Jailed in 2024: Killers, rioters and predators who faced justice this year

As 2024 draws to a close we take a look at the killers, thugs and predators who have been jailed in Lancashire.

Among them is boxer Mali Wright who killed a man with his powerful punch in Blackpool, and dad Daniel Hardcastle who murdered his helpless two-year-old son.

Also in jail are a number of people who got swept up in the wave of riots in August as members of the far right took to the streets following the murders of three girls at a dance class in Southport.

An open and transparent justice system is a key feature of democracy and LancsLive has dedicated reporters to bring you the most serious cases.

Here we look at the people who have been jailed in 2024.

Mark Neary

Mark Neary

A caretaker who raped a child in the toilets of the school where he worked has been jailed for 20 years.

Mark Neary, 55, raped the 12-year-old at work, in a car and at a house in Lancashire and sexually assaulted her on at least three separate occasions. He also molested another schoolgirl, 13, in a car, Preston Crown Court heard.

However today he is beginning a lengthy prison sentence for the attacks which left the youngsters traumatised. The court heard Neary used emotional blackmail to buy the younger girl’s silence, telling her he would kill himself if she spoke out about the abuse he inflicted on her.

FULL STORY: Perverted school caretaker’s pathetic four word response when confronted by wife

Kirstie Hanson

Kirstie Hanson
(Image: Manchester Evening News)

A Lancashire Constabulary worker has admitted sharing sensitive information, including sick images from crime scenes where people had died.

Kirstie Hanson also shared pictures of injuries suffered by a suspect during her time with the force. The 33-year-old, of Oswaldtwistle, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on January 3.

She pleaded guilty to 11 offences of gross misconduct in a public office between 2019 and 2021, reports Manchester Evening News.

FULL STORY: Dodgy police worker shared images from tragic crime scenes where someone had died

Shaun Dagger

Shaun Dagger

A one man crimewave who carried out a spate of burglaries in Blackpool was caught by a trail of DNA he left around the resort.

Shaun Dagger, 50, left blood on broken windows and his saliva on a half-eaten bar of chocolate which he left behind following a raid. The burglar targeted shops, cafes and a recruitment firm, and even targeted a housing scheme for vulnerable residents.

But the prolific burglar is now behind bars after he was traced through his trail of evidence. Preston Crown Court heard how between July and November 2023, there was a spike in burglaries in Blackpool town centre. Following some of the break-ins, employees arrived at work to discover broken glass and missing money, cash boxes and electronic devices.

FULL STORY: Dozy Blackpool burglar left trail of DNA on one-man rampage through seaside resort

Liam Hewitt

Liam Hewitt
(Image: Lancs Police)

A man who stole wine and lager from a late night garage in Blackpool has been jailed for four years.

Liam Hewitt, 26, walked into the Blackpool Morrison’s 24 hour store shortly before 5am on April 27, 2022 and made his way to the fridge. He took out two bottles of wine and a crate of Stella but when he was challenged by the shopkeeper, he warned: “If you try to stop me I’ll use my knife.”

Hewitt put the bottles down and pulled a large knife out, causing the shopkeeper to fear for his life, Preston Crown Court heard. He waved the blade at the terrified shopkeeper as he left the store without paying.

FULL STORY: ‘You commit crime but you aren’t very good at it’ – Judge’s scathing words to Stella Artois thief

Colin Pritchard, Mark Watkins and Daniel Eastham

“These three men are now paying the price for their involvement”

A trio of grinning crooks have been jailed after conspiring to flood the streets of Lancashire with cocaine.

The supply chain was halted in February last year when a BMW X5 car was stopped by officers on the M6 near Bamber Bridge. Colin Pritchard was a passenger.

After being booked into custody at Preston Police Station, Pritchard, from Ormskirk, was seen trying to hide a bag in his underwear. It was found to contain 124g of cocaine with an 80% purity, together with a quantity of cash.

As he sat in a police cell, there were four missed calls on his mobile phone. They were from Mark Watkins and Daniel Eastham – both desperate to know what had happened to their drugs.

