The 6 dangerous criminals jailed in Essex in August

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed after repeatedly breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order just days after it was imposed. Mark Ewen, 41, of no fixed abode, was handed a two-year CBO on August 10 following being convicted of multiple shop thefts. The order banned him from entering any Co-op store in Essex and Tesco in Chelmsford. Jailed - Mark Ewen will spend a month in prison (Image: Essex Police) On August 14, Ewen stole wine from a Co-op, and just four days later he was seen inside Tesco in Chelmsford. He was arrested and charged with theft and CBO breaches. Appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on August 19, Ewen was sentenced to one month in prison. Ewen's CBO remains in effect until August 2028. The leader of a major organised crime group has been jailed after spending nearly five years on the run. Max Matthews, 31, of Albion Drive, London, oversaw the trafficking of large volumes of cocaine, heroin, and cannabis across west Essex and London between March and July 2020 before fleeing the UK to evade arrest in July 2021. He was eventually tracked down in Dubai and extradited to the UK in February this year. Jailed - Max Matthews will spend 12 years behind bars (Image: Essex Police) On August 6, he was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Matthews sat at the top of a criminal network that trafficked 74kg of cocaine, 12.5kg of heroin, 50kg of cannabis, and laundered more than £5 million in cash. The operation was uncovered through Operation Venetic, the UK's response to the infiltration of EncroChat—an encrypted messaging service used by criminals to coordinate serious criminal activity. Information from international law enforcement partners helped identify several members of Matthews' group through their EncroChat aliases. Matthews operated under the handles 'Kingspainard' and 'Encrogeezer'. Seven members of the group have already been jailed for a combined total of more than 40 years. Police uncovered extensive evidence, including images of drugs and records detailing the movement of large quantities of drugs and cash. Matthews kept detailed ledgers and was responsible for purchasing multi-kilo amounts of Class A and Class B drugs. The group moved hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash every week. The investigation also revealed the violent nature of the operation. On one occasion, Matthews offered £20,000 to have a person assaulted. Despite fleeing abroad, Matthews eventually admitted his role in the conspiracy after being returned to the UK. His conviction follows the earlier sentencing of his second-in-command, Henry Allpress, who was jailed for 13 years in 2023. Allpress, who used the EncroChat handle 'Comebackking', helped direct drug deliveries, collections, and purchases, as well as launder criminal profits. He was traced to Spain by officers working with the National Crime Agency, his return to the UK was secured, and he was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs and money laundering offences. An eighth man has been jailed after a protest turned violent outside an Essex hotel that housed asylum seekers. Philip Curson, 54, of Brookmans Park Drive in Upminster, was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison for violent disorder following a protest at the Bell Hotel last year. He was convicted following a two-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 10. Chief Inspector Terry Fisher, district commander for Epping, said: "Each of these sentences is a reminder of the impact of this disorder – the community in Epping was left scared and anxious, daily life was disrupted and businesses felt the effect of closing early, with the town's reputation affected. Body-worn video captured Curson kicking a police officer in the leg while officers separated protesters and counter-protesters. Footage also showed him repeatedly at the front of the crowd throughout the afternoon. Jailed - Phillip Curson is the eighth man put behind bars after a protest outside an Essex hotel (Image: Essex Police) Two others were jailed in June for their involvement in the violence. Lee Gower, 44, of Oak Piece in North Weald, was sentenced to two years and nine months after being found guilty by a jury. Shaun Thompson, 38, of Buckingham Road in Epping, received two years and seven months after pleading guilty. Luke Fleming, 22, of Thaxted Road in Buckhurst Hill, received a suspended sentence after admitting the charge at the start of his trial in March. Three more men are awaiting sentencing: Keith Silk, 34, of Torrington Drive in Loughton; Jonathan Glover, 48, of Springfields in Waltham Abbey; and Charlie Land, 24, of Warren Close in Hatfield. In total, 11 men have been convicted for their roles in the disorder, with eight already sentenced. Those jailed so far have received a combined total of more than 12 years in prison. A drug dealer has been jailed after trying to exploit a vulnerable person through cuckooing. Shyeem Chisholm, 26, was sentenced to five years and seven months at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, August 11, after admitting to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. The case began in May when a recovering Class A drug user in Loughton, Essex, contacted police for help, reporting that a dealer had left a bag of crack cocaine and heroin in his flat. The dealer had instructed the man to sell the drugs and hold onto the proceeds until collection. Instead, the victim contacted Essex Police for support. Jailed - Shyeem Chisholm will spend more than five years in prison (Image: Essex Police) Officers quickly identified the situation as cuckooing, a form of exploitation where criminals take over the homes of vulnerable individuals to store, prepare, or supply drugs. Safeguarding measures were put in place, including moving the victim to alternative accommodation. Operation Raptor detectives began working immediately to identify the dealer. Within days, they identified Chisholm and traced him to an address in Enfield. He was arrested on May 11 after officers forced entry to the property. During the raid, police seized a three-figure sum of cash, a drugs line phone, and lists of names and telephone numbers linked to the dealing operation. The court heard that Chisholm had returned to drug dealing after his release from prison to repay a debt, marking his third set of convictions for drug dealing offences. A popular online streamer who featured in a Louis Theroux documentary has been sentenced after appearing before magistrates in Essex. Ed Matthews, 24, of De Paul Way, Brentwood, appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court on August 19 in connection with breaches of a community order. He admitted failing without reasonable excuse to comply with requirements of the order, which had been imposed in relation to an earlier assault by beating offence. Jailed - Ed Matthews has been given a 12-week custodial sentence (Image: PA/Neflix) Court records state Matthews failed to attend planned probation appointments on June 16 and July 7 this year, and did not provide acceptable documentary evidence to explain the absences within the required period. The original community order had been made at Willesden Magistrates' Court in May 2025 after an offence in the London Borough of Barnet. The original charge related to an allegation that Matthews assaulted a man in Barnet on June 9, 2024. Magistrates revoked the order and imposed a 12-week custodial sentence for the original offence. A dangerous burglar who held a 78-year-old woman at knifepoint in her home has been jailed. Danny Mitchell, 20, was sentenced to eight years in prison with a further four years on extended licence after admitting the aggravated burglary in Harlow, and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. The incident took place at around 1.40am on December 14 last year, when Mitchell broke into the woman's home by throwing a brick through her rear patio doors. He entered her bedroom while she slept, turned on the light, and threatened her with a knife while demanding money. Jailed - Danny Mitchell will spend at least eight years behind bars (Image: Essex Police) Mitchell emptied her handbag and stole several bank cards before fleeing the scene. The victim activated a panic alarm, alerting a care company operator who immediately contacted Essex Police. Officers were quickly dispatched, but Mitchell had already left. A knife and mobile phone left at the scene helped detectives identify him as the suspect. DNA evidence and a description from the victim further supported the investigation. Mitchell was arrested two days later at his address in Rundells, where he was found in a shed. He resisted arrest and assaulted two officers, biting one and striking another on the head. Mitchell was on prison licence at the time of the offence. He was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on August 13.