A PROLIFIC criminal whose reign of terror in Barnsley town centre as a 14-year-old saw him named and shamed by a judge has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison.
Jordan Ratcliffe, now 19, was unusually named by District Judge John Foster in 2014 due to his consistent offending in the town so reporting restrictions - which usually protect a youth’s identity - were lifted.
Ratcliffe, of Bridge Street, Barnsley, failed to respond to a two-year antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) which was placed on him by Mr Foster at the time and continued to commit offences but of a much serious nature, according to police.
He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court having been found guilty of three aggravated burglaries, three counts of possessing a blade, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon and one count of intimidating a witness.
Ratcliffe was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for his latest offences.
Det Con Glen Hill said: “Ratcliffe has been handed a significant jail term for his offending, which included multiple counts of robbery and witness intimidation.
“His victims were threatened with weapons, including knives and machetes, and valuable property was stolen from their properties.
“Thankfully the victims suffered only minor injuries but this could have so easily have had serious or fatal consequences, given the incredibly violent nature of the robberies.
“Ratcliffe was also convicted of witness intimidation, after returning to one victim’s house a couple of times. This type of behaviour is threatening and must have been incredibly distressing, so I am pleased he was convicted of this offence in addition to the robbery charges.”
Police hailed the result as a major success in removing one of Barnsley’s most notorious criminals from the streets, with a source labelling him as a ‘constant thorn in their side’ for the last five years.
The streets, police say, will be a much safer place without Ratcliffe.
Temp Ch Insp Chris Foster added: “Individuals like Ratcliffe, who demonstrated time and again their desire to commit crime within Barnsley, have a significant impact on local communities.
“We have worked hard to ensure that he was brought before the courts in order to prevent the harm he was causing to members of the public. I hope the public of Barnsley are reassured by the action taken.
“He is now in prison for a lengthy period of time for the violent, armed crimes which he perpetrated and as a result of the police investigation, a dangerous, prolific criminal is off the streets.
“I hope the victims are encouraged by the sentence passed and that this serves as an example to anyone who acts in this manner in the future.”
