The courts in Nottingham have been busy again this week, with a mixture of different cases and sentences handed out to offenders.

The most serious case dealt with at Nottingham Crown Court was the sentencing of a robbery gang.

Here's a summary of stories we have covered.

The robbers jailed for a total of 45 years

A third armed robber in a gang carrying out terrifying raids across Nottinghamshire has been jailed for 15 years.

Friday's sentencing of Nathaniel Smith , 32, of no fixed address, brings the total tariff of jail sentences handed out to raiders also involved to 45 years.

Smith had been with criminals Steven Ward, 33, and Liam Campbell, 23, on a robbery at the Nottingham Knight, West Bridgford, and a robbery at the Ferry Boat pub at Stoke Bardolph last summer.

Ward and Campbell, both of no fixed address, were found guilty of robbing the Nottingham Knight raid after a trial. They were cleared of taking mobile phones and cash from staff at the Brewhouse and Kitchen, Trent Bridge, but Smith had earlier admitted those robberies on three men.

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All three defendants pleaded guilty to robbery at the Ferry Boat in Stoke Bardolph.

After Ward and Campbell were each given 15 years yesterday, Thursday April 26, and Smith was sentenced to the same length of sentence.

Judge James Sampson told the 32-year-old of his two co-accused: "Undoubtedly they were the leaders and undoubtedly they were the most violent.

"That said, this is clearly a series of serious offences that you chose to take part in".

And he had told Ward and Campbell as he sentenced them: "These were extremely serious armed robberies.

"If your victims were not immediately cowed by your threats when you told them to open the safe, you had no hesitation in resorting to violence.

"You planned these robberies and felt no forensic evidence would attach to you and you regarded yourselves as in effect untouchable.

"That is why you went to commit the next offence. But you were wrong about that."

During the Nottingham Knight robbery, manager Hannah Pacey had scissors held to her neck and was told she had "three seconds to open the safe."

The gang escaped with £1,400 - but were later picked out by Miss Pacey at a police identification procedure.

At the Ferry Boat, the raiders, wearing dark clothing, burst in just after midnight as staff cleared up.

Workers were assaulted after being pinned to the floor while raiders demanded cash. Shortly after the men left with money, police officers arrested them.

In this incident, Ward carried a large knife, while Campbell carried a piece of wood and Smith had been stood holding the door.

Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting, at Smith's sentencing said he had previous convictions for assaulting a police officer, possessing cannabis and burglary.

Mitigating, Jonathan Straw said his criminal record was not like the other two defendants.

Apart for an offence 17 years ago, he was not a violent man.

"He knows it is going to be a sentence of considerable length," said Mr Straw. "He knows what the others received".

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Steve Fenyn said: “I’m very pleased that justice has been served for all three robberies. No one should have to go to work and be subjected to such violent and terrifying ordeals.

“All of the victims have shown great patience and understanding throughout the trial and I’m glad the jury delivered the verdict they deserve.

“Thanks to a combination of great police work, DNA samples, detailed witness accounts and other various evidence that was gathered, three violent criminals are now off the streets of Nottinghamshire.”

The man with a baseball bat who said he 'wanted to fight' woman's boyfriend

A man saw a woman walking along a street and said he "wanted to fight her boyfriend", then showed her a baseball bat in his trousers.

Keava Dean-Thompson wanted the woman's partner to come to their location in Woodborough Road, Nottingham, last June, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

"Clearly there were problems between her boyfriend and the defendant," said prosecutor Mark Knowles on Tuesday, April 24.

As the woman phoned her boyfriend, the defendant "revealed the baseball bat from his trousers", said his barrister, Rebecca Coleman.

"It was never produced or brandished," she said before Dean-Thompson was given a suspended prison sentence.

The incident ended when the woman got through to her boyfriend and he told her to call police.

Dean-Thompson, of Astley Drive, Mapperley, was sentenced for possessing an offensive weapon - the baseball bat - making a malicious communication, theft of a car, having no insurance or a full driving licence.

Miss Coleman said the car theft originated from a dispute over the price of the vehicle.

A fee had been agreed of £2,000 but the victim wanted a further £100, which is "why the defendant decided to drive off", added Miss Coleman.

The seller, a friend of his, said "if you drive off, your mum's windows are going through".

Dean-Thompson, 21, later rang the man as he made a statement to police.

