After being hauled before the courts, defendants are offered the chance to give their side of the story.
But some of their explanations are more plausible than others.
Whether it was the dealer who had 'no idea' how eight kilograms of cannabis ended up in his bedroom, or the motorist who denied that driving at 70mph in a 30mph was dangerous, during the past 12 months judges have heard many questionable excuses from criminals.
READ MORE: 'Pay the f****** money back': Family traumatised as thugs smash house in late night random attack
The Manchester Evening News has looked back at some of the more absurd excuses offered in during 2022.
Motorist who raced through streets at 70mph before fatal crash denied his driving was dangerous
Racing through the streets with a friend, Craig Norman's dangerous driving had tragic consequences. Norman, 45, had been pursuing 'lifelong' pal James Dickson after the pair spotted each other in Little Hulton.
Mr Dickson, a father-of-three, reached speeds of up to 99mph in a 30mph zone as Norman followed, reaching more than 70mph himself. Eventually Mr Dickson hit another car when he tried to overtake it.
He lost control and ploughed into some railings, causing fatal injuries. Norman was able to stop and was not involved in any collision. He drove past the horror scene and went home.
Later he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. After a trial he was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison, to serve two-thirds in custody.
During his trial, Norman, who admitted that he'd been speeding and gone through a red light, denied he'd been racing and claimed his driving wasn't dangerous.
"To me, dangerous driving is when there is public about, some other vehicles going the same way and you are swerving around," he told a jury. "That's dangerous driving, putting people at risk. Yes I did speed, yes I did go through a red light, but I don't believe it was dangerous."
Businesswoman selling 'self defence kits' didn't know she was committing a crime
Renea Thorn-Jones said she'd spotted a business opportunity selling 'self defence kits' for women. She had noticed an American website selling similar items and set up her own online outlet called Brat Boutique.
The kits she advertised cost £11, and included a CS gas canister and a concealed knife stored within a key. But 'Hugely naive' Thorn-Jones, 21, later told police that she didn't suspect what she was doing was illegal.
Thorn-Jones was hauled before a judge and pleaded guilty to possessing CS gas with intent to sell and possessing bladed articles with intent to sell. Her barrister said it 'beggars belief' that Thorn-Jones 'could be so naive', and she genuinely believed she wasn't acting illegally.
He said Thorn-Jones has donated some of the proceeds of her business to Hands Off, a charity which supports women who have been sexually assaulted. "Your intention was to keep women safe, in the absence of any knowledge that these items were illegal," said the judge, Sarah Johnston.
Thorn-Jones was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Actor who damaged Arena bomb victims memorial claimed he was 'honouring' the 22
Families of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing were shocked when scratch marks were discovered on a new memorial to remember their loved ones. Before the official opening of the Glade of Light, situated near Manchester Cathedral, GMP was alerted to the damage.
CCTV footage from the area revealed a man walking around the area in the early hours praying and 'scratching something' onto the memorial.
The man was found to be 28-year-old Anwar Hosseni, an actor who also posts videos on YouTube. He told officers that he'd making ‘light language’ to express ‘love, unity and gratitude’ to the 22 who died in the attack.
"He said he was honouring the victims by etching marks as ‘light language’ in the expression of love, unity and gratitude towards the souls lost at the Manchester Arena," his barrister Gwen Henshaw said.
“He now recognises his actions caused distress and the families of the victims and wider community of Manchester will be upset and angry."
The judge said he accepted Hosseni had suffered from mental health problems, and there was no political motive in his actions. He said that Hosseni had instead been motivated by his ‘bizarre thought processes’.
He said it was clear that Hosseni was trying to ‘pay respect’ rather than cause hurt. Hosseni was sentenced to a two year community order after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage.
Gym boss blamed his return to cocaine dealing on lockdown
Nabeel Issawi was in jail for drug dealing when he developed an interest in the gym. Issawi was at Kirkham jail in Lancashire, after being locked up for more than six years in 2014, when he became involved at the prison gym.
After being released he started work as a gym instructor. Issawi, 33, then gained a job as a manager in a gym, and was enrolling in a sports science degree.
"This defendant tried to make a go out of it," his barrister said later. "Things were going well, and lockdown occurred.
"It coincides about three weeks after lockdown when gyms were closed and in effect he lost his job. He was then left stranded, no money, no job, no ability to earn any money.
"Foolishly he was persuaded by others to become involved in this operation." Issawi returned to old habits. He was linked to the supply of more than 60 kilos of cocaine, between April and June in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
His lawyer claimed Issawi earned 'very little money' from his involvement in drug dealing. Issawi, was jailed for 13 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
"It's rare, extremely rare, for a defendant involved at such a high level to indicate a guilty plea to such an offence," the judge told him.
"You did try to make a go of it but you failed and slipped back into your older habits. You must be punished for that."
Dealer had 'no idea' how eight kilos of cannabis got into his bedroom
Police investigating after the discovery of huge cannabis farms were led to a house in Rochdale. Redion Pupa had been staying at the property with another man, said to be linked to an industrial sized farm in St Helens.
Officers went to arrest the man. After arriving, they also discovered about eight kilos of cannabis, worth almost £80,000, in a bedroom where 23-year-old Pupa had been sleeping.
Pupa told police he was not involved in the larger gang, and had only been in Manchester for a short time. He said that he had 'no idea' there was any cannabis in the bedroom.
Pupa's barrister said he'd come to Manchester after a member of a WhatsApp group for those from his home town in Albania suggested there would be work for him in the city. When he arrived he became involved in the storage of the cannabis.
Pupa, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, and was jailed for 10 months.
Paedophile thought he was messaging children claimed he was speaking with adults engaging in 'roleplay'
Adam Ali fell into a trap laid by undercover police officers. Ali thought he was having sick chats with teenage girls, but he was actually speaking to law enforcement working to expose paedophiles.
He was chatting with two 'girls' aged 13. After being arrested, Ali, 35, claimed he believed the 'girls' were actually adults taking part in 'roleplay'.
But his excuses didn't wash and he pleaded guilty to trying to have sexual communications with two 'children'. His barrister said Ali has suffered from physical and mental health issues, and had become socially isolated and sought refuge online.
The judge said Ali's isolation 'might well have led you into this rather dark corner of social media. "You had said that you are ashamed of that which you did, and so you should be," Ali was told.
Ali, from Beswick, received an 18 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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