Among those jailed in Greater Manchester this week is a security guard who posted Islamic State propaganda videos, a man with a 'fascination' with firearms, and a notorious parcel thief. The Manchester Evening News looks back on the cases heard before the region's courts.
Security guard jailed for terror propaganda
Luqmaan Ahmed, 24, from Rusholme, a Primark security guard, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for posting propaganda videos for Islamic State. He appeared masked in one of the clips armed with a large knife. Ahmed published the clips in 2022 while awaiting sentencing for posting similar material encouraging people to fight in Syria for a proscribed terror group affiliated to Al Qaeda when he was a teen—a case that ended with a community order.
A judge said he found it 'difficult to see' Ahmed's claim that his intention was to attract an audience of IS sympathisers and then talk to them and turn them away from terrorism. Ahmed had denied three charges of encouraging terrorism but was found guilty following a trial in July.
Drug dealer caught fleeing naked
Jake Lowe, 28, from Manchester Road, Wigan, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession of cocaine, and possession of criminal property. Lowe was caught by police trying to flee naked over a garden fence. He was one of two drug dealers jailed for selling cannabis between February and June this year; the other was Joseph Knockton, 30, from Rainhill, Merseyside.
On July 23, warrants were executed at their addresses as part of 'Project Medusa'. An investigation found both men had used a dedicated WhatsApp group and Instagram account to advertise and sell drugs, with messages showing sales of more than nine kilos of cannabis over a 26-day period. The raid at Lowe's address uncovered a sophisticated illegal postal operation, including thousands of packages with cannabis branding. Police also recovered more than 4kg of cannabis, valued at around £66,000, along with a smaller quantity of cocaine, cash, mobile phones, a knuckle duster, and a Taser.
Firearms enthusiast jailed
Jacob Naylor, 34, of Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge, was jailed for five years after police found a viable 3D-printed semi-automatic pistol at his home. Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit swooped on his home in November 2023, seizing two 3D-printed firearms, plastic and metal parts, 9mm rounds, a 3D printer, and a bag of cannabis. The Metropolitan Police's Forensic Firearms Unit established the firearms were a FGC-9 and a 'DIY' AR9; the FGC-9 was capable of firing bullets. Naylor's DNA was found on both the printer and the firearms. He pleaded guilty to the production of two firearms, possession of cannabis, and possession of indecent images and was jailed at Manchester Crown Court on September 30.
Ex-prisoner's threats and parcel thief
Shura Asiel, 47, from Fallowfield, was jailed for 16 months after making terrifying threats in a call to police, saying he would stab people if he didn't get what he wanted. Asiel, who said he was homeless, had considered carrying out attacks at Manchester Airport, the Trafford Centre, and Manchester Central Library. He picked up a phone outside the police station at the airport before making threats.
Matthew Hollingworth, 28, a parcel thief who targeted the same city centre apartment blocks over a six-week period, was jailed for 20 months. He stole numerous parcels from Kelso Place and Base Apartments; on one occasion he took 20 parcels, and in another he used a knife to get quicker access to items. Among items stolen were a Samsung speaker and soundbar worth £234. Hollingworth previously pleaded guilty to eight offences of burglary, one offence of failing to surrender to court, and one offence of attempted burglary.
Money laundering gang sentenced
A gang who posed as holidaymakers were smuggling dirty cash through Manchester Airport, part of an 'industrial scale' cross-border scheme laundering millions of pounds for criminals, including 'high-level' drug dealers. Members were put up in expensive Dubai hotels and had meals and visits to expensive nightclubs and beach clubs paid for. Eight people were convicted of money laundering: Emma Rauf, 34, Benjamin Royle, 33, Heather Jeffrey, 58, her son Sheldon Noel, 27, her daughter Lamara Noel, 34, Devanyl Graham, 27, and Sheikh Jobe, 33. Six of them were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court. Sophie Logan showed no emotion as she was jailed for seven and a half years. Jeffrey fought back tears after being sentenced to six and a half years, with the judge saying her three dependent children had 'done nothing to deserve' the impact. Lamara Noel, a former nurse, broke down in the dock upon mention of her siblings, as she was sentenced to five years. Graham was jailed for six years. Royle was sentenced to four years and three months. Sheldon Noel, who is currently unwell, and Emma Rauf, in whose case there is to be a trial of issue, are to be sentenced at a later date.
