Recent round-up of Watford area residents taken to court

The numerous cases dealt with by magistrates and crown courts also include a "professional criminal" accused of an attack at London Euston Station, as well as a 34-year-old man accused of a shoplifting spree worth £1,200.

A teenager from Watford also landed in court just weeks after he was released on bail over an knife offence.

Read the full list below:

Ashleigh Knapp

Ashleigh Knapp, of Langley Road in Watford, appeared at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Monday (September 9) for sentencing over two counts of using racially or religiously words towards two policemen in Watford on July 11, as well as assault by beating of a police officer in Hatfield on the same day. 

The 32-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to all charges, but the case was sent to St Albans Crown Court for sentencing on October 4 due to its severity and Knapp was remanded into custody.

Silviu Branzei

Silviu Branzei, of Brixton Road in Watford, appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court on Monday (September 9) charged with three counts of theft from shopping centre businesses.

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing £544.96 worth of clothes from Superdry on August 5, multiple Dior perfumes worth £530 on August 17, and a pair of Prada sunglasses worth £220 from Boots on Sunday, September 8.

Branzei was banned from atria Watford until he is sentenced for a string of thefts across August and September. (Image: Newsquest) Branzei was released on conditional bail and banned from entering the shopping centre before his  sentencing hearing at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on October 3. 

Makan Patel

A 60-year-old man from Watford has been jailed for three years over a £50,000 blackmail plot.

Makan Patel, of Ridge Lane, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court this morning (September 13) for sentencing over one count of blackmail.

Patel was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday. (Image: PA/Unsplash)

The 60-year-old had previously admitted making an "unwarranted demand” of £50,000 from another man “with menaces” in Eltham, south London, on May 28.

In court yesterday (September 13), Patel was sentenced to three years in jail and was ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge upon his release.

Watford 17-year-old

A Watford teenager appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (September 12) for breaching his bail conditions just weeks after he was in court over a knife offence.

The 17-year-old had been banned from entering the London borough of London in court on August 22 after he admitted having a "Rambo" knife in Akerman Road the previous day.

He admitted the breach and was re-released on conditional bail before his sentencing hearing at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on September 18.

Daniel Blyth

Daniel Blyth, of Briar Road in Watford, was ordered to pay over £300 at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on Friday (September 13) over using his phone while driving.

The 49-year-old had previously pleaded not guilty to using his mobile at the Hanger Lane junction in Ealing on December 27, 2023,  but was found guilty this week.

He was ordered to pay a £165 fine as well as a £66 victim surcharge and £100 in court costs.

Arteos Frangu

Arteos Frangu, of Upton Road, was sentenced on Friday, September 6, at the City of London Magistrates' Court over one count of assault causing actual bodily harm. 

The 23-year-old had denied attacking a man at London Euston Station on June 6, 2023, but was found guilty in court on Friday (September 6). 

Frangu was jailed on Friday over an attack at London Euston in 2023. (Image: Google Maps) Frangu was jailed for 26 weeks, as the court files state “the number and nature of the offences shows that the defendant is operating as a professional criminal”, and ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the victim.

Frangu was also due to be tried for assault by beating over the same attack, which he had denied, but the court files state this was adjourned without a set future date.