Eight criminals jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week including paedophiles and a self-styled 'gangster'

A paedophile who bought a young girl One Direction gifts was caught when it turned out he was talking to an online hunter group.

Published 26th Mar 2023, 16:30 BST

Among others who are starting a stint behind bars this week is a university drop-out who turned to drug dealing, a “stowaway” immigrant who was linked to three cannabis farms in Leeds and two men who were racing each other which resulted in the death of a motorist.

The criminals who are all starting jail sentences this week.

1. Criminals starting jail terms this week

The criminals who are all starting jail sentences this week. Photo: WYP

Hadee Salem groomed a young girl over the internet and promised to buy her One Direction perfume was caught when a hunter group boxed his car in at Kirkstall Abbey. The 41-year-old was jailed for three years at Leeds Crown Court this week. He was confronted by the paedophile hunter group, Predator Exposure, on arrival, who livestreamed the meeting over Facebook. He had driven from Newcastle to Leeds after arranging to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old.

2. hadeeSALEM.jpg

Hadee Salem groomed a young girl over the internet and promised to buy her One Direction perfume was caught when a hunter group boxed his car in at Kirkstall Abbey. The 41-year-old was jailed for three years at Leeds Crown Court this week. He was confronted by the paedophile hunter group, Predator Exposure, on arrival, who livestreamed the meeting over Facebook. He had driven from Newcastle to Leeds after arranging to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old. Photo: WYP

University dropout Natas Virsilas who was caught selling drugs “bragged” to a group of drinkers outside a Headingley hotel that he was a “gangster and a dealer” before threatening to glass them. The 23-year-old was found with MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis in his room. He later attacked a bus driver who dared to wake him when the service came to a stop. Virsilas was jailed for 32 months.

3. Natas Virsilas

University dropout Natas Virsilas who was caught selling drugs “bragged” to a group of drinkers outside a Headingley hotel that he was a “gangster and a dealer” before threatening to glass them. The 23-year-old was found with MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis in his room. He later attacked a bus driver who dared to wake him when the service came to a stop. Virsilas was jailed for 32 months. Photo: WYP

"Stowaway" Ardjan Bashkurti said it was his dream to travel from Albania and come to work in England to provide for his family, but ended up working a for a gang tending to cannabis farms in Leeds. Police raided three operations in the city with the 28-year-old's finger prints found at each. He was eventually arrested and sentenced to two years' jail this week.

4. Ardjan Bashkurti

"Stowaway" Ardjan Bashkurti said it was his dream to travel from Albania and come to work in England to provide for his family, but ended up working a for a gang tending to cannabis farms in Leeds. Police raided three operations in the city with the 28-year-old's finger prints found at each. He was eventually arrested and sentenced to two years' jail this week. Photo: WYP

Paedophile Stribrny was charged after he walked into a police station and confessed that he was sexually attracted to children, and had targeted a five-year-old boy. The 37-year-old was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia which doctors believed could have been triggered by his guilt stemming from his offending. He was deemed to be dangerous and was given a 12-year hybrid sentence, meaning he will be treated at a secure hospital until he is fit enough to be transferred to prison.

5. Lukas Stribrny

Paedophile Stribrny was charged after he walked into a police station and confessed that he was sexually attracted to children, and had targeted a five-year-old boy. The 37-year-old was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia which doctors believed could have been triggered by his guilt stemming from his offending. He was deemed to be dangerous and was given a 12-year hybrid sentence, meaning he will be treated at a secure hospital until he is fit enough to be transferred to prison. Photo: WYP

Connor Amps, age 23, of Shakespeare Gardens, Leeds was sentenced to 31 months for stealing motorbikes across the city. He was identified for one theft because he was wearing the same clothes in a Tik Tok video put online. Judge Ray Singh said: “For two months you wreaked havoc on people who owned motorcycles. These are extremely serious offences and not simply offences committed out of boredom. They were planned.”

6. Connor Amps

Connor Amps, age 23, of Shakespeare Gardens, Leeds was sentenced to 31 months for stealing motorbikes across the city. He was identified for one theft because he was wearing the same clothes in a Tik Tok video put online. Judge Ray Singh said: “For two months you wreaked havoc on people who owned motorcycles. These are extremely serious offences and not simply offences committed out of boredom. They were planned.” Photo: WYP