The biggest Southampton court cases of 2024 – full list

No year is the same, but the constant amidst the chaos is the work of criminal courts, both in Southampton and further afield.

Both Southampton and Winchester Crown Courts have heard shocking and nauseating cases in the past 12 months.

From trials to sentencings, here are the biggest cases of 2024.

Mark Noke murder trial

Mark Noke, centre (Image: NQ) In February 2023, Thornhill resident Mark Noke, 64, was murdered in his own home after five masked men with a knife and gun burst into the wrong flat.

He sadly died at the scene.

The harrowing trial of the five men took place at Winchester Crown Court in January, where the jury heard how the gang of masked men turned up at his home, seeking cash, drugs and jewellery.

But Mr Noke’s home was not the one they were looking for, and a knife was plunged into his chest.

Kieran Claffey, Leighton Tabone and Justin Roach were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum of 29, 27 and 27 years in March.

Aaron Morgan and Bradley O'Dell were convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 15 years each.

Rogue trader fleeces thousands from customers

Rogue trader and ex builder Lawrence Martin appeared before Southampton crown Court in February to be sentenced.

This was after he delayed the process by a number of weeks, citing various reasons why he could not attend.

He repeatedly failed to appear in court after he pleaded guilty to the offences in October 2023.

When Martin did attend, the court heard how he stole £642,000 from more than 50 customers who were left penniless in his wake.

He preyed on numerous vulnerable clients, including a widow, those with disabilities, and the family of a terminally ill man.

Sharon Netley, from Chichester, forked out £92,668.55 to Martin and later had to pay £22,000 to fix his dodgy work.

He was handed a five-year prison sentence.

Daisy Dip stabbing

Mustafa Mokhtar (Image: Hampshire Constabulary) The Swaythling community was rocked by the news that a man had been stabbed with a samurai sword in October of 2023.

The victim, Benjamin Glasspool, survived but was left with a gaping wound after being attacked in Laburnum Road.

The attacker - 16-year-old Mustafa Mokhtar – sliced through three of his ribs and punctured his lung.

Mokhtar was acquitted of attempted murder following a trial in April this year but was jailed for four years and four months detention with a three-year extended licence period for wounding with intent.

Mokhtar's identity was revealed after an application by the Daily Echo for a Section 45 reporting restriction to be lifted.

The initial order, which lasted from Mokhtar's first appearance in court until his sentencing last week, prevented any person, including the media, from identifying him as connected to the proceedings.

Judge Parker granted the Echo's application to name him, which cited the importance of open justice and that it was in the public interest for Mokhtar to be named publicly.

Neighbour murdered for cash

As the year drew to a close, a shocking murder trial was heard at Southampton Crown Court in November.

Thomas Ellison, 35, was found guilty of murdering his 58-year-old neighbour Ian Jupe on May 28 of this year.

The unanimous verdict was reached by the jury in less than five hours.

The court heard how Ellison strangled Jupe, stole his card, and withdrew the contents of his bank account - £481.10 - from a nearby post office, buying lottery tickets while Jupe's body was not even cold.

He later spent around £300 on cocaine with the deceased’s money.

Ellison was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years.