Court round-up: Hammer killer jailed for life, gunmen sentenced and Snapchat firearms threats

Leeds man jailed for life after murdering partner in brutal hammer attack

A man described by a judge as an “extremely dangerous man” has been jailed for life after murdering his partner in a brutal hammer and knife attack at her Leeds home.

Jack Johns, 53, of School Street, Tingley, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday (Nov 9) after admitting the murder of 51-year-old Gosia Wiktor.

He was told he must serve a minimum of 29 years in prison.

The court heard that Johns, previously known as Colin French, had a history of serious violence against former partners.

In 2006, he received an indeterminate prison sentence after setting fire to the Norfolk home of a teenager who had ended their relationship while she and her family were inside.

He was released on life licence six years later but was jailed again in 2016 after attempting to kidnap his estranged wife in Cambridgeshire.

Johns had been in a relationship with Ms Wiktor for around six months before her death on June 11, 2026.

The court heard he had become increasingly controlling and jealous, criticising what she wore and monitoring her movements.

On the morning of the murder, Johns had been drinking heavily before going to her home in Foster Square, Belle Isle.

When Ms Wiktor failed to arrive at work, her son became concerned and police forced entry into her home.

Officers discovered her critically injured in the hallway, with Johns lying on top of her.

A postmortem examination revealed she had suffered 19 lacerations to her head and face, multiple skull fractures and a stab wound to the chest which pierced her heart and lung.

Johns had taken an overdose of medication and alcohol and was taken to hospital before being arrested for murder.

Sentencing him, Judge Tom Bayliss KC rejected his claim that the killing was impulsive.

He said: “This was a culmination of a campaign of coercive and controlling behaviour. You subjected her to an exceptionally violent attack. It was merciless.”

Two gunmen jailed for 52 years after attempted murder in Huddersfield

Two men have been jailed for a combined 52 years after shooting a man with handguns on a residential street in Huddersfield.

Nathaniel Collins and Mohammed Nageen, both aged 20, were convicted of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life following the attack on Smiths Avenue.

At around 8pm on Monday (Dec 1), 2025, the 32-year-old victim was approached by the pair, who opened fire before fleeing in a car.

The man suffered serious gunshot injuries but survived.

West Yorkshire Police launched an investigation, arresting Collins on December 12 and Nageen in January 2026.

The firearms used in the shooting were never recovered.

At Leeds Crown Court on Monday (Nov 9), Collins, of St Paul's Road, Bradford, was jailed for 27 years.

Nageen, of Ringwood Road, Bradford, received a 25-year prison sentence.

Detective Sergeant Ade Belle, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Nathaniel Collins and Mohammed Nageen clearly used a very significant level of violence on that night on December 1 and we firmly believe they fully intended to kill their victim.”

He added that it was extremely fortunate the victim had survived.

Stockton man jailed after boasting about guns and shooting threats on Snapchat

A man who boasted about having access to firearms and sent threatening messages on Snapchat has been jailed for six years.

Tyler Davidson, 30, from Stockton, was linked to a number of firearms recovered by Cleveland Police during an investigation in 2025.

On July 31, officers discovered a black Carlos pistol wrapped in a carrier bag in the passenger footwell of a vehicle on Windsor Court in Grangetown.

Six loose bullets were also recovered, with forensic analysis identifying Davidson's DNA on one of them.

Days later, on August 4, police found a Skorpion machine pistol, a sawn-off shotgun and a Sig Sauer pistol concealed in a bag in woodland on South Road in Norton.

Davidson's DNA was discovered on the magazine of the Sig Sauer pistol.

Following the seizure of a mobile phone, detectives uncovered photographs showing Davidson holding a sawn-off shotgun and a Carlos pistol.

Snapchat messages also revealed threats, including “I want to shoot them” and “I’m going to blast a few tomorrow”.

Davidson was subsequently jailed for six years.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Stuart Hodgson, of Cleveland Police, said Davidson had accessed the weapons and ammunition before showing off by taking photographs which ultimately became evidence against him.

Bradford woman ordered to pay almost £1,500 after waste fly-tipped

A Bradford woman who failed to pay a £200 fixed penalty notice after her household waste was fly-tipped has been ordered to pay almost £1,500.

Tasmin Simpson, 37, of Bramley Street, was prosecuted after Bradford Council received a report of rubbish dumped on land off Manchester Road in August 2025.

Environmental Health officers investigating the incident discovered household waste, including packaging from an online delivery bearing Simpson's address.

The court heard that Simpson had paid an individual £40 to remove rubbish from her home but had not checked whether the person was authorised to dispose of it.

She had also failed to obtain the individual's details or a receipt.

In October 2025, Simpson was issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice, which would increase to £250 if not paid promptly.

Despite reminder letters and a further opportunity to pay following a council officer's visit in March, the fine remained unpaid.

Simpson did not attend Bradford Magistrates' Court, and the case was heard in her absence.

Magistrates found her guilty of failing to take reasonable measures to ensure the authorised disposal of her household waste.

She was fined £440 and ordered to pay a £176 surcharge and prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £1,485.