Jailed: Nine violent and dangerous Black Country and Staffordshire criminals who faced justice this month
September has seen a series of prolific Black Country and Staffordshire offenders finally locked up for their crimes.
Every week, dozens of criminals pass through West Midlands courtrooms to face justice for their crimes against residents and businesses.
Those crimes range from theft and robbery to assault and even murder.
In our monthly round-up, the Express & Star takes a look back at some of the most serious cases to have passed through our court system, and those criminals who were banged up for their crimes.
September alone saw more than nine criminals locked away for crimes against the public, with this month seeing drug dealers, thieves, murderers and even terrorists handed their sentences.
From Wolverhampton to Birmingham and Stafford, here are nine criminals to face justice this month.
Klajdi Mehalla
Klajdi Mehalla, aged 35, of Birkenhead, Merseyside, was jailed for three and a half years on Friday, September 26, for charges relating to possession with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply, and use of a motor vehicle without third-party insurance.
Staffordshire Police officers stopped him while he was sitting in a car in Rugeley in April.
Four snap bags of cocaine were discovered inside the vehicle, along with messages on his mobile phone advertising the sale of cocaine and cannabis in the area.
He told officers that the cocaine was 'for his own use'; however, through a police investigation, it was found that Mehalla was playing a key role in an Albanian criminal group and was responsible for the sale of drugs to customers across England.
Brian Armstrong and Amarie Haughton
Brian Armstrong and Amarie Haughton, aged 59 and 23 respectively, were jailed after being caught with cash, cocaine and diamorphine in February this year.
The pair were arrested following an investigation by West Midlands Police, with both later pleading guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.
It was found that Haughton ran drug lines across the Whitmore Reans, Low Hill and East Park areas, with Armstrong being a runner, delivering sales on the street.
Haughton, of Hurstbourne Crescent, Portobello, was sentenced to four years and two months, with Armstrong, of Glaisdale Gardens, Whitmore Reans, ordered to serve three years and one month.
Ismael Watson
Muslim convert Ismael Watson, from Walsall, formerly known as Jack, was sentenced to two years and four months on Friday, September 19, after pleading guilty to breaching bail conditions.
Watson, aged 35, was previously convicted of terrorism offences in 2017 after attempting to enter Syria to fight for the Islamic State a year earlier.
The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to having failed to give his home address or contact details for four separate mobile phone numbers to the authorities after his arrest in London in September 2024.
Shane Davis
Shane Davis, aged 36, of Stone, was found guilty of five sexual offences following a trial on Tuesday, September 17.
The court heard how Davis had made forceful advances on victims and pressured them into sexual acts against their will between 2018 and 2023.
Davis was charged with seven offences, including three counts of rape of a woman, three counts of sexual assault of a female, and one count of intentional strangulation.
He was jailed for 17 years.
Stephen Smart
Stephen Smart, aged 34, of Scotia Road, Cannock, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
It came following an incident on the A5, in Cannock, on Thursday, December 21, 2023, that led to the death of mother-of-two, Helen Klich, and the serious injury of two others.
It was found that Smart had been inhaling nitrous oxide via balloons through the journey prior to the crash.
He was jailed for more than 14 years, and banned from driving for 15 years and eight months.
Matthew Jonathan
Matthew Jonathan, aged 39, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 32 years following the murder of 54-year-old Jamie Gawler.
The body of Jamie was discovered severely beaten in Brierley Court, Hereford, on January 18, 2025.
Video footage showed Matthew torture and direct homophobic abuse towards Jamie as he abused his victim.
Jamie was found to have been beaten and subjected to a series of serious assaults over the course of several days.
Matthew was sentenced on September 12 at Worcester Crown Court.
Ayon Wilson
Ayon Wilson, aged 22, from Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to two years and six months on September 22 following a police investigation into the 'Prada' drugs line.
The investigation found that Ayon had been exploited by drug gangs from the age of 13, and transported class A drugs from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury, where he advertised them for sale by text messages.
While he had no previous convictions, when police searched him and then an address associated with him on April 30, 2024, they discovered more than £1,500 in cash, eight wraps of cocaine worth £160 in total, multiple mobile phones, SIM cards, train tickets, notes of counterfeit cash and a set of scales.
He originally pleaded not guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of criminal property and simple possession of class A drugs; however, he changed his plea to guilty at a later date.
Paul Topham
Paul Topham, aged 46, of Birmingham, was convicted of a minimum term of 33 years following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court on September 11.
Topham murdered 94-year-old great-grandfather, Harold Monk, in the early hours of October 3, 2024.
The court heard how Topham entered Mr Monk's home in Bradmore, Wolverhampton, before pushing Mr Monk to the floor, and proceeding to launch a brutal, prolonged assault.
Mr Monk was left with extensive bruising, multiple rib fractures, spinal fractures, facial injuries and a brain haemorrhage, and later died from his injuries on October 4.
Topham originally pleaded guilty to burglary and manslaughter; however, the Crown Prosecution Service rejected the plea, and the case went to trial, where he was convicted of murder.
