THOSE sentenced in April include a man who repeatedly punched and spat at a transgender woman outside her own home and a man who used job at library to groom a child.

Courts across the county have given out hefty prison sentences for all manner of crimes last month.

These are just some of the court cases our reporters covered last month.

Here are the criminals and their crimes:

Aston Hannis, Charlie Statham, Paul White and Corin Barlow

Andover Advertiser: Aston Hannis, Charlie Statham, Paul White and Corin BarlowAston Hannis, Charlie Statham, Paul White and Corin Barlow

FRIENDS who lured a drugs supplier to a rural layby and then shot him at point-blank range were jailed for a total of 95 years.

Gurinderjit Rai, 41, was shot in the head and neck by sawn-off Beretta 12-bore shotgun in Shepherds Farm Lane, Corhampton, on July 12, 2019. He was found the following day by two horseriders.

An eight-week trial at Winchester Crown Court was told that Hannis was a dealer who supplied cocaine and cannabis to the Winchester area. Hannis has a large outstanding debt to Mr Rai who supplied him with the drugs.

On the night of the murder, Hannis and arranged to meet Mr Rai, who was originally from Eastleigh but was more recently based in Cheshire, in Shepherds Farm Lane, Corhampton.

Mr Rai thought that the meeting was to collect money, but it was there that Hannis and friend Charlie Statham, of Crescent Close, Oliver's Battery, "carried out the execution".

The shots were fire from a Mercedes A-class saloon car containing Hannis and Statham.

The pair are believed to have then dumped the car in a field where it was set alight and they were picked up by Paul White, of 27, of Dyson Drive, Abbot’s Barton.

The gun used in the murder was supplied by Corin Barlow, 41, of no fixed abode, but formerly of Lumley Road, Horley, Surrey. Hannis and Statham were found guilty of murder, while White and Barlow were convicted of manslaughter.

Hannis was jailed for life, but he must serve a minimum term of 35 years, Statham was also sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 28 years.

White was jailed for 15 years for manslaughter and Barlow was sentenced for 17 years for manslaughter. He was also jailed for two years and two months for possessing a sawn-off shotgun without a firearms certificate, which will be served concurrently.

Eriks Valants and Jed Martin

Andover Advertiser: Eriks Valants and Jed MartinEriks Valants and Jed Martin

Eriks Valants and Jed Martin were jailed for 10 years for tying up a 72-year-oldwoman, while they ransacked her home and stole family heirlooms.

The 72-year-old was in bed at around 2.30am on March 23, last year, when she was woken by masked men, shining a torch into her face and asking her for the code for her safe.

They then walked Susan Hunt down the stairs, putting black tape around her hands – tying her to the banister – before putting a pillowcase over her head.

The gang stole cash and jewellery including a Cartier ring, Omega watch, three string pearl necklace and David Morris pearl and diamond necklace with matching earrings, worth around £215,000.

They also took her father-in-law’s Military Cross medal from the Second World War, with a letter signed by King George. None of the items were ever recovered.

The court was told that the robbers gave her water, fruit and a yoghurt, before leaving her home - knowing that she would remain tied up for at least 24 hours.

Glyn Viney

Andover Advertiser: Glyn VineyGlyn Viney

Predator Glyn Viney, of Barton Road, Newport, pretended to be a 16-year-old boy on Snapchat to start online conversations with an underage girl.

He admitted three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of a child.

Viney's primary victim was a 15-year-old girl he first noticed at the library where he worked.

Viney found her contact details through library records and contacted her via email, posing as a 16-year-old boy called Gary Barlow.

Mr Sawyer said conversations between the pair quickly turned sexual, and Viney asked her for sexual images, and for her to carry out sexual acts on herself. The victim reported matters to her foster carer, who contacted police.

The court heard how there was also reference to sexual gratification in the context of the victim being in pain.

Viney, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for three years and four months.

He was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181.

Neil Junior Cleal

Andover Advertiser: Neil Junior Cleal, aged 25, of Victoria Road, Southampton,Neil Junior Cleal, aged 25, of Victoria Road, Southampton,

Neil Junior Cleal repeatedly punched and spat at a transgender woman outside her own home.

The court heard that at around 9pm on July 21 last year, the 25-year-old approached a woman in her 50’s in Ludlow Road while shouting abuse at her, specifically about her gender identity.

Cleal then proceeded to kick down her front gate and walk up to the woman, and spit in her face before punching her several times to the head causing her to fall backwards.

A second incident happened on Wednesday, March 24 this year, when Cleal approached three PCSO’s on patrol in St Mary’s Street and started shouting abuse at them.

Cleal then walked up to one of the PCSOs and pushed him in the arm while making threats towards him.

Cleal, of Victoria Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to ABH, criminal damage and assaulting an emergency worker.

He was jailed for a total of 19 months and two weeks.