As 2025 begins, several Birmingham criminals aim to stay out of prison, navigating the legal system’s leniency for lesser offenses.
Birmingham: Not everyone who breaks the law ends up behind bars. Nowadays, judges are often looking for ways to keep people out of jail, especially with overcrowding being such a big issue.
Of course, the worst offenders—like murderers and serious drug dealers—aren’t so lucky. But for lesser crimes, judges can suspend sentences, meaning if the person stays out of trouble for a while, they won’t have to serve time.
Judges weigh a lot of factors, like whether the person is a risk to the public or if they have a history of following court orders. They also think about how prison might affect the offender’s family, especially if kids are involved.
One option is a community order, focusing on rehabilitation with help from probation services. Here are some criminals who will be starting 2025 on thin ice, hoping to keep their resolution of staying out of prison.
Farhad Ajaz
Farhad Ajaz, 62, let his dog attack three people in Bordesley Green. His XL Bully, Tyson, mauled an 11-year-old girl and bit two men trying to help. Ajaz has a long criminal history, including a 25-year life sentence for an undisclosed crime. He was given a two-year suspended sentence due to health issues.
Karen Lynch
Karen Lynch accidentally killed Julia Relph, a disabled woman, while driving. Lynch, 65, lost control of her car and hit Relph on her mobility scooter. She received a six-and-a-half-month suspended sentence and was banned from driving for 18 months.
Larry Barnett Senior and Andrea Simpkin
This duo was caught trying to smuggle drugs into prisons by disguising them as legal letters. Both have health issues and received suspended sentences of 19 months and two years, respectively, while their son, Larry Barnett Junior, got extra time for his role in the scheme.
Clare Wedgebury
Clare Wedgebury, a notorious shoplifter, stole alcohol from various supermarkets. She was pregnant at her sentencing and received an 18-month community order with rehabilitation activities, as the judge felt she had enough to deal with.
Paul Marriner
Paul Marriner, 39, was caught trying to steal cable from a derelict building. He had a knuckleduster and a blade on him and was already on a community order. He got a ten-month suspended sentence, along with community service.
Andrew Bell
Andrew Bell committed a £70,000 tax fraud while working at Jaguar Land Rover. He was spared jail time due to the impact on his family and received a 22-month suspended sentence instead.
Jay Somers
Jay Somers broke a man’s leg over a misunderstanding outside a pub. Despite his long criminal history, he was given a 16-month suspended sentence, showing the court believed he could change.