FULL STORY: Grinning crooks flooded pal’s phone with missed called as he sat in police cell

Alex Hindley

Alexander Hindley has been jailed
(Image: Lancs Police)

As the body of a vulnerable woman lay dead in his flat, evil Alex Hindley told a friend what he planned to do with the body.

Alison Dodds was found by two social workers at an address in Redcar Road, Blackpool, on the morning of September 21. The 52-year-old was under a pile of blankets and duvets, and it was clear she had suffered a brutal attack.

Hindley had left her there. As he walked the streets of Blackpool following the ‘humiliating’ attack, he discussed how he planned to put Alison into a sleeping bag and set it alight.

When police later collared him for his vile crime, he only had five words: “I know what I’ve done.”

FULL STORY: Killer’s five words to police after ‘humiliating’ attack on vulnerable woman he planned to ‘put in a sleeping bag and burn’

Angela Chang

The properties were cluttered with rubbish and old mattresses

A landlord has been jailed and ordered to pay £10,414 after she “put the lives and safety of residents and employees at risk” by failing to comply with fire safety regulations.

Angela Chang pleaded guilty to six breaches of a fire safety order at Great Fortune House, 120 Victoria Rd West, and 16 St Georges Lane in Thornton-Cleveleys. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) said their safety officers inspected the properties in March 2021 and issued a prohibition notice on the flats above the premises.

They were occupied at the time by several employees of the Great Fortune House, a family of three and a builder undertaking work on the premises. Officers found that they weren’t equipped with appropriate fire detectors and alarms and pictures showed the properties were filled with rubbish and old old mattresses which prevented her tenants from exiting the building safely.

FULL STORY: Jail for landlord who put tenants’ lives at risk after fire safety breaches

Drugs gang

Lee Ormandy, Christopher Ormandy, Saqub Hussain, Daniel Eastham, Steve Smith, George Heary and James Heary have been jailed

Seven members of a drugs gang involved in the supply of cocaine between Liverpool and Preston, have been given prison sentences totalling more than 64 years.

An investigation by Lancashire Police tracked the offenders over a 10-month period in 2020 and uncovered an operation where blocks of cocaine – each valued at several thousand pounds – were regularly transported from Liverpool to Preston. Brothers Lee and Christopher Ormandy were the wholesale dealers in Liverpool.

Steven Smith was their trusted driver who transported the cocaine, while there were three sets of wholesale customers in Preston who were retail drug suppliers. Saqub Hussain was one of the customers in Preston, with brothers George and James Heary a second set.

FULL STORY: Faces of drug gang who trafficked ‘blocks of cocaine’ into Preston

Depraved father and son jailed after 999 call exposes one of the ‘worst cases of negligence’

David Holyoak and Robert Morgan

A father and son have been jailed after a 999 call exposed one of the ‘worst cases of negligence’ prosecutors had ever seen.

When ambulances arrived at a property on Calder Avenue, in Whitehaven, on January 25, 2021, they found Dorothy Morgan emaciated, unkempt and in heavily soiled clothes. She hadn’t received adequate hydration in at least seven days.

She was suffering from pressure sores in various areas and ulceration where these wounds had become inflamed and infected. After being rushed to hospital, doctors found she had cancer – but was too weak to withstand any treatment.

FULL STORY: Depraved father and son jailed after 999 call exposes one of the ‘worst cases of negligence’

Adam Jeffreys

Some of the posters on display in Adam Jeffreys’ printing room

A fraudster from east Lancashire who sold £1.8million of fake movie posters has been jailed and ordered to pay back £500,000 of his profits.

Adam Jeffreys, 41, worked for one of the UK’s leading poster manufacturers but ran a lucrative side hustle from his luxury farmhouse. Over a seven-year period he printed tens of thousands of counterfeit billboards from films such as James Bond, Harry Potter and Batman.

His empire came crashing down on November 3, 2021, when Trading Standards raided his property and discovered a large commercial printer and posters packaged and ready to be sent out. Jeffreys, from Colne, was jailed for 43 months in December last year – the longest custodial sentence ever secured by Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards team.

FULL STORY: Fraudster’s £1.8m fake movie poster empire came crashing down after luxury farmhouse raid

Kieran Larbey

Kieran Larbey has been jailed for 19 years

A vile pervert who ruined the lives of three young women has been caged.

