A MAJOR drugs baron, the ringleader of a gang who robbed children and a carer who abused an elderly woman were among the Warrington criminals brought to justice in April.

Every month, the Warrington Guardian takes a look back at some of the court cases that have been featured in the paper in the weeks previously.

Other defendants appearing during April included a police sergeant who harrassed his former partner, a drink driver who left a pregnant woman injured at the roadside after flipping his car during a crash and a knifeman who threatened a shopkeeper with a meat cleaver.

These are 16 criminals who were sentenced by the courts in April:

NAME: Jonathan Hodson

AGE: 46

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Saturday, April 3

CRIME: Theft

The shoplifter had only just been released from prison when he stole more than £1,000 of coats from Go Outdoors in the town centre.

SENTENCE: 18 weeks in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Go Outdoors on Wilson Patten Street - picture by Google Maps

NAME: Jordan Ellis

AGE: 25

COURT: Chester Crown Court

DATE: Tuesday, April 6

CRIME: Robbery

He was the ringleader of a gang of robbers who attacked two teenage boys and stole their bikes, bags and mobile phones.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "It was a cowardly act, and it was a very unpleasant act."

SENTENCE: 18 months in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Jordan Ellis

NAME: Damien Firth

AGE: 33

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Tuesday, April 6

CRIME: Being in charge of dangerously out of control dog which caused injury

A dog under his control escaped from his address and attacked a woman walking past while walking her dog

SENTENCE: Banned from keeping dogs for five years

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Magistrates Court

NAME: Valentina Baghiu

AGE: 24

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Wednesday, April 7

CRIME: Ill treatment of an individual by a care worker

The carer abused and tormented an elderly care home resident in her final weeks of life.

SENTENCE: Six-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months

Warrington Guardian:

Liverpool Crown Court

NAME: Alan Bamford

AGE: 55

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Friday, April 9

CRIME: Benefit fraud

The benefit cheat fraudulently claimed more than £25,000 during a five-year con.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "This was a claim that was fraudulent from the outset."

SENTENCE: 30-week imprisonment suspended for a year

Warrington Guardian:

Alan Bamford

NAME: Paul Coulthwaite

AGE: 55

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Tuesday, April 13

CRIME: Meeting a child following grooming

The paedophile groomed a 12-year-old girl online and took alcohol, chocolate and jewellery with him when he went to meet her at a McDonald's - not realising he was being ensnared in a police sting.

SENTENCE: Three years in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Paul Coulthwaite

NAME: Nicolae Ilie

AGE: 36

COURT: Chester Crown Court

DATE: Tuesday, April 13

CRIME: Conspiracy to steal

He was one of six members of a 'professional' shoplifting ring which stole more than £150,000 worth of goods from supermarkets across the UK.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "You were all involved at some stage, you all knew what you were involved in and you all played a significant part in an organised plan."

SENTENCE: 42 months in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Nicolae Ilie

NAME: Robert Jones

AGE: 21

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Wednesday, April 14

CRIME: Making threats with a bladed article

The vodka-guzzling drunk shouted ‘I’ll kill you’ at a shopkeeper after brandishing a meat cleaver.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "The public are rightly concerned about knife crime up and down the country, and for that reason, there must be a sentence of custody."

SENTENCE: Eight months in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Robert Jones

NAME: Chevon Irving

AGE: 21

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Thursday, April 15

CRIME: Dangerous driving

The driver hid in a garden after crashing his car into wall and a lamppost while being chased by the police.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "It is most fortunate that you did not injure any other road users, as if you did, you would be heading straight to prison."

SENTENCE: 18-month community order

Warrington Guardian:

Liverpool Crown Court

NAME: Hannah Kellett

AGE: 27

COURT: Chester Crown Court

DATE: Monday, April 19

CRIME: Dangerous driving

The mum led police on a 140mph chase just weeks after being spared jail for driving with her friend on her car bonnet - causing her to suffer a fractured skull, bleed on the brain and broken leg.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "The court gave you a chance, but you threw it back in their faces."

SENTENCE: 20 months in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Hannah Kellett

NAME: Harry Pullar

AGE: 22

COURT: Chester Crown Court

DATE: Monday, April 19

CRIME: Being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine

The apprentice electrician was caught by security with drugs and his profits while attempting to enter Creamfields music festival.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "You went into Creamfields hoping to make big profit by selling evil drugs."

SENTENCE: Three years in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Creamfields and, inset, Harry Pullar

NAME: Stuart Berry

COURT: Preston Magistrates Court

DATE: Monday, April 19

CRIME: Harrasment

The police sergeant was sacked from his post with Cheshire Police following his conviction.

SENTENCE: Community service

Warrington Guardian:

Police sergeant Stuart Berry

NAME: Alan Tobin

AGE: 51

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Tuesday, April 20

CRIME: Conspiracy to supply cocaine

Alongside his brother John, he was the head of a major drugs ring which supplied cocaine to the likes of the notorious Cullen gang.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "It was a business of a truly national scale which netted you vast sums of money and funded your lavish lifestyle."

SENTENCE: 20 years in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Alan Tobin

NAME: Simon Dilorenzo

AGE: 48

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Wednesday, April 21

CRIME: Fly-tipping

He dumped a pile of waste including a metal bedframe only metres away from his home.

SENTENCE: Fined £500

Warrington Guardian:

The pile of waste

NAME: Jeffrey Ashfield

AGE: 47

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Thursday, April 22

CRIME: Stalking

The stalker loitered outside a woman's home late at night on several occasions and sent her unwanted gifts.

SENTENCE: 12- week imprisonment suspended for two years

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Magistrates Court

NAME: Daniel Simpson

AGE: 24

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Friday, April 23

CRIME: Failing to stop after a crash

The drink driver flipped his car after a crash on a major route before fleeing the scene as a pregnant woman lay injured at the roadside.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "There’s no escaping that it was a very, very bad incident and the manner in which you acted showed a complete lack of judgement and a total absence of responsibility."

SENTENCE: 14-week imprisonment suspended for two years

Warrington Guardian:

The scene after the crash on Sankey Way