The call was put on loud speaker, so a police officer heard the defendant saying "if anything happens to my mum's windows" and "I know where your family live and will kill them".

Judge Rosalind Coe QC took into account he pleaded guilty and had served the equivalent of 32 weeks in custody since the offences.

She handed him 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, 12 rehabilitation activity days and a six-month disqualification for the no licence and no insurance charges.

The man jailed for stabbing neighbour

A 21-year-old has been jailed after arming himself with two knives and stabbing a man in the street.

Louis Nyatigi, 21 of, Midhurst Way, Clifton, was sentenced at Stoke Crown Court to nine years in prison for GBH with intent to cause serious harm.

Nyatigi stabbed a man in the stomach after seeing him near his house in Clifton on August 7, 2017.

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The neighbour had come out into the street after becoming concerned when he heard a woman pleading ‘no, no’ in Nyatigi’s house.

This had followed arguing and a headboard being thrown out of the window at 1am.

Firearms officers arrested Nyatigi, who had armed himself with two knives, and the 47-year-old victim was taken to hospital where he received several stitches.

Nyatigi was found guilty following a three-day trial and was sentenced on Friday, April 20. He was also given an extended licence to run until 2030.

DC Ryan Atkin from Nottinghamshire Police said: “Nyatigi is a very violent man with a complete disregard for others. He more than deserves this long sentence.

“I hope it sends out a strong message to anyone thinking of carrying a knife that they could be locked up for a significant amount of time if they use it.

"This dispute, which should have been a minor one, resulted in a life-changing outcome for both the victim and the attacker because of the presence of a knife in a heated moment.”

The man banned from Newark town centre

A man responsible for persistent anti-social behaviour in Newark town centre is the subject of a new Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Paul Bryan , 66, of no fixed abode, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court for a breach of an existing CBO, where the terms were extended to remain in place until June 20, 2020.

The court heard that the defendant had behaved in a way likely to cause alarm, harassment, or distress, and that a new order would help prevent him from behaving in such a way in the future.

Under the terms of the new CBO, Bryan, who is currently serving a 10-week custodial sentence for breach of the original order, is banned from entering Newark town centre and being in a state of drunkenness or being in possession of an open vessel containing alcohol in an area west of Newark town centre, including Riverside Park.

He is also banned from using threatening, intimidating or insulting language in a public place, asking members of the public for money or cigarettes in a public place and entering Sconce and Devon Park.

The clubber ordered to pay compo

A night clubber must pay £450 compensation for breaking a doorman's jaw with a single punch.

The blow was struck as Michael Gutteridge was being ejected from the Bowery club at 2am, in Fletcher Gate, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

It left the security man with a numb face and problems when eating. He needed a hospital stay to have a metal plate fitted to hold the jaw in place.

Judge Rosalind Coe QC told the 24-year-old: "These doormen were doing their job, trying to protect the business and other people from your unreasonable behaviour.

"You lashed out because you were resisting being evicted when you were behaving badly.

"What I have seen on CCTV and is described as an act of stupidity is very serious indeed. He suffered immediate pain from a broken jaw."

The judge imposed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, on Gutteridge of Melton Road, Syston. He admitted causing grievous bodily harm. He must do 150 hours unpaid community work and was given a month to pay the compensation to the injured man.

Leanne Summers, prosecuting, said two women had just been ejected from the club on September 24.

The security man, who had worked there for eight years, was struck on the jaw by another man. Shortly after Gutteridge threw a punch which landed on the same spot.

The doorman spent three days in the Queen's Medical Centre , leading to £450 loss of earnings. He lost feeling in his lower lip.

"He has had considerable embarrassment and an awkwardness when eating because he feels as if food is not retained in his mouth correctly. He is constantly checking his chin to see if there is anything on his lower jaw," said Miss Summers.

Balraj Bhatia, mitigating, said Gutteridge was assaulted by other door staff immediately after throwing the punch.

"Justice was meted out fairly swiftly. He is taken to the floor by three or four. The doormen punch him, kick him and stamp on him. Has he been punished? Yes, he has to a degree," said Mr Bhatia.

He added: "Sadly he was in drink and lashed out. There is a degree of responsibility and a candour, not an asking for forgiveness from the victim.

"But he is someone who wants to say a huge apology."