Kieran Larbey, of Penwortham, raped two of his victims. Then attempted to suffocate the third with a pillow.

The 22-year-old’s offences were described as ‘abhorrent’ as he was jailed for 19 years at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday (March 20). He had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

Larbey was sentenced for three offences of rape, two offences of suffocation, and charges of controlling and coercive behaviour, sexual assault, assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

FULL STORY: Vile Penwortham pervert caged after raping two women and attempting to suffocate third

Warren Williams and Cole Kelly

Warren Williams was jailed for eight years and two months

Two men have been jailed for a shooting despite their victim’s refusal to cooperate with a police investigation.

Stephen Birch was found with a gunshot wound in Skelmersdale, on the evening of November 9, 2022. Emergency services were called to the scene and the 32-year-old was taken to hospital.

Moments before shots were fired on Birch Green Road, a group of youths had walked past. A court has heard how it was only ‘sheer good fortune’ none of them were injured.

Although seriously injured in the incident, Birch refused to engage with Lancashire Constabulary. Instead, he was also prosecuted for his actions in a dispute in the run up to the shooting.

FULL STORY: Duo jailed over Skelmersdale shooting despite victim refusing to play ball with police

Callum Cox

Callum Cox has been jailed

A pervert branded a ‘serious risk to women’ has been caged after perusing a relationship with a teenager.

Registered sex offender Callum Cox told police he didn’t have a mobile phone, access to the internet, or social media. But just 10 days later, officers from Lancashire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Police found he had been travelling to Bury to visit a 17-year-old girl.

Cox was arrested, and a mobile phone was seized. The 23-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, intentionally deceived authorities in an effort to pursue multiple relationships with women online.

FULL STORY: Pervert branded ‘a serious risk to women’ who thought he could fool police

Jake Parkinson and Jak Fairclough

Jack Jermy-Doyle

Two men who killed trainee barrister Jack Jermy-Doyle in a one-punch killing in Preston have been jailed for a total of 14 years and four months between them.

Jack, 25, died after he was punched to the ground on Preston Flag Market after a night out on August 12, 2022. That evening, Jack, a lifelong member of the Scouts Association and water sports volunteer, had been enjoying drinks in Chorley and Preston with his friend Robert Jones.

The pair were in good spirits but as they walked to get a taxi at around 3:30am, they came across Jake Parkinson, 22, and Jak Fairclough, 28. Throughout the evening, Parkinson and Fairclough had been involved in a number of altercations and scuffles as they worked their way from the university towards Church Street. They were “spoiling for a fight”, Preston Crown Court heard.

FULL STORY: Pair jailed for senseless killing of much loved lawyer Jack Jermy-Doyle in city centre attack

Christopher Wood and Kyle Jenkinson

Christopher Wood and Kyle Jenkinson

Two drug dealers have finally faced justice after a ‘long and protracted’ investigation by police.

Lancashire Constabulary executed a drugs warrant at properties on Kay Street and Causeway Croft in Clitheroe in May 2021. A total of £4,000 in cash was seized by the Rural Task Force ‘which were the proceeds of this criminal enterprise’.

Christopher Wood, 32, of Kay Street, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court in December 2023 to charges of Conspiracy to Supply Class B Drugs and Money Laundering. Kyle Jenkinson, 26, of Scarloom Close in Clitheroe also pleading guilty to possession with Intent to Supply Class B Drugs and Conspiracy to Supply Class B Drugs. The judge also made a Proceeds of Crime Act order that resulted in the forfeiture of £4,000 cash.

FULL STORY: After three years, these men have finally faced justice after drug supply probe

Amir Shah

Amir Shah

A Great Harwood drugs boss who dubbed himself ‘Pablo’ after the famous Columbian kingpin has been ordered to pay back just £245 of his ill-gotten gains.

Amir Shah, 26, was linked to two drugs lines called ‘Pablo New’ and ‘The Real Pablo’ which were uncovered during routine searches in Lancashire. He made £22,950.75 from the operation, Preston Crown Court heard.

