Here are nine Hertfordshire criminals that were locked up in January, including a "prolific burglar" who was finally stopped in Watford.
Spencer Clarke
Spencer Clarke was jailed for conspiracy to supply class A drugs after Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist organised crime team found 5kg of cocaine during a search in Southwold Road, Watford, in June 2022.
The 51 year-old, of Kirpal Road in Portsmouth, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on January 4 where he was sentenced to nine years, minus 154 days spent on curfew whilst on bail.
It is thought Mr Clarke brought the drugs, thought to be worth £360,000, hidden in a secret compartment under the boot of a vehicle he owned.
Jason Turner
Jason Turner, of The Crestway, Brighton, was jailed on January 5 for a string of offences which included taking almost £200 in cash from Watford’s Ocean Bells Café in a burglary on January 4.
Although he was linked to and charged with a string of burglaries across 13 locations in Brighton in 2023, he was finally sentenced after he was arrested in an underpass in George Street following the café break-in.
The “prolific” burglar was sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment at Brighton Crown Court after an 11-day trial.
Amal Perera
Arsonist Amal Perera was jailed for four-and-a-half years on January 9 at St Albans Crown Court after he set fire to a takeaway restaurant and a car in Letchworth in October 2022.
The 37 year-old homeless man caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the USA Fried Chicken shop in Station Road and a Ford S-Max.
The car, which belonged to a nurse, was a write-off and six people who were living above the takeaway had to be rehoused.
Lee Mitchell
Lee Mitchell, 45, was given a six-year-and-six-month jail term by St Albans Crown Court on January 11, having been found unanimously guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine).
The Essex man, of Little Canfield, was part of a group that supplied drugs across Hertfordshire, Thames Valley, Essex and London.
As part of a long-running investigation, 16 members of the group have been jailed for a total of 166 years.
Nii Omane
Nii Omane, 37, was jailed for five years and banned from driving for six years over a drug deal gone-wrong, which saw him ram a marked police car and drive off, before he was arrested near Watford.
The 37 year-old drug dealer, of Melville Road in Haringey, London, pleaded guilty to intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, cannabis possession, and dangerous driving at Aylesbury Crown Court on January 16.
He was found under a parked lorry in a layby on the A41 near Watford after Thames Valley Police witnessed a suspected drug deal inside a vehicle in their area in August 2019.
Thomas McDonagh and Simon McDonagh
Two men were jailed at St Albans Crown Court on January 26 over an alleged stabbing in South Oxhey on May 4, which saw police launch a manhunt involving a helicopter.
Thomas McDonagh, aged 36 at the time of the offence, of Hemel Hempstead, was given a 117-week (two years, two months, and 29 days) jail term after admitting to one count of wound without intent last year.
Simon McDonagh, aged 33 at the time of the offence, of Naas Lane, Gloucester, was guilty of affray and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was also given 150 hours of unpaid work, a 19-day thinking skills requirement, and 10 days of rehabilitation activity.
Three men were initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, with a fourth man later arrested on suspicion of affray, but no charges of attempted murder were brought against the suspects.
Jesse Loveridge and Sarah-Jane Loveridge
Jesse Loveridge, 45, of High Street North, Dunstable, and Sarah-Jane Loveridge, 50, of Beech Green, Dunstable, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle at Luton Crown Court on January 31.
The brother and sister were each sentenced to five years and three months for a two-week burglary spree in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire in May last year.
The pair stole cars, coats and bank cards during early-morning break-ins at addresses in Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here