Some of the key benefits of open justice include ensuring public confidence and respect in democracy and the administration of justice, as well as deterring people from committing crimes and thereby the details of those crimes becoming public knowledge.
Here are the criminals who have been jailed from January 17 to 21, 2022
You can read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
READ MORE: Former partner dragged woman into road by her hair
Michael Whatley and Steven Fry, 106 months
Two men who burgled homes and a shop for high value bikes have been jailed.
Michael Whatley and Steven Fry were convicted of several break-ins in which cycles worth thousands of pounds were pilfered.
In one raid they used a stole van to plunder a bike shop of three high quality bikes worth £17,000, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Whatley, 30, of no fixed address, was convicted after trial of burgling two homes and a bike shop but admitted handling stolen goods.
Fry, 31, of Lowlis Close in Henbury, admitted burgling two homes and a bike shop as well as handling stolen goods.
Judge William Hart jailed Whatley for 66 months and Fry for 40 months.
He told them: "These offences have all the hallmarks of targeted, professional, dwelling and commercial burglaries.
Read the full story here
Thomas Trott, 20 months
A driver was jailed after colliding with an e-scooter rider in South Bristol.
Thomas Trott, 27, failed to stop at a red light on Hartcliffe Way last May, and hit 20-year-old Jade Hodson-Walker as she rode an e-scooter over a pedestrian crossing.
Ms Hodson-Walker spent several months in hospital having suffered "potentially life-threatening" injuries, which police say continue to have a "profound" impact on her and her family.
She continues to undergo treatment eight months later.
Trott, of Westbourne Road in Downend, was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Tuesday (January 18) at Bristol Crown Court, and has been disqualified from driving for three-and-a-half years after his release.
He was arrested at the scene last year and charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving with a proportion of specified controlled drug above the specified limit, and driving without insurance and possession of cannabis.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted in court this week.
Read the full story here
Joseph Foster, three years and three months
A Hartcliffe man who admitted disorder against police at a Bristol Kill The Bill protest was jailed.
Joseph Foster appeared for a plea and trial preparation hearing today (January 18, 2022) at Bristol Crown Court.
The 31-year-old, of Oak House, pleaded guilty to riot on March 21 last year.
Judge James Patrick jailed him for three years and three months.
The judge told him: "I've dealt with a lot of these cases.
"Normally I explain why it is so serious.
"You know how serious this was.
"Everyone agrees that your behaviour has a sentence which starts at six years.
"You were threatening to police officers, climbed onto a police van and was trying to tip it over."
The judge conceded Foster had learning disabilities and mental health difficulties and got "caught up" in the riot.
Read the full story here
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Joshua Nigh, five year extended sentence
A violent partner who slashed a woman's wrist and then claimed she had cut it herself was jailed.
Joshua Nigh, who had a restraining order not to see the woman, had been drinking with her before she ran a blade over her arm for a "release", Bristol Crown Court heard.
With that Nigh pulled her arm out and told her: "If you are going to do it, do it like this" and slammed the blade down on her wrist
She sustained damage to a tendon and a cut nerve and had to undergo surgery,.
Nigh originally claimed she self-harmed, the court was told.
The 32-year-old, of Douglas Road, Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to wounding, three charges of breaching a restraining order and one charge of doing an act tending to pervert the course of justice.
He had a previous conviction for assaulting both the woman and his father and the judge perceived him to be a dangerous offender.
Judge James Patrick jailed him a five-year extended sentence, comprising of four years' prison and 12 months' extended licence.
He told Nigh: "These are very serious offences.
"In my judgement you are dangerous and out of control when drunk."
Read the full story here.
Daniel Bishop, 14 years and eight months
A "depraved" Emersons Green man drugged a woman so he and others could rape her.
Daniel Bishop obtained the GHB "date rape" drug from a Dutch website, Bristol Crown Court was told.
After slipping it into her drink he forced himself on her while she was unconscious and broadcast the abuse via the internet.
And he also arranged for other men to similarly abuse her, the court heard.
Bishop, 43, pleaded guilty to three rapes, three attempted rapes, a sexual assault and administering a noxious substance.
Judge James Patrick, who categorised him as a dangerous offender, jailed him for 14 years and eight months with extended licence of eight years.
He told Bishop: "You fall to be sentenced for a set of depraved offences.
"What you did is, in my judgement, degrading and humiliating."
The judge ordered Bishop to register as a sex offender for life and barred him from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Read the full story here
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