In a busy July for the county’s courts, here are five Hertfordshire criminals who have been convicted this month, including 25 years behind bars for a man found guilty of attempted murder.
1. Tommy Harber
The 51-year-old, of Holwell Lane in Essendon, near Hatfield, appeared at Peterborough Crown Court where he was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.
The jury heard that on Wednesday, September 6 last year, there was an altercation between two other men, Terry Holmes and Tommy Harber Jr. All three men knew each other, and police believe "there was a long-running feud between them".
Beginning in Essendon's Holwell Lane, Holmes then left the area in a van, and was followed by Harber Sr and Harber Jr in a Mercedes car.
The two vehicles headed towards Stevenage on the A1(M), and both exited the motorway at Stevenage's Junction 7 around 6.30pm.
The Mercedes was then involved in a crash with a private ambulance and two other vehicles on the roundabout above the A1(M).
Both vehicles travelled into Stevenage along Lytton Way and past the police station, where gunshots were heard.
Tommy Harber Sr was found on Thursday, September 7, and arrested. Police officers recovered the van in Hitchin the following day and found visible bullet holes in the driver's door.
2. Bill Harber and Joseph Brazil
Bill Harber, 22 and Joseph Brazil, 19, both from Holwell Place, Essendon, appeared at St Albans Crown Court where they were each sentenced to 30 months in prison.
The pair were responsible for a spate of thefts, during which they primarily targeted rural areas between November 2023 and January 2024. They committed eight theft offences, including the theft of three vehicles and property worth more than £44,000.
The crimes took place in rural locations across Hertfordshire, Sussex, Norfolk, Devon, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.
They were arrested in February 2024, following a proactive investigation led by Hertfordshire’s Specialist Investigations Team, assisted by numerous police forces including Sussex Police’s CID unit.
3. Darnell Baverstock
Darnell Baverstock, of St Michael’s Gate, Peterborough, and formerly of Goldings, Hatfield, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on July 23.
The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
He was also in breach of a suspended sentence and had admitted failing to surrender to bail, assault by beating, theft from a shop, possession of crack cocaine, possession of cannabis, two charges of assault of an emergency worker by beating, dangerous driving and offering to supply cannabis.
The court heard how on May 15, 2023, Baverstock followed his victim, a woman who was walking with a young child on a bike.
He asked for a number and offered to supply her cannabis, but she shouted "please don’t touch me" and "leave me alone" three times, to which he replied by mimicking the Ali G TV character and saying: "Is it because I am black?"
Alex Krikler, defending, admitted Baverstock was a "complete mess" at the time due to drug and alcohol usage, but also argued that he thought he was being "flirtatious and humorous".
4. Carl Langdell
Carl Langdell was sentenced to 26 years in prison in 2016, after St Albans Crown Court heard how he sexually assaulted and killed teacher Katie Locke on their first date.
Now, a prison guard has received a huge pay out after he was 'nearly killed' by Langdell in a four-minute attack at HMP Bedford, where Langdell was incarcerated.
Langdell launched his attack after the officer refused to unlock a cell so that he could smoke in it.
The guard - who has not been named - said: "He charged me. He smacked me in the face, smashing my eye socket, and then threw me against a wall.
"He started strangling me and nearly broke my neck."
5. Mark Stimson
Former Stevenage FC manager Mark Stimson has been found guilty of assault by beating.
The 56-year-old appeared for trial at Stevenage Magistrates' Court following an incident involving another male last year, and he was found guilty of assault by beating.
Stimson was ordered to pay a total of £1,052, including £750 towards costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service, and £50 compensation to the victim.
The former footballer and manager took the helm of Stevenage FC in 2006, leading the club to victory in the final of the FA Trophy in 2007, before becoming manager of Gillingham later that year.
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