In October 2023, Shah was jailed for six years for his role in the conspiracy to supply class A drugs. A proceeds of crime hearing at Preston Crown Court today (March 19, 2024) heard he had made £22,950. 75p from illegal activity.

However he only had £245 available to repay his debt to society. The money was seized by the police during the investigation into Shah’s drug dealing operation and will now be retained.

FULL STORY: Drugs boss who called himself ‘Pablo’ to pay back a fraction of his ill-gotten gains

Thomas Mills

Seven men have been jailed following a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Thomas Mills, 47, Brian McPadden, 61, Paul Lafferty, 42, and Jonjo O’Donoghue, 21, were found guilty of violent disorder in January after the demonstration outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley on February 10 last year. The four defendants had all admitted being present at the demonstration but denied being part of the violence which resulted in three police officers being injured and a police van being set alight.

A fifth defendant, Daniel Fulham, 39, who told the court he was in the area walking his Jack Russell dog, was found not guilty of violent disorder and of a lesser offence of abusive or threatening behaviour with intent to provoke violence. The four defendants, all from Kirkby, Merseyside, apart from O’Donoghue, who is from Liverpool city centre, were part of a larger group who threw missiles and paving slabs at police and set fire to a police van during the incident, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

FULL STORY: Seven men jailed after violence outside asylum seeker hotel

Michael Lloyd, Jay Jones and Stephen Dixon

The graphic video shows one of the men slashing a deer’s throat
(Image: RSPCA)

Three men from Lancaster have been jailed after they were filmed cutting a deer’s throat in a ‘barbaric act of torture’. Thomas Graham Michael Lloyd of Slaidburn Drive, Lancaster; Jay Jones of Barley Cop Lane, Lancaster; and Stephen Dixon of Keswick Road, Lancaster, all appeared at Preston Crown Court on Friday (March 15) for sentencing.

Lloyd previously pleaded guilty to four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to deer and a badger, with videos showing the deer’s neck being stood on to enable dogs to attack the animal, and the deer’s throat being cut repeatedly. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for life.

Jones pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by restraining the animal to allow dogs to attack it. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for six years.

Dixon pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by repeatedly cutting its throat. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison which was suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days, a six-month mental health programme and 100 hours of unpaid work.

FULL STORY: ‘Barbaric torture’ – Men jailed after being filmed slashing a deer’s throat and letting dogs attack it

Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith
(Image: Lancs Police)

A mum clung onto a car in terror as a violent man drove her child away from her.

Stephen Smith, 39, kidnapped the child in Lancaster and drove down Mainway in his Toyota Yaris – dragging the mother down the road as she begged him to stop. When she lost her grip, Smith stopped the car and reversed over her.

He then drove towards Blackpool, telling the child: “This is the last time you’ll see your mum.” The woman was left lying in the road, with five fractured vertebrae and other injuries.

FULL STORY: Mum clung on in terror as violent man drove her child away from

Henry Houghton

A teenager has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years for his role in the killing of Matthew Daulby.

Henry Houghton, 19, attacked Matthew with a rock, which he stuffed into a sports sock and used in a mass brawl in Ormskirk. On July 29, 2023, Matthew and his friends travelled to Ormskirk after a member of their group said he had been punched while on his own and on crutches.

Matthew suffered a serious injury which damaged his skull and frontal lobe – although the injury itself was not fatal. The 19-year-old also suffered a knife wound to his chest and collapsed in Moorgate, in the aftermath of the attack.

FULL STORY: Teenager smiles and waves as he’s jailed over tragic street brawl murder of Matthew Daulby

Reece Barnes

An investigation into a drug dealer in the Lake District unravelled an Amazon-style criminal network with tentacles reaching across the continent to Portugal and Dubai.

Nine men have been jailed following the police sting, which began in March 2022 after reports Reece Barnes was selling cocaine in Windermere, Cumbria. The 31-year-old was found in possession of one kilo of the drug.

Officers found Barnes was meeting in country lanes with Stephen Stockall, 62, from a Cheshire-based organised crime group, who would hand over kilograms of powder for £30,000 cash.

CCTV showed he would stash the drugs in a shoebox in a