A husband who murdered his wife with a claw hammer, a drug dealer who seriously injured a taxi driver during a 130mph police chase and two people who attacked a man and woman in Hull are among the latest cases heard in Yorkshire courts.
Published 12th Oct 2026, 16:56 BST
A number of serious criminal cases have recently been heard in courts across Yorkshire. Here is a round-up of some of the latest sentences and hearings.
Husband jailed for life after murdering wife with claw hammer
A husband who murdered his wife with a claw hammer before hiding her body in a chest freezer and searching for escorts has been jailed for life.
David Barraclough, 46, killed his wife Carolann Barraclough, 37, at their home in Horbury, Wakefield, before maintaining an elaborate facade for almost two weeks to conceal her death.
Leeds Crown Court heard how Barraclough emptied their bank accounts, downloaded a dating app and exchanged explicit messages online while his wife's body remained in the freezer.
He also used Mrs Barraclough's phone to convince her daughter that she was exchanging messages with her mother in hospital.
On Friday (Oct 9), Barraclough was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and one month.
Judge Andrew Stubbs KC described the killing as “a brutal attack with a hammer whilst she lay in bed in the house you shared with her three children who were all present in the house at the time”.
Barraclough had walked into a police station on March 5 and admitted killing his wife on February 20, claiming he had been a victim of domestic abuse.
However, the judge described his account as “riddled with lies”, explaining that Barraclough had subjected his wife to years of domestic violence and abuse.
Barraclough refused to leave the cells to attend his sentencing hearing.
Drug dealer jailed after 130mph A1(M) police chase leaves taxi driver seriously injured
A drug dealer who reached speeds of more than 130mph while fleeing police on the A1(M), before crashing into a taxi and seriously injuring its driver, has been jailed for eight years.
James Johnson, 31, from Salford, was driving a white Audi A3 northbound on the A1(M) on Friday (Aug 28) when officers signalled for him to stop.
Instead, Johnson accelerated away, weaving between heavy traffic and reaching speeds exceeding 130mph.
As he approached junction 44 near Tadcaster, his vehicle crashed into a taxi, leaving its driver with serious injuries, including broken bones.
Following his arrest, officers searched Johnson's car and discovered 10kg of cocaine.
He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and driving without a licence or insurance.
At York Crown Court on Friday (Oct 9), Johnson was sentenced to eight years in prison, with his Audi also ordered to be forfeited.
DC Will Robertson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Johnson showed a blatant disregard for other drivers on what was a very busy road.”
He added that Johnson's dangerous driving had seriously injured the taxi driver and destroyed his means of earning a living.
Two sentenced after armed attack leaves man and woman with serious head injuries
Two people described by police as a “dangerous duo” have been sentenced after attacking a man and woman with weapons outside a Hull property.
Scott Harrison, 21, of Bridlington Avenue, Hull, was jailed for six years and three months after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent.
Bethany Davis, 25, of Appleton Road, Hull, received a one-year-and-six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting grievous bodily harm without intent.
Police were called to Appleton Road on February 25 following reports of an altercation involving weapons, which left two people with serious head injuries.
The incident began after a woman asked Harrison for money he owed her.
Harrison arrived outside her home behaving aggressively and confronted her with what was believed to be a machete, striking her across the head and causing a deep facial wound.
Davis was also seen swinging what was thought to be a hockey stick during the confrontation, with a man suffering a head injury.
Both victims were taken to hospital.
Harrison and Davis initially denied more serious charges, but entered guilty pleas to grievous bodily harm offences on the first day of their trial.
Detective Constable Chloe Campbell-Hamilton, of Humberside Police, described the pair as a “dangerous duo” who had attended the woman's home armed with weapons.
She said the victims continued to live with the physical and psychological effects of the attack.
Driver jailed after ramming police car with officers inside
A dangerous driver who rammed a police car in Huddersfield while two officers were inside has been jailed for one year and nine months.
Karam Tofeek was driving a grey BMW X5 along Leeds Road on July 23 when officers stopped him on suspicion of driving without insurance.
After initially pulling over, Tofeek refused to switch off his engine before ramming into a police vehicle positioned in front of him.
The incident caused approximately £6,000 worth of damage, although neither officer was injured.
Tofeek continued refusing instructions to turn off the engine and was arrested.
He was convicted of dangerous driving and sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday (Oct 7).
He was also disqualified from driving for three years and seven months and fined £187.
Sergeant Andrew Johnson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Two officers were put in an extremely dangerous situation when the defendant rammed their police vehicle.”
He added that the incident highlighted the risks officers face while protecting their communities.