As 2022 draws to a close, Bury can look back on a busy year as far as the courts are concerned.
Some of the most high profile case that shook the borough to its core played out against a backdrop of what barristers themselves have called a "crumbling" justice system.
In a historic move, barristers in full wigs and gowns took to picket lines across Greater Manchester in a last-ditch attempt to salvage that system having spent years watching the corrosive effects of underfunding and neglect.
What follows is a look back at how that very system coped with some of Bury’s biggest cases and serves as a reminder of why it is so vital to its community and why so many people felt compelled to go all out in its defence.
READ MORE: Bury court cases delayed as barristers go on strike
January
The year began with the trial of Andrew Cairns, accused of causing the death of 11-year-old Ruby Cropper by dangerous driving. Hearing how he had broken speed limits, tried to overtake other cars and failed to stop at the scene, a jury took the decision to convict him.
That same month Gary Galvin was brought before the courts for his part in a blackmail plot. Galvin’s victim had been left living in fear with his elderly parents and was forced to transfer thousands of pounds. But Galvin’s plot was brought to an end when he was jailed for 32 months.
READ MORE: Man found guilty of causing death of 11-year-old by dangerous driving
READ MORE: Blackmailer who extorted £12,000 gets lengthy jail term
February
Bury was stunned in February by the death of Charissa Brown-Wellington. The 36-year-old was last seen on Gorse Lane which quickly became the scene of floral tributes in her memory, while three men were arrested on suspicion of murder and rape. The case would continue as the year unfolded.
A very different case unfolded further north in Ramsbottom when four members of the same family were sentenced after funding their luxurious lifestyles by flooding the region with cocaine. Brothers Imad Ul-Haque and Ibad Ul-Haque were jailed for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, while their sister Sabra Haque and Imad's partner Holly Palmer were both ordered to carry out unpaid work after pleading guilty to money laundering.
READ MORE: Tributes to woman, 36, as police continue murder and rape investigation
READ MORE: Family who 'lived life of luxury' while flooding region with drugs sentenced
March
Another of Bury’s most high profile cases began as winter turned to spring when Abdikarim Abdalla Ahmed tragically died in hospital after he was stabbed in Bury town centre. The investigation into his murder and the ensuing trial would unfold over the coming months.
While one case began, another reached its conclusion in March when Anthony Kenyon was jailed for beating a love rival with an iron bar. Kenyon was jailed for 18 months.
READ MORE: Mother pays heartfelt tribute to her 'beautiful boy' as stabbing victim named
READ MORE: Jail for man who beat love rival with metal bar
April
While February had seen a family at the top of the illicit drugs trade brought to justice, April saw someone much closer to the bottom receive a similar fate. Jason Murphy had not lived a life of luxury off the back of selling drugs but instead, as so many other low-level dealers do, had sold his product to feed his own addiction. Nevertheless, he was jailed for three years.
READ MORE: Bury drug dealer who sold to feed addiction jailed
May
One of Bury’s most disturbing cases came before the courts as Spring wore on when paedophile John Mills was jailed for abusing two young girls. Mills was helped in his sickening conduct by his partner Tiffany Eccles, who shared his fate with a seven month jail sentence.
Both had been investigated by Bury district’s newly formed Child Protection Unit, with senior officers speaking out about how glad they were to see both off the streets.
READ MORE: Bury paedophile abused two girls with help of partner
June
Drugs were a theme that recurred again before the courts in June when two young men, aged only 20 and 19, were brought to the dock. Kasim Mahmood and Daud Mohammed were caught after abandoning a car that was found to contain crack cocaine and heroin.
Mohammed walked away with a suspended sentence but Mahmood was not so lucky and was jailed for 27 months.
But that same months also marked a coordinated effort by greater Manchester Police to crack down on crime with the launch of Operation Avro. The borough wide policing operation would see £70,000 worth of illegal goods seized.
READ MORE: Young men caught dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Bury
READ MORE: Bury crackdown led to £70,000 of illegal goods being seized
July
Another drug crime was brought before the courts in July when a painter and decorator from Greenmount was found to have been growing cannabis.
Lee Booth did not play any part in a wider organised crime gang that plotted to flood East Lancashire with drugs but was caught up in their activities when he decided to grow the product for himself.
READ MORE: Bury decorator made cannabis after spotting member of major gang's growing equipment
August
It would be those at the top of the drug business again who would trouble the courts in August. Sisters Shazia and Abia Din ran a major drug ring from their Bury beauty business, farming out heroin, cocaine and amphetamines to contacts in South Yorkshire. But their illicit empire unravelled when both were caught out and given steep jail sentences.
Also in August, a man was finally jailed for assault and false imprisonment following the death of Charissa Brown-Wellington earlier in the year. Bobby Jo Hardman was sentenced to six years in prison.
The same month another case that had worked its way through the courts of the course of the year reach its moment of truth when a 17-year-old boy was found guilty of the murder of Abdikarim Abulla Ahmed. Abdikarim was just 18-year-old when he died in March. His 17-year-old killer was convicted after three days of deliberations.
READ MORE: More than £300,000 taken from Bury sisters who ran drugs empire from beauty business
READ MORE: Man jailed for false imprisonment and assault after death of partner
READ MORE: Teen boy who stabbed young man to death in town centre guilty of murder
September
Drugs featured yet again before the courts in September when a man was brought to the dock after punching a stranger while high on crack cocaine. Lewis Rigby left his victim with memory loss after assaulting him at Bury Interchange. Riby was jailed for 14 months for his part in the "short lived albeit ugly incident".
READ MORE: Yob high on crack cocaine launched unprovoked attack against stranger at Bury station
October
A man who had inflicting devastation on those who were supposed to be closest to him finally faced justice. Murtada "Jack" Abady had behaved violently and controllingly towards two different women over the course of many years. Though his sentence was suspended, Abady will have time to reflect as he completes 100 hours of unpaid work.
READ MORE: 'Your face will be mashed up': Thug attacked women he was in relationships with
November
A busy November saw yet another organised crime figure jailed for his part in a major drugs ring. Nabeel Rashad was jailed on the day of his 29th birthday.
In an unrelated but similar case, Szenm Asghar and her partner Rashid Hussain were jailed for the parts they had played in funding their luxurious lifestyles by supplying Class A drugs.
Away from the world of organised crime an entirely different but even more disturbing case came before the courts when Bob Lucas was brought to the dock after being caught by paedophile hunters in Bury. Lucas had tried to send sexually explicit messages he thought were girls between the ages of 12 and 15.
READ MORE: Bury man involved in multi-million drugs crime ring jailed on his birthday
READ MORE: Couple jailed after funding 'luxury lifestyle' by flooding streets with drugs
READ MORE: Depraved man was detained by paedophile hunters in Bury after sending sexual messages
December
The year closed with yet more high profile Bury cases brought to court. Derek Malcolm was jailed after a vicious attack on an innocent man has ex-partner had dated. Malcolm’s attack left the man with a visible scar and a lasting feeling of fear, but he was given a steep sentence of 18 years for his actions.
Gareth Edwards’ crimes were of a different though no less shocking nature. Not only had he stolen thousands of pounds from his Radcliffe based employers but he had also secretly been filming women for his own sexual pleasure. Though he avoided jail, Edwards was given a stern warning about what his fate would be if he ever troubled the courts again.
READ MORE: Knifeman 'fuelled by jealousy and rage' scarred total stranger for dating ex-partner
READ MORE: Fraudster 'flagrantly betrayed trust', stole £17k and secretly filmed women
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