Judges in Sheffield have handed down long sentences in 2023 to criminals responsible for some of the most serious, and heinous, crimes recently committed in South Yorkshire.
Each defendant included on this list was sent to begin their substantial prison sentence during hearings held at Sheffield Crown Court over the last 12 months.
They all have years left of their sentences to spend behind bars at His Majesty's Pleasure, reflecting on their crimes.
They all have years left of their sentences to spend behind bars at His Majesty's Pleasure, reflecting on their crimes.
5. Vibhor Garg: Rapist jailed for 11 years after gagging victim in horror sex attack in Sheffield and threatened her with scissors
Vibhor Garg, aged 37 at the time of sentence, has been jailed for 11 years over a vicious sex attack in August 2022, which he admitted. Sheffield Crown Court heard the rapist was staying at an address in the city with a woman and during the night, he forced himself upon her. Whilst pinning his victim down, Garg threatened her with scissors and attempted to further restrain his victim by trying to tie her hands behind her back with a handkerchief, and gagged her with tape across her mouth. Garg was arrested the following morning, when he turned up again at the address. He was subsequently interviewed and bailed with conditions not to contact the victim. However, he continued to make repeated contact with her, threatening to take his own life and putting pressure on her to retract her report to the police. On 21 September 2022, Garg was located in Bournemouth and arrested for perverting the course of justice. He was subsequently charged and remanded to court. Garg, formerly of King Street in Wigan, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, February 27, 2023 for sentencing after pleading guilty to rape, oral rape and perverting the course of justice at an earlier court appearance. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, handed a lifetime restraining order and has been put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
6. Graeme Reed: Child rapist jailed for 19 yearsafter being found guilty of sex attacks
South Yorkshire Police have commended the "immense bravery" of a young child, after a Rotherham man was jailed for rape. Graeme Reed, aged 37, of Maltby, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of the rape of a child under 13-years-old during a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, July 13, 2023). His conviction came after a three-day trial and six hours of jury deliberations. PC Ethan Knight, who investigated Reed's crimes, said: “It is difficult to put into words the level of trauma and suffering Reed’s young victim has experienced. It is simply unimaginable. The judge sentenced Reed to 19 years in prison, plus an additional year on licence. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
7. Anthony Woodward: Crime Sheffield pervert jailed after raping a teenage girl and sexually assaulting another victim
Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 15, 2023 how Anthony Woodward, then aged 60, of Hatfield House Lane, Shiregreen, Sheffield, was found guilty after a trial of raping a 17-year-old girl, plus three other sex offences against her. Woodward was also found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of attempted sexual assault against another girl who was also aged around 17 at the time. Judge Rachael Harrison said: “The author of the pre-sentence report assesses your behaviour as premeditated and I agree. You abused your power.” Woodward had told his rape victim he had something to tell her before he raped her and offered to pay her money afterwards, according to Judge Harrison. This complainant stated: “I was diagnosed with PTSD by a psychiatrist. Every day I have flashbacks about what happened.” She added that she has been left struggling with sleep and day-to-day activities and she finds it very difficult to trust anyone. This same complainant said she told police what had happened and she was determined to continue with the case not just for herself but to make sure Woodward did not commit further offences. Judge Harrison sentenced Woodward to 15-and-half years of custody and ordered that he be made subject to a 15-year restraining order.
8. Ronald Sekanjako: Minimum of 27 years behind bars for Sheffield murderer
A Sheffield delivery driver has been jailed for life for the murder of a manager after hearing he was being suspended from his job. Sheffield Crown Court was told 49-year-old Ronald Sekanjako flew into a rage after being told he was under investigation and attacked Rotherham FedEx manager Philip David Woodcock when he came to try and help calm the situation. Mr Woodcock had been looking forward to retirement, said his devastated family. During a hearing held in November 2023, Sekanjako, of Bellhouse Road, Firth Park, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years for murder, and a further nine months for assault. The sentences will run concurrently.