County sentences reflect range of serious offences
Courts across Hertfordshire have this month passed prison terms on six men convicted of offences that include large-scale fraud, sexual assault and possession of dangerous weapons. The cases, heard at different courts, underline a mix of organised fraud and violent offending affecting communities from Watford to Borehamwood.
Kevin Nwamma, 25, of Clarendon Road in Watford, was one of the more high‑value cases reported. Prosecutors say Nwamma and two accomplices impersonated police officers to con eight victims out of cryptocurrency, persuading them to transfer funds to accounts believed to be secure. He was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit fraud and a concurrent five years for money laundering.
Sexual offending and assaults
Two other cases involved sexual offending. A man from Borehamwood, identified in court records as Obinwa Obichukwu, 45, was described by investigating officers as a "predator" after being convicted of two counts of sexual assault. He received a custodial term of two years following the trial.
In the most serious sexual‑offence case reported, Ben Kasperczak, formerly of Hertford Road in Welwyn, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court of multiple counts including rape, assault by penetration and non‑fatal strangulation. The court found him guilty of seven counts of sexual assault; he was sentenced to 13 years in custody. During the trial the victim told the court of the lasting impact the offences had on her life.
"There are no words to truly convey what this period of my life has been like. I was constantly in a state of fear. I was terrified of seeing him. I was completely consumed by panic and flashba"
Weapons and public-safety breaches
Other sentences reflect risks to public safety. Darren Lane, aged 52 at the time of his arrest, who had previously been banned from Watford town centre over possession of an axe, was jailed for four years after admitting to handling stolen goods and breaching Criminal Behaviour Orders. Police recovered a machete during his arrest.
The roundup emphasises the variety of offending that local police and prosecutors deal with, from targeted frauds exploiting online finance systems to physical and sexual assaults in public places.
- Fraud and money laundering: impersonation of police officers, large cryptocurrency losses to victims.
- Sexual offences: convictions for multiple counts including rape and assault by penetration.
- Weapons and public order: arrests involving machetes and previous bans from town centres.
| Name | Offence | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Nwamma | Conspiracy to commit fraud; money laundering (crypto scam) | 6 years (fraud); 5 years concurrent |
| Obinwa Obichukwu | Two counts of sexual assault | 2 years |
| Darren Lane | Handling stolen goods; breaching Criminal Behaviour Orders (machete seized) | 4 years |
| Ben Kasperczak | Multiple sexual offences including rape and assault by penetration; non‑fatal strangulation | 13 years |
The cases were brought by Hertfordshire and national policing teams where appropriate, with victims and witnesses giving evidence during trials. Sentences reflect both the severity of the crimes and the courts' assessments of harm to victims and risk to the public.
Further details on individual cases are held on public court records. Anyone with information about similar offending can contact Hertfordshire Constabulary or report anonymously to Crimestoppers.
