It won’t be a happy New Year for this bunch of killers, rapists, child abusers, drug dealers, thugs and thieves, nor will it be for many years to come. All were jailed during 2022 and received some of the heaviest sentences handed down by judges at Northampton and other crown courts.
21. DANIEL JOHN STRAY
The 25-year-old from Wellingborough, whose previous convictions included shooting a 15-year-old, has a life ban from having firearms but used a gun to scare a couple driving home by banging on their car window late at night. Officers later found shotgun cartridges and 9mm ammo in his home. He was jailed for six years, nine months for firearms offences in May. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
22. MICHAEL ETHERINGTON
Paedophile Etherington was sentenced to 12 years at Northampton Crown Court in May after being convicted of child sex offences — and told he has no chance of parole until at least 2030. In addition, the 41-year-old was placed indefinitely on the Sex Offenders’ Register and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
23. CARALINA COJOCARU and JAMIE DUNN
Dunn, 42, and 37-year-old Cojocaru were among four people behind a Northampton-based prostitution racket which flew women to the UK — mainly from Romania — which police busted in January 2017. Dunn was sentenced to four years, nine months and Cojocaru to three years, nine months in June. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
24. MATT MELLOR
Police saluted a woman in her 20s who fought off a 6ft 10in would-be rapist during a horrific knifepoint attack in Northampton at 1.50am. Locals came to the victim’s aid after she yelled for help in Lutterworth Road, Abington. Detectives used CCTV from local businesses to identify 40-year-old Matt Mellor, who was jailed for six years, eight months in June. Photo: Northamptonshire Police