Leeds Crown Court: Violent partner, swindling employee and man who threated taxi driver jailed this week

These criminals have been locked up in Leeds this week

By Abbey Maclure

Published 12th Mar 2023, 15:49 GMT

A violent thug who smeared cat litter over his partner’s face, a swindling employee and a man who threatened to kill a taxi driver have all been jailed in Leeds this week.

Leeds Crown Court also heard cases of five men jailed over a shooting in Chapeltown and a drug dealer claimed £27,000 found stashed at a house came from a friend who won £1 million on a lottery scratchcard.

Here are nine criminals locked up at Leeds Crown Court this week.

Here are nine criminals who have been locked up in Leeds this week

1. Leeds Crown Court round-up

Here are nine criminals who have been locked up in Leeds this week Photo: WYP

A volatile thug smeared cat litter filled with faeces over his partner’s face and would throw hot drinks over her, as well as forcing her to choose between him or her friends. Darren McTiernan, 47, of Ashwood Green, Havercroft, used violence frequently and threatened to “take her somewhere so her family would never find her”. He was jailed for 32 months.

2. Darren McTiernan

A volatile thug smeared cat litter filled with faeces over his partner’s face and would throw hot drinks over her, as well as forcing her to choose between him or her friends. Darren McTiernan, 47, of Ashwood Green, Havercroft, used violence frequently and threatened to “take her somewhere so her family would never find her”. He was jailed for 32 months. Photo: WYP

A swindling employee who defrauded two consecutive Leeds employers splashed out £8,000 on a new kitchen for his home using cash directly from a company’s account. Finance worker Lee Collins, 44, of Rookwood Road, Osmondthorpe tried to steal more than £20,000 from the firms. He was jailed for 34 months.

3. Lee Collins

A swindling employee who defrauded two consecutive Leeds employers splashed out £8,000 on a new kitchen for his home using cash directly from a company’s account. Finance worker Lee Collins, 44, of Rookwood Road, Osmondthorpe tried to steal more than £20,000 from the firms. He was jailed for 34 months. Photo: WYP

A motorbike-riding street dealer claimed £27,000 found stashed at a Knottingley house came from a friend who won £1 million on a lottery scratchcard. Dale Garbutt, 32, of Orchard Hill, Castleford, denied having any involvement in drugs and concocted the story after officers pointed out he was making a modest £340 a week as a driver. He was jailed for 53 months.

4. Dale Garbutt

A motorbike-riding street dealer claimed £27,000 found stashed at a Knottingley house came from a friend who won £1 million on a lottery scratchcard. Dale Garbutt, 32, of Orchard Hill, Castleford, denied having any involvement in drugs and concocted the story after officers pointed out he was making a modest £340 a week as a driver. He was jailed for 53 months. Photo: WYP

A passenger tried to rob a taxi driver who picked him up in Leeds then threatened to kill him if he didn’t hand over his takings. Serwan Ali, 22, of Scot Lane, Wigan, then made vile comments to police officers while he was being detained. He was jailed for 24 months.

5. Serwan Ali

A passenger tried to rob a taxi driver who picked him up in Leeds then threatened to kill him if he didn’t hand over his takings. Serwan Ali, 22, of Scot Lane, Wigan, then made vile comments to police officers while he was being detained. He was jailed for 24 months. Photo: WYP

Five men have been jailed over a shooting in Leeds after a gun was fired through a resident’s door in Chapeltown on May 15 last year. Bilal Ahmed, 21, of Harold Terrace, admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and conspiracy to commit criminal damage, and another count of conspiracy to possess a converted firearm. He was jailed for seven years and seven months.

6. Bilal Ahmed

Five men have been jailed over a shooting in Leeds after a gun was fired through a resident’s door in Chapeltown on May 15 last year. Bilal Ahmed, 21, of Harold Terrace, admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and conspiracy to commit criminal damage, and another count of conspiracy to possess a converted firearm. He was jailed for seven years and seven months. Photo: WYP