South West | The Crown Prosecution Service

Man who ran Plymouth teeth-whitening salon convicted of rapes and sexual assaults

A man who ran a teeth-whitening salon in Plymouth has been convicted of a series of rapes and sexual assaults against seven women, including customers of the salon.

92-year-old man jailed for life for 1967 cold case murder

A 92-year-old man has been given a life sentence for the murder and rape of Louisa Dunne, in one of the oldest cold cases to ever be solved in the UK.

Man jailed for life for the murder of Claire Chick in Plymouth

Claire was attacked on West Hoe Road, outside her home, on Wednesday 22 January 2025. She sustained multiple stabbing injuries and was pronounced dead at Derriford Hospital later that evening.

Former police officer sentenced for leaking murder inquiry details

A former Devon and Cornwall police officer has today been given a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years for leaking sensitive information on multiple cases to her friends and family.

Samantha Hill, 33, from Plymouth pleaded guilty to 18 offences of misconduct in public office at Bristol Crown Court on 17 January 2025. She was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

UPDATED WITH SENTENCE: Woman found guilty of shaking baby girl to death

Originally published on 3 April 2025

A woman from Gloucestershire has been sentenced to 15 years for the manslaughter of her baby daughter.

In April 2020, shortly after the start of the Covid 19 lockdown, Melissa Wilband, 28, was living with her two young children, a two-year-old boy and five-month-old baby Lexi.

Former Olympic swimmer jailed for 21 years for raping teenage girls

A former Olympic swimmer and trainee police officer, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Games, has been jailed at Plymouth Crown Court for raping two teenage girls.

Naz Shah MP: Man sentenced for leaving grossly offensive voice message

A man who left an abusive voice message for MP Naz Shah has today been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to a public communications offence at Taunton Magistrates’ Court.

Man who attempted to rape a woman in Cheltenham jailed for four years

A 22-year-old man has been jailed for four years for the sexual assault and attempted rape of a woman in Cheltenham.

Five convicted of the murders of Bristol teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon

Five people, including four youths who cannot be named because of their ages, have been convicted at Bristol Crown Court of the murders of teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon, who were attacked and killed on the Knowle area of the city in January 2024.

Former Olympian guilty of raping teenage girls

A former Olympic swimmer and trainee police officer, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Games, has been convicted of raping two teenage girls.

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