he can be considered for parole. “This was an act of revenge, but it was perpertrated against completely the wrong people,” Judge Richardson told Hallows, who attended court in a grey tracksuit top and bottoms. Jurors convicted Hallows of Kevin’s murder at the conclusion of a trial at the same court, during which prosecutor Bryan Cox KC argued that 25-year-old Hallows had “made the hit’” on Kevin, mistakenly identifying his car as one that had earlier thwarted an attempt to rob a cannabis grow by colliding with one of those involved in the raid. A group making their way to a drug den they planned to raid were halted in their tracks when an e-bike rider among them was hit by a car. A gun was fired in the aftermath of the collision but the group, intent on revenge, spotted a car they believed to have been involved and Jake Brown - the other man convicted of Kevin’s murder - opened fire. They had identified the wrong target and innocent Kevin paid the price with his life. Judge Richardson continued: “You directed the gunman, and a few seconds later he executed what you had directed. You knew full well he had a gun, and was going to use it. | SYP
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4. Joshua Stevens (left) and Luke Rushforth: Jailed for combined total of 11 years
Joshua Stevens (left) and Luke Rushforth were jailed for a combined total of 11 years for a revenge shooting, in which shots were fired at a Rotherham home. Stevens and Rushforth, both wearing homemade balaclavas, approached the victim’s Maltby home shortly before midnight, with Stevens holding the firearm. The complainant was present in the rear bedroom of her home, with the window open, when she heard a male voice saying words to the effect of “it’s this one,” Sheffield Crown Court heard. “She heard a really loud bang, and then the sound of debris falling,” said Andrew Nixon, prosecuting. Mr Nixon said Stevens was the one to fire the sawn-off 12 Gauge AYA Yeoman Shotgun, which hit guttering just above the complainant’s bedroom window. No-one was injured in the incident. Stevens attempted to reload the firearm, but was unsuccessful, a hearing held on January 22, 2026 was told. Jailing Stevens and Rushforth, Judge Anthony Dunne said the complainant had suffered “serious psychological harm” as a result of their actions. Judge Dunne jailed Rushforth for five years, and Stevens for six. He also handed Stevens an extended licence period of two years, bringing his total sentence to one of eight years. | SYP