CRIMINALS across south Essex were jailed for a number of different crimes this month including a landmark case which saw a Basildon man jailed over first UK cyber-flashing offence.

Here are south Essex criminals jailed in March:

1. Nicholas Hawkes, 39, from Basildon:

Hawkes was jailed for 66 weeks, after being convicted of the first ‘cyber-flashing’ offence in the UK.

He appeared at Southend Crown Court on Tuesday, March 19 where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation.

Hawke’s conviction was the first in the UK for this offence, which was introduced in 2023 under the Online Safety Act.

READ MORE >> https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24195291.basildon-man-first-convicted-cyber-flashing-jailed/

2. Arber Tota, 28, of no fixed address:

Tota, who was caught attempting to flee a cannabis farm housing almost 200 plants, was jailed for 20 months.

He admitted to his role producing cannabis after a warrant was executed at an address in Westcliff on Tuesday, February 13 before being sentenced on March 13.

Once inside, officers located Tota within a bedroom, catching him as he tried to flee through an open window.

The property featured four rooms set up to facilitate a significant cannabis grow, with 178 plants at various stages of growth discovered.

READ MORE >> https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24193040.westcliff-cannabis-farm-found-suspect-attempts-flee/

3. Bob Kiskidi, 24:

Drug dealer Kiskidi was handed a “lengthy” sentence after his “third strike” in Southend.

He was jailed for six years following an investigation into the county lines gangs operating in south Essex.

These enquiries focused on the “Top” line, which was active in Southend supplying crack cocaine and heroin to users between November 2022 and September 2023.

He was later charged with and admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

READ MORE >> https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24185782.southend-drug-dealer-sentenced-third-strike/

4. Daniel Holloway, 37, of Goodwood Avenue, Hornchurch:

Holloway was jailed after stealing from a Benfleet family “who gave him a roof over his head when he fell on hard times”.

He was jailed for 16 months after admitting two counts of burglary and two counts of fraud. 

Essex Police launched an investigation after it was reported that numerous items had been stolen from two Benfleet properties in June and July 2022.

Holloway was arrested by police and a search of his phone revealed that he had sold the items or borrowed money against them.

READ MORE >> https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24158231.benfleet-fraud-case-sees-hornchurch-man-jailed-16-months/

5. Jordan Yakulu, 24, of Moretons, Basildon, and Jay Silver, of Merivale, Benfleet:

Two men were jailed for a total of 40 years for attempted murder after a "brutal and sustained attack" which left their victim fighting for life.

A man in his 30s had been walking along Wimbish End, Pitsea, towards Chalvedon shops at around 3.50pm on February 16, 2021, when he recognised a group of men he knew.

The man had recently had issues with the group and attempted to get away from the area but was chased up Mill Green, and towards Ashlyns.

Stopping in a small car park off Mill Green he was attacked, stabbed by one of the members under the armpit with a Rambo knife.

The rest of the group then joined in the attack, before walking off – leaving the victim lying on the floor with serious injuries.

Jordan Yakulu, 24, of Moretons, Pitsea, was jailed for 19 years and Jay Silver, 22, of Merrivale, Benfleet was jailed for 21 years.

READ MORE >> https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24158092.basildon-attempted-murder-case-sees-two-men-jailed/