Locked Up in January: The criminals jailed in Greater Manchester this month

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A knifeman who caused terror in the city centre as he randomly stabbed homeless people and two dealers who killed a vulnerable drug addict in his own flat were just some of the dangerous offenders jailed in our region in the last month.

A 'devious' drug addict who savagely murdered her mother 'in cold blood' and a 'predator' who brought an 'extremely drunk' teenage girl back to his hotel room before sexually assaulting her were also put behind bars in January.

Jail sentences are handed out to the worst offenders each week and Manchester Evening News reporters are in court to cover the most serious cases.

Here are some of the criminals locked up in Greater Manchester in January.

A man attacked his love rival with a stair spindle after he turned up at his ex-girlfriend's house uninvited.

Lee Paul Watts, 50, had been told by a friend that Lee Collier was at the woman's house - despite being prohibited from going there by means of a DVPO (Domestic Violence Protection Order).

When Watts, of Worsley, arrived, the pair began to fight, with Mr Collier kicking a spindle from the stairs, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The fight moved outside, at which point Watts grabbed the spindle from him, and struck him ‘five to ten’ times.

Mr Collier was left with six marks to his back, including on which measured 15 centimetres, as well as two lacerations to his head and face.

The court was told that he and Watts’ ex-partner has not assisted with the prosecution.

Watts pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for 37 months.

Three members of a robbery gang have been jailed for a total of eight years.

The group, led by Munther Alothman, terrorised the streets of Bolton.

Mustafa Aldulaimi, Mesaadi Saeed,