A number of harrowing cases came before the courts last year
Some of the longest sentences handed down in North Wales in 2025 went to (clockwise from top left) Matthew Hardy, Joanna Wronska, Dean Mears, Paul Ince, Thomas Iveson, Shannon Ives, Kerry Ives and Michael Ives(Image: North Wales Police)
Grandparents who murdered their grandson, a man who “ferociously” killed his flatmate and another who punched an older man in a piece of “mindless, drunken aggression” were among offenders given the longest jail sentences in North Wales in 2025.
It was a year in which a series of brutal and harrowing cases reached their legal conclusions. Victims included a “wonderful nan” and another man who was subjected to “unspeakable violence”.
In another case a “wicked” knifemen also targeted a victim. A long sentence was also given to former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
Matthew Hardy
Matthew Hardy, 37, of Wheat Close, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, was jailed for life for murdering Antony Derwent(Image: North Wales Police)
In April, a man was jailed for life for the “ferocious and merciless” murder of his flatmate. Matthew Hardy inflicted 40 injuries on Antony Derwent after cuckooing, or taking, over his home in Gwersyllt.
A judge at Mold Crown Court said there had been an “explosion” of rage from the 37-year-old killer from Wrexham but only he will know why he targeted his victim – who was 5ft 5fin tall, visually impaired and had mobility problems.
Mr Derwent, who was 16 years older than his killer, sustained a broken spine and seven rib fractures, and severe mouth and head injuries in the attack in Wheat Close on April 6 or early April 7 last year.
Joanna Wronska
Joanna Wronska, 51, of Pentre Gwyn, Wrexham, was jailed for life for the murder of Marcin Koziol(Image: North Wales Police)
A woman who stabbed her partner to death was jailed for life in May this year. Joanna Katarzyna Wronska, 51, of Pentre Gwyn, Wrexham, must serve a minimum term of 15 years and four months for murdering Marcin Koziol.
Wronska stabbed Mr Koziol to death in a “drunken temper” at their home in Pentre Gwyn before washing the knife in the kitchen sink. At Mold Crown Court, the judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands told Wronska she had been extremely drunk and it had been a “momentary, explosive loss of temper on your part”.
He said: “It goes without saying this was a tragic loss of a man’s life and a dreadful waste of your immediate future.” Dressed in a grey top under a smart black suit Wronska showed no reaction as the sentence was handed down.
Dean Mears
Dean Mears was found guilty of murdering Catherine Flynn(Image: North Wales Police)
An “abhorrent” murderer who stamped a woman to death in her own home was jailed for life in June. Dean Mears smashed his way into the home of “wonderful nan” Catherine Flynn as she slept, before launching a “brutal” attack on her last October.
Mears had admitted killing Mrs Flynn, but denied murder. He said he was unable to offer an explanation for his actions during the trial, and a jury later found him guilty.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told Mears he will serve a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years and 128 days. Mrs Flynn, 69, of Cefndy Road, Rhyl, was left with catastrophic injuries and died in hospital the next day. Audio footage of the murder was captured on Mrs Flynn’s doorbell camera.
Gareth Bird
Gareth Bird(Image: North Wales Police)
Ricky Jones
Ricky Jones(Image: North Wales Police)
Two “wicked” knifemen robbed a man they wrongly thought was a drug dealer. Gareth Bird cut his victim’s face, and Ricky Jones made a threat as they left.
In September Mold Crown Court heard the men thought they would find drugs or money in the robbery at the property in Rhosddu Road, Wrexham on March 4. They admitted robbery of victim Darren Millward.
Bird, 45, of Crescent Close, Wrexham, was jailed for eight years while Ricky Jones, 37, of no fixed address, was jailed for six years and four months. Bird will serve at least two thirds of his term, while Jones will serve up to half of his custodial term.
Michael Ives
Michael Ives was convicted of murdering his grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths(Image: North Wales Police)
Kerry Ives
Kerry Ives was convicted of murdering her grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths(Image: North Wales Police)
Shannon Ives
Shannon was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of her son Ethan Ives-Griffiths(Image: North Wales Police)
The grandparents who murdered their grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths in 2021 were jailed for life in October this year. Michael Ives, 48, and Kerry Ives, 46, were handed minimum terms of 23 years and 17 years respectively for the murder of their two-year-old grandson.
Michael Ives also received a nine-year jail term for child cruelty to run concurrently. Kerry Ives was also given a six-year concurrent jail term for child cruelty.
Ethan’s mother Shannon Ives of Rhes-y-Cae, near Holywell, was sentenced to 12 years for causing or allowing the death of a child. She was also handed a five year term for child cruelty which will run concurrently.
Paul Ince
Paul Ince, 31, of Cefn Road, Abenbury, Wrexham, was convicted of the manslaughter of John Ithell(Image: North Wales Police)
In November a thug was jailed for eight years for killing a Wrexham man. John Ithell had turned up at a flat looking for drugs. But Paul Ince, 31, of Cefn Road, Abenbury, Wrexham stormed downstairs and punched him in the back garden.
The blow sent 59-year-old Mr Ithell reeling back “four or five feet” against a wooden fence. Although he was later able to walk away he was found later that morning in a hedge by a cyclist.
Paramedics took him to Wrexham Maelor Hospital where he died over four hours after the attack. A jury at Mold Crown Court cleared Ince of murder. But they found him guilty of Mr Ithell’s manslaughter and he was branded “cynical” and “remorseless” by a judge.
His Honour Rhys Rowlands, said Ince punched Mr Ithell in a piece of “mindless, drunken aggression”. He said Mr Ithell was some 30 years older and old enough to be his father. He weighed eight and a half stone and was “extremely frail” and “vulnerable”. He was struck and badly injured in front of his late friend Rebecca Baldini who then ran off fearing for her safety.
Thomas Iveson
Thomas Iveson, 30, of Llyndir Lane, Burton, Rossett(Image: North Wales Police)
A man who punched and killed a dad with “unspeakable violence” was jailed for nine years in November. Thomas Iveson from Wrexham repeatedly punched Craig Joseph Richardson in a flat in the Plas Madoc area of Acrefair with such force his jaw bone was left floating in his face.
Iveson launched the attack after he was assaulted by Mr Richardson on February 23 this year but the response was “out of all proportion”. On November 7 a jury found Iveson, 30, of Llyndir Lane, Burton, Rossett, unanimously guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Richardson, 37, after clearing him of murder.
The judge The Honourable Mrs Justice Eady jailed him for nine years. He was also sentenced to an extended licence period of four years whenever he is released, making a total sentence of 13 years.
Nathan Gill
Nathan Gill(Image: Metropolitan Police/PA)
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales was jailed for ten-and-a-half years after admitting making pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament for cash.
Nathan Gill, 52, of Llangefni, Anglesey, was sentenced at the Old Bailey in November after previously admitting eight counts of bribery on dates between December 6, 2018 and July 18, 2019.
Gill’s activities were said to include making pro-Russian statements about events in Ukraine in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine.
During a previous hearing, prosecuting Mark Heywood KC, said the offences concerned Gill’s time as a member of the European Parliament, having been originally elected for the UK Independence Party (Ukip).
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