Here's our round up of the top Essex crimes in court this week.

  • A man has entered a guilty plea as part of our ongoing investigation into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals.

Dragos Stefan Damian, 27, of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday, Tuesday 16 November, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Damian was arrested just outside of Milan on Thursday 10 June in connection with our ongoing investigation into the deaths of 39 people who were discovered in a lorry trailer in Grays in October 2019.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on January 14.

  • A KILLER who attacked in the street after an altercation has been jailed for 12 years.

Radu Ciobanu, 24, of Kings Chase, Witham was sentenced after the death of James Avis in Hainault Avenue at around 10.35pm on Saturday, September 25.

Ciobanu appeared at Basildon Crown Court this morning where he was jailed after admitted manslaughter on Monday.

They had spent the afternoon and evening drinking with a group of other people During the afternoon 24 year-old Ciobanu and James, who was 35, got into an argument and Ciobanu headbutted him.

Investigating offices were told they then resolved their differences but got into another argument later on in the evening at which point Ciobanu suggested they settle the matter through a fight.