A “compulsive spender” swindled her employer out of a huge sum, leaving it considering redundancies while she “flaunted” designer goods.

Here are just some of the criminals including burglars, fraudsters, rapists and sex offenders who committed crimes and were locked up in April.

A 19-year-old who stabbed his mum’s boyfriend with a machete eight times has been given a 10-year sentence

An architect who designed and built his “dream home” on the Kent coast says it no longer feels safe following an attempted armed raid at the property.

An innocent bystander was left with permanent scars after he bravely stepped in to save a stranger from a pub toilet beating.

An erratic driver caused a major pile-up and fled the scene without checking on the wellbeing of his injured victims.

A paedophile pensioner who abducted a boy off the street and molested him in a Currys car park has been jailed.

A bully who subjected a woman to physical and psychological abuse has been jailed after breaching a court order banning him from a town.

The victim of a “brutal and unprovoked” attack needed 18 stitches and is still recovering months later, a court heard.

A man alleged to have been found jumping up and down on the bonnet of an out of action police car has appeared in court.

A grandmother with an “extraordinary” 40-year-long criminal record was told the courts simply couldn’t keep up with her offending.

Two men have been charged in connection with the deaths of five people, including a child, who were trying to cross the English Channel.

A driver who used a dead woman's blue badge to park closer to his hotel on two occasions in Kent has been fined.

A dad who raided Priestfield Stadium has appeared in the dock again, and had a surprising statement for the judge.

A man has been charged following a fire at a block of flats which saw one resident taken to hospital.

A stalker has been jailed after new forensic technology which shows up under UV light was put on the victim’s home and helped identify him.

A man has been jailed for more than six years after police found a sawn-off shotgun in his home.

A man has appeared in court, accused of defrauding people through an “unauthorised” investment scheme.

Two men suspected of theft are due in court after hundreds of pounds of alcohol and meat were stolen from a supermarket over a month.

A 16-year-old boy is to appear in court in connection with the theft of a car and early morning raids on four homes.