A STRATTON gunman, a tearaway teenager, a peeping tom, a stepfather who raped his stepdaughter, and a violent criminal who used his car to crush a victim were all put behind bars last month.

Here's a round-up of some of the most high-profile Swindon Crown Court cases. 

Swindon Advertiser: Lee GoodchildLee Goodchild

A THUG who used his VW Golf as a weapon was branded cold-blooded by a Swindon judge as he jailed the man for almost 14 years.

Lee Goodchild was said to have seen red as he sat behind the wheel of his £10,000 hatchback in the car park of the Spotted Cow pub.

The 38-year-old had gone to the car park on the night of April 19 to buy drugs. Goodchild claimed a dealer had pulled a knife on him, resulting in him fleeing the scene – and “accidentally” crushing bystander Bradley Atkinson as he reversed out of his parking space.

At Swindon Crown Court, Judge Jason Taylor QC said Goodchild’s claim at trial the injury was caused accidentally would have been laughable had the injuries not been so serious.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Kenton KnightKenton Knight

A TERROR teen will spend Christmas behind bars after he breached an anti-social behaviour injunction little more than a month after it was made by magistrates.

Swindon justices ruled that Walcot boy Kenton Knight could be identified by the press, saying his offences in the community meant he had lost the right to remain anonymous.

Sentencing him to a two-month detention and training order, magistrates accused Knight of having shown a complete disregard for court orders.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Scott SymondsScott Symonds

A GUNMAN who pleaded with police to kill him during a two-hour “Wild West” armed stand-off in Stratton has been jailed.

Jailing him for four years and nine months, Judge Jason Taylor QC said Scott Symonds had left even a former Royal Marine-turned police sergeant terrified for their safety. 20 homes were evacuated, roads closed and two pubs being put on lock down.

The shoot-out, which began as a domestic dispute with the 31-year-old’s mum over music being played too loudly, resulted in the woman suffering a heart attack as police officers ducked behind cars to avoid being shot at.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Sumon Gurung pleaded not guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply, at Swindon Crown Court

A TEEN sobbed as she told concerned relatives “daddy raped me”, a court heard.

Now, her stepfather of 15 years has been jailed for three-and-a-half years at Swindon Crown Court after admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child family member.

The businessman, who we are not naming in order to prevent the identification of his victim, had sex with the teen as she lay in her mother’s bed in May. Three months later he molested the girl in a caravan while her younger brother slept nearby.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Grant MortonGrant Morton

A SPY cam pervert who peeped on his female house guests sobbed in court as a judge jailed him for more than three years.

Married man Grant Morton installed hidden cameras in the bathroom and guest bedroom of his Park South home.

The cameras filmed teen girls as they used the bathroom, showered, got dressed and engaged in intimate acts.

The IT expert downloaded private photographs off a girl’s phone having offered to charge it from his laptop, before sharing the indecent images with two friends over Skype. He stole private images belonging to another woman he had met online, taking the pictures as he repaired her computer.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Gowtham AnthonypillaiGowtham Anthonypillai

A CRUEL rapist who carried out a vile attack on his girlfriend as their toddler slept nearby has been jailed for 11 years and five months.

A Swindon judge described Gowtham Anthonypillai as arrogant, cruel and demeaning. He treated his girlfriend like his chattel “to do your bidding and not answer back”.

The 22-year-old can now be named after his victim waived her right to anonymity. In a victim statement, she told the court: “I still check the cars and alleyways when I approach my home in case Gowtham is hiding somewhere.”

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Scott KnowlesScott Knowles

AN ARMED robber who used an imitation pistol in a raid on a Wiltshire bookies has been jailed for four years and two months.

Appearing before Swindon Crown Court, Scott Knowles admitted robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and shoplifting.

At around 9pm on September 7, 31-year-old Knowles covered his face and pulled up his hood before pushing into Coral Racing on New Road, Chippenham, then threatened a shop assistant with a black plastic fake gun.

He made off with just over £150 in cash.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Barry Wilcox's latest Wiltshire Police mugshot, Samantha Walker, Barry Wilcox in 1994Barry Wilcox's latest Wiltshire Police mugshot, Samantha Walker, Barry Wilcox in 1994

SAMANTHA Walker had battled illness all her life. In 1994, the girl was murdered by crazed labourer Barry Wilcox.

He had strangled, bit and burnt her in a secluded paddock – fearing she would return to the party where they had met and tell her friends he had been unable to have sex with her.

A quarter of a century after he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 21-year-old’s murder, bearded Wilcox was back in the dock.

He appeared to smirk after a Swindon judge sent him down for 13 months for attempting to get two “girls” – actually so-called paedophile hunters posing as 13 and 14-year-olds online – to perform sex acts on themselves. Wilcox had already been recalled to prison on licence.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser:

A DEALER caught half-naked and armed with a blade in a Park North addict’s home was told by a judge “if you swim with sharks you can hardly be surprised if you get bitten”.

Now, Lewis Owusu has been jailed for almost four years after he admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of criminal property.

The 23-year-old, of Farmilo Road, Walthamstow, was described as the site manager for a London gang peddling heroin and crack cocaine in Swindon.

Read the full story here

Swindon Advertiser: Swindon Crown Court Inset: pork chop Picture: PIXABAYSwindon Crown Court Inset: pork chop Picture: PIXABAY

A DELUDED Romeo broke into his ex’s home, cooked himself a pork chop and stripped before getting into her bed, a Swindon court heard.

Nechirwan Musa was discovered naked in the homeowner’s bed by a friend who came to the rescue after the woman heard a suspicious noise upstairs when she returned home in the early hours.

The 33-year-old, of no fixed address, admitted burglary. Jailing him for six months, Judge Peter Crabtree said of the victim: “No doubt in the early hours, alone in that house she was extremely frightened.”

Read the full story here