An arsonist double-murderer, a sex offender and a class A drug dealer are among those who pleaded or were found guilty in Reading Crown Court this month.

More than seven years in total jailtime was handed to them, with the murderer responsible for the Rowe Court fire yet to receive his sentence.

Their crimes were committed in Reading and Newbury.

Sexual assault

Reading Chronicle: Marcus SawkinsMarcus Sawkins (Image: TVP)

A man who sexually assaulted a woman 'while she slept' in a Newbury hotel was jailed for more than three years.

A court heard the woman woke to find Marcus Sawkins, 53, inappropriately touching her after the pair had been out drinking on the evening of June 30, 2018 and returned to the hotel.

Sawkins, of Dabbs Hill, Northolt, Ealing, denied the assault but was convicted at Reading Crown Court in July and sentenced on September 6.

Read the full story here.

Crack and heroin worth £19k

Reading Chronicle: Kieran CampbellKieran Campbell (Image: TVP)

Police found an estimated £19,000-worth of heroin and crack cocaine in Kieran Campbells Reading address.

The 32-year-old from Bamburgh Close was sentenced to four and a half years in prison on September 12 for two counts of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A.

Officers seized 195 wraps of heroin, 68 wraps of crack cocaine and 131g of uncut crack cocaine in total.

Read the full story here.

Double murder

Reading Chronicle: Hakeem KigunduHakeem Kigundu (Image: TVP)

A 32-year-old man pleaded guilty to arson, murder and grievous bodily harm after setting fire to a block of flats in Reading which killed two people.

Hakeem Kigundu, 32, started a fire at Rowe Court, where he used to live, which ripped through the building, trapping residents inside on December 15.

Richard Burgess, aged 46, and Neil Morris, aged 45, were killed and two other people were seriously injured.

Read the full story here.