All criminal cases brought before the crown court are serious. But 2002 has had its share of downright bizarre ones too.
There was a car thief who couldn't drive and a man who took a souvenir video of his mum and dad in court. Not forgetting a man who threatened to cut off someone's head with a cheese knife.
Here are the defendants who have made this year's list of the more quirky cases. Read more about why we publish defendants' names and addresses here.
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Ben Johnson, 56 months
A teenager who robbed a woman of her car at knifepoint was faced with a big problem. He couldn't drive her automatic Vauxhall Corsa and crashed it moments later.
Ben Johnson approached his victim as she returned to her car parked in Cabot Circus car park, Bristol Crown Court heard. After showing her a large blade in his waistband she handed over her car keys - but when he climbed in he saw the Corsa was an automatic and he asked her how to drive it.
As he struggled to get underway she managed to flee down a stairwell and call police. After Johnson managed to move the car from the car park he shot down Temple Way and careered into stationary traffic, leaving at least one driver hurt.
Johnson, 18, from Southampton but then living on licence at premises in Brigstocke Road, St Pauls, pleaded guilty to robbery, possessing a blade and dangerous driving in July. Judge Martin Picton handed him 56 months custody with three years' extended licence. Johnson faces a three-year driving ban on his release from custody.
Read the full story here
Aaron Lynch, eight months
A low speed police chase in Bristol resulted in the arrest of a moped rider. Unlike other cases involving mayhem on the road, Aaron Lynch was suspected of exceeding 20mph through a 20mph zone, Bristol Crown Crown Court heard.
Father-of-two Lynch, 25, of Billand Close in Bishopsworth, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance in February. He appeared for sentence at Bristol Crown Court today. (July 25, 2022)
The recorder Mr David Chidgey jailed him for eight months, which should ensure his immediate release after time spent on remand. The recorder told him: "You drove away from police on the moped, you mounted kerbs, exceeded the speed limit and put people at some risk."
Read the full story here
Lewis Campbell, three years and three months
A complaint about a dog led to the discovery of a cannabis grow in Montpelier. Housing association staff visited the flat in Sussex Place after a report that the pet bit someone at the property. Staff discovered Lewis Campbell had sub-let it from the tenant and was growing cannabis behind a false wall.
Police called in found Campbell in a car nearby with more drugs. Campbell, 39, of Boiling Wells Lane in Bristol, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis as well as possessing with intent to supply cannabis flowering head, cannabis resin, amphetamine and MDMA.
The recorder Mr Richard Smith KC jailed him for three years and three months.
Read the full story here
Alexander Irving, one day
A defendant a took a family photo of his mum and dad - in court - was jailed for a day. Alexander Irving used his mobile phone to make the illicit snap when he appeared alongside them in the dock at an early hearing fraud case. (April 4, 2022)
Unluckily for Irving he was spotted by a security guard who ended up in the photo too. Judge Mark Horton had him back for sentence at Bristol Crown Court.
Irving, 33, of Woodend Lane, Hill, South Gloucestershire, admitted Contempt of Court. The photo was deleted and the judge sent him into custody until 4pm.
Read the full story here
Tyler Horseman, eight months youth custody and Bradley Wiltshire, 12 months
A judge said two drunken men who bombarded passing cars with rocks could have killed someone.
Intoxicated Tyler Horseman and Bradley Wiltshire were heard "laughing and cheering" when they launched the missiles over a garden fence onto the A39 near Bristol, smashing the windsreens of vehicles. But they were both crying when a judge sent them into custody.
Horseman, 18, of West Tyning in Marksbury and Wiltshire, 26, of Tamworth Road, Keynsham, both pleaded guilty to causing a danger to road users. They also admitted assaulting an emergency worker following the incident in September last year.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed Wiltshire for 12 months and handed Horseman eight months youth custody.
Read the full story here
Mark Elliott, six months
A man armed with a cheese knife threatened to chop someone's head off. Mark Elliott made the threat after being told not to harass people for money, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Elliott, 29,of Logos House in Wade Street, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade on June 11 last year, he also admitted two public order offences on the same day.
Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for six months. He told Elliott: "You had a very difficult start in life and a a long history of substance abuse. You were carrying a cheese knife as a weapon."
Read the full story here
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