A look at some of the most notable court cases from the beginning of 2025, featuring stories of brazen robberies, drug addiction, home invasions, and the persistent threat of online child sexual abuse.
The start of 2025 saw an incredibly busy start to our region's courts. Over 44 people have been jailed for a variety of offences. From brutal killers to sex offenders to notorious drug dealers, a whole host of individuals have been handed significant jail sentences for their crimes. Prison terms are handed out to the worst offenders. And Manchester Evening News reporters are on hand to cover the most serious cases. For the latest court news, head to our website.
Mark Schofield, a cowardly thief who robbed a vulnerable woman, was told that his late mother 'died ashamed' of him. Schofield attacked the 67-year-old, who was walking to the shops with the aid of a walking stick, from behind. He wrestled her handbag from her before running away. The woman was seriously hurt, suffering fractures to her knee, shoulder and ankle. Drug addict Schofield, 38, also burgled two flats in a living complex for the elderly where his mother lived. Manchester Crown Court heard that before her death, she had requested a restraining order from the court to prevent Schofield visiting her. Before locking him up for more than five years, Judge Nicholas Dean KC told Schofield: “Very sadly I’m told that your mother has now died. It seems to me in a sense she has been a victim of your offending. “It seems to me that you will have to live for the rest of your life in the knowledge that your mother, when she died, was ashamed of you. She wanted a restraining order so that you didn’t come back to see her. She died ashamed of you.” Schofield, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of burglary. He was sentenced to five years and three months in prison. John Firth and Aileen Cullinane, a thieving couple, repeatedly stole parcels, shoplifted and even exploited a kind-hearted friend to get their next fix. Firth, 45, and Cullinane, 35, were sleeping rough when a friend offered them a room for the night. The next morning they had left, and had taken her TV, make-up and prescription tablets. Both were in the throes of a drug addiction, with Cullinane spending up to £60 a day on heroin, Manchester Crown Court heard. Firth, who racked up a whopping 118 offences on his criminal record, had also stolen items including washing scent boosters and coffee to fund his addiction. Jailing him, the Recorder of Manchester, judge Nicholas Dean KC told him: “If you continue the way you have been over the last few years you will either spend the rest of your life in prison or dead before you are 50.” Firth pleaded guilty to five offences of burglary and five offences of theft; and Cullinane admitted four offences of burglary, one offence of theft and one offence of the possession of class A drugs. Judge Dean sentenced Firth, of Brookhouse Avenue, Eccles, to 22 months in prison. “The fact is you are a prolific offender,” he said. Cullinane, of Rodney Street, Salford, was handed 16 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years. She must attend the Woman’s Problem Solving Court, complete a 12 month drug rehabilitation programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements. A couple were terrorised in their own home as masked men armed with baseball bats stormed in and attacked them. The husband and wife were hit with a baseball bat after a gang of three broke into their home - a ‘semi-rural’ property in Ramsbottom, Bury. They had been watching a Manchester City game on TV when the ‘nightmare’ unfolded, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. “It’s the sort of thing you would see in a movie, but for us it was real life,” the woman later said. The gang fled with two Rolex watches, a wedding ring and cash. One of them, 35-year-old Anthony Corkovic, was caught after his blood was found. He had bled after becoming embroiled in a struggle with the man, who stepped in to protect his wife. Corkovic, of Murray Street, Salford, has been handed an extended sentence for public protection, of eight years in prison, and an extra four years on licence. He was told he will have to serve two-thirds of his eight year sentence before he can be considered for release. Michael Edge, a pervert who arranged to meet a 'teenage girl' for sex, was caught out by paedophile hunters for a second time. Edge was jailed for a year back in 2018 for attempting to meet a 12-year-old girl after sending vile, sexualised grooming messages. He had to be locked up for his own safety after being confronted by hunters outside his own doorstep in Stockport. Angry parents descended on his home after seeing the ‘sting’ broadcast on Facebook.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURTS ROBBERY DRUG ADDICTION HOME INVASION CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
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