Court round-up: Drug dealer's luxury life in Thailand ends in jail as kidnappers locked up

A fugitive drug dealer who escaped prison and fled to Thailand, two men who kidnapped and attacked a friend, a child sex offender and a sports car dealership director are among those sentenced in the latest Yorkshire court cases.

A number of serious criminal cases have recently been heard in courts across Yorkshire. Here is a round-up of some of the latest sentences and hearings.

Drug dealer jailed after escaping prison and fleeing to Thailand

A drug dealer who escaped from prison and fled to Thailand, where police said he lived a "life of luxury", has been jailed for 11 years.

Kyle Nelson, 38, was a major player in a County Lines network supplying heroin, crack cocaine and other drugs in York.

Nelson was serving a nine-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine when he was moved to an open prison. He escaped while on day release in 2024 before travelling through Scotland and Ireland and eventually reaching Thailand using fake passports.

While there, police said he lived a lavish lifestyle, buying Rolex watches and riding jet skis.

After returning to the UK in 2025, Nelson began selling Class A drugs in York again as part of an organised crime network.

Detectives found evidence that he was running the "Banksy" drugs line after a vehicle travelling between Wetherby and York was stopped and searched in April 2025.

Evidence recovered from a phone linked Nelson to the operation and he was subsequently arrested and charged.

Following a trial, Nelson was found guilty of supplying Class A drugs and unlawful escape from prison and was jailed for 11 years.

PC Wayne Sharrocks, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Kyle Nelson used his extensive criminal network to escape from a nine-year prison sentence for drug supply offences, flee the country, and live a life of luxury abroad.

"When he finally returned to the UK, he immediately continued selling crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of York using his own brand name 'Banksy'."

Two 'bullies' jailed after kidnapping and attacking friend

Two men described by police as "bullies" have been jailed after kidnapping and attacking a man who considered them friends.

Mason Senior and James Kershaw met the victim in Hornsea and enticed him into their car by telling him they were going to see a mutual friend.

Instead, they drove him to a secluded location and demanded his phone, password, wallet and house keys.

The victim told police Senior punched him in the face while Kershaw held him by the wrists to prevent him from escaping.

After initially managing to flee, the man was stamped on by Senior and dragged back into the car before eventually escaping and seeking help at a nearby petrol station.

Kershaw later handed himself in to police following a public appeal, while Senior was found in Beverley several weeks later.

Senior, 25, of Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, admitted kidnap and robbery and was jailed for five years at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday (Aug 12).

Kershaw, also 25, of Haggitt Grove, Beverley, admitted robbery and was jailed for three years.

PC Tom Gordge, of Humberside Police, said: "Bullies like Senior and Kershaw must be held accountable for their actions, and violent crime of any nature will not be tolerated in our communities."

Child sex offender jailed after arranging to meet '14-year-old girl'

A 74-year-old man who travelled to Sheffield railway station with Viagra to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl has been jailed.

Stephen Greaves, of Park Grange Croft, Sheffield, went to the station on July 26, 2021, believing he was meeting a girl he had been grooming for weeks.

Instead, he was intercepted by a paedophile hunter group, which reported him to British Transport Police. Greaves was arrested and officers found a blister pack of Viagra in his possession.

Forensic analysis of his phone uncovered hundreds of messages between Greaves and the person he believed was the girl, as well as conversations with others he thought were underage.

Detectives also discovered child sexual abuse material he had saved, including two videos in the most severe category.

Before arranging the meeting, Greaves had also sent a photograph of his genitals and sexually explicit messages to the person he believed was the 14-year-old girl.

Greaves pleaded guilty to eight charges, including attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming, attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of children.

At Sheffield Crown Court on July 31, he was jailed for two years and eight months and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Sports car dealership director jailed for fraud

A director of a high-value sports car dealership has been jailed after fraudulently selling customers' vehicles and keeping the money.

Andrew Mearns, 57, from Llandudno, was a director of Gmund Cars Limited in Knaresborough between December 2006 and July 2019.

The business specialised in modifying and trading expensive vehicles, particularly Porsches, and Mearns agreed to sell cars for customers on a commission basis.

Customers became concerned after discovering their vehicles had been sold but they had not received the money they were owed.

The offences centred on 14 reports made between October 2017 and July 2019, prompting an extensive investigation by North Yorkshire Police.

Mearns pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud at Sheffield Crown Court and, on Friday (Aug 14), was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Police Staff Investigator Corrina Graham-Merrett said: "Mearns lied to his customers time and time again."

She added that the financial and emotional impact on his victims had been "nothing short of devastating".