Court round-up: Police van arsonist jailed, child abuser sentenced and driver spared prison

A man who set fire to a police van, an 18-year-old jailed for raping two girls, a child sex offender caught with more than 87,000 indecent images and a driver who caused a pensioner's death are among the latest cases heard in Yorkshire courts.

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.

Man jailed for setting police van on fire during Leeds demonstration

A man who used an accelerant to set fire to a police van during a demonstration in Leeds city centre has been jailed for 10 years and eight months.

Emergency crews were called to Calverley Street at around 2.33pm on November 1, 2025, after the vehicle was set alight while a demonstration was taking place.

The road was cordoned off between Great George Street and The Headrow as firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Hakam Ghaith, 29, of no fixed abode, previously pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

At Leeds Crown Court on Friday (Aug 21), he was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison.

PC Charlotte Sampson, of Leeds CID, said Ghaith had put himself and others in danger, adding: "He did not know if there was anyone in the vehicle at the time and given how busy the area was, there was also potential for others in the vicinity to be hurt."

No one was injured, but police said the damage took a vital vehicle out of service.

18-year-old jailed for raping two girls

An 18-year-old has been jailed for raping two girls who were forced to give evidence for a second time after he appealed against his convictions.

The crimes committed by Sam Brewster, from the Redcar and Cleveland area, were first reported to police in April 2024, when he was a juvenile.

Following an investigation, Brewster was charged with numerous offences and stood trial in August 2025, when he was convicted of a number of offences.

He later appealed against his convictions, with the case heard at Teesside Crown Court in March this year. The two girls were required to give evidence again during the process and two rape convictions were ultimately upheld.

On Wednesday (Aug 19), Brewster, now 18, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Detective Constable Jack McPhillips praised the victims' bravery, saying they had suffered the trauma of going through the court process twice and repeatedly having to relive what happened.

Bradford man jailed after more than 87,000 indecent images uncovered

A Bradford man has been jailed after police discovered more than 87,000 indecent images and videos of children on his devices, including material obtained using secret cameras.

Richard Pooley, 60, was identified after police received intelligence in October 2024 that indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet.

He was arrested and his devices seized, with subsequent examinations uncovering more than 87,000 images and videos.

Police said some of the material had been obtained using "spy cameras" to secretly film children.

Pooley was convicted of offences including three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, possession of a prohibited image of a child and operating equipment beneath the clothing of another person without consent.

At Bradford Crown Court on Thursday (Aug 20), he was jailed for three years and 10 months.

Pooley was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

PC William Metcalf described it as "one of the worst cases of indecent images of children I have ever seen in my career".

Driver spared jail after stuffed toys blocked view before fatal crash

A driver who caused the death of an 80-year-old man after stuffed toys hanging in her car significantly impeded her view has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Rosemarie Ozsko, 65, struck John Nottingham near traffic lights in Wakefield in March 2024 after driving through as they changed from amber to red.

Investigators found two small stuffed toys hanging from the rear-view mirror had "significantly" impeded her view of Mr Nottingham as he crossed the road.

Ozsko stopped to help following the crash, but Mr Nottingham died in hospital from his injuries the following day.

She admitted causing death by careless driving and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday (Aug 20) to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Ozsko, from Wakefield, was also disqualified from driving for two years.

Mr Nottingham's family described him as a "much-loved husband, father, grandfather and family member" who is missed by all who knew him.