Throughout September, Somerset saw the incarceration of individuals guilty of heinous crimes. From a killer who fatally stabbed a man to a rapist who assaulted their victim in the woods, the justice system at Taunton and Bristol Crown Courts has been active in penalizing those who have transgressed the law.
The recent cohort of criminals includes an individual who left a man with permanent, severe brain injuries following a brutal attack, a convicted rioter, and a killer sentenced for fatally stabbing a man.
Here, SomersetLive provides a glimpse into the criminals who were jailed in September.
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PATRICK JAMES AND PHILLIP ADAMS
Two individuals were sentenced for intentionally hitting an NHS worker in Bristol with their car. Katungua Tjitendero, a 21-year-old NHS worker, fell victim to this heinous act on July 22, 2020. Patrick James and Phillip Adams were found guilty of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm and were sentenced to eight-and-a-half years and six years in prison, respectively.
LEXI SECKER
Rapist Lexi Secker, who identifies as a woman, has been sentenced to over six years in a men’s prison after being found guilty of rape. The court heard how Secker, initially living as a man, orchestrated the assault on a victim who was significantly under the influence of alcohol.
LAYTON DUFEU
Convicted burglar Layton Dufeu, 30, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for a series of burglaries committed across Somerset, including Taunton, Bridgwater, and North Petherton.
EDMUND HENNESSY
Edmund Hennessy, 72, was jailed for seven years for non-recent indecent assaults against a child. The victim’s statement revealed the enduring impact of Hennessy’s abuse, with the victim experiencing unbearable anxiety, shame, and fear since the assaults occurred over 30 years ago.
DAVID MALCOLM
David Malcolm, 43, was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for manslaughter and possession of a bladed article, following a fatal stabbing incident in Bristol earlier this year.
ROBERT FRASONSKI
Robert Frasonski, 25, received an 18-year jail sentence for inflicting permanent, profound brain injuries on a victim during a vicious attack in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
GAVIN PINDER
Gavin Pinder, a nuclear power industry worker, was jailed for two years and four months for his involvement in disorder outside a mosque in Southport, which resulted in over 50 police officers being injured.