The court heard that the other attacker pleaded guilty to the charge of assault by beating, which carries lower penalties than GBH. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the doorman, as well as carrying out 120 hours community work.

The man who fled from police across university campus

Police vehicles
Police vehicles

Rider Callum Gunn was spotted astride a motorbike stolen from McDonald's - and spent 17 minutes trying to get police off his tail.

Walkers scattered as he rode through the campus of the University of Nottingham - often nipping across the grass, the city's crown court heard.

He ignored the 20-mph limit imposed in the university grounds and reached 50mph, before he headed for Beeston High Road at 1.30pm.

He rode through three red traffic lights, forced cars to swerve and even managed to get through a police stinger device which failed to puncture the motorcycle tyres.

When he ended up on the tram track, police decided the pursuit was too dangerous. He was finally detained when he slowed down and a police officer ran up.

Judge Rosalind Coe QC told him: "It was by great good fortune that nobody was hurt, hit, injured or suffered death or life-changing injuries.

"Cars had to swerve and people had to step out of your way. You took no regard for them at all."

Leanne Summers, prosecuting, said the motorcycle was owned by a McDonald's worker who chained it up outside its Ilkeston branch on September 18, only to find it missing that night.

The next day, police saw a motorcyclist pull onto the A52 near the Queen's Medical Centre. They turned on their emergency lights and the rider turned into the university grounds. People had to step out of the way and he tried to elude police by cutting across the grass.

But people pointed out his route after 21-year-old Gunn went up Cripps Hill on the campus before going back onto the A52.

Vehicles had to swerve to avoid hitting him, said Miss Summers.

While driving through Beeston and Attenborough, he was at double the 30mph limit and went through red traffic lights at three spots.

The motorcycle was found to have been started by crossing ignition wires, added Miss Summers.

A 13-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, was ordered for Gunn of Pasture Road, Stapleford. He admitted dangerous driving, having no insurance and handling a stolen motorcycle.

He had never been in trouble before and was banned from driving for two years. He must also do 120 hours unpaid work.

Chris Brewin, mitigating, told the judge: "It is almost inexplicable he should do this, having never been before the courts before. It is completely out of character.

"He knows he has let himself down and his nearest and dearest with this extraordinary behaviour."

Mr Brewin accepted that Gunn risked custody because the driving was "dangerous and prolonged" but told the judge: "The 64,000 dollar question is whether you should offer a suspended sentence."

Gunn will have to take a tougher driving test if he wants to take to the roads again.

The scrap metal thief

St Mary's Church in Edwinstowe.

A scrap metal thief was jailed after damaging the roof of a church where Robin Hood reputedly married Maid Marian.

Jobless Jordan Peacock was caught by 24-hour surveillance set up to protect the church, which is on a national list of the UK's most important buildings.

While stealing lead, he left a hole in the roof of 12th century St Mary's in Edwinstowe - letting in the rain and leading to a £1,000 repair bill, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Judge James Sampson jailed him for four months and said: "It is a church, our heritage and a desecration.

"This is a Grade One listed parish church dating back to 1175, restored in 1869 and 1890. It is part of a heritage visit by tourists who come to see the church because it is said to be where Robin Hood and Maid Marian had their wedding.

"All of that I am sure is pretty meaningless to you. You had no hesitation whatsoever in going onto the church roof and taking whatever lead you could. This is a serious offence."

The judge said he would have liked to order 22-year-old Peacock to pay for repairs but added: "I suspect an order for compensation would be pointless."

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said the church has anti-crime cameras which offer "crystal clear images" as well as 24-hour monitoring. At 4pm on September 2, the alarm was raised.

"The church warden was told the defendant was on the roof.

"As a result, lead was taken from the roof which was damaged because rain got in before repairs could be done," added Miss Leonard.

The court heard that Peacock is currently in jail for other thefts and had been due to be freed on September 16. The fresh prison term will be added on at the end of that.

He admitted theft of lead from the church when he faced Mansfield magistrates on April 5.

Chris Aspinall, mitigating, told the court: "It is no more serious than an attack on somebody's house where lead is taken."

Peacock had several previous convictions including for the theft of car batteries, alloy wheels and scrap metal.

Mr Aspinall said Peacock was "entitled to a significant discount" because he had immediately pleaded guilty the theft of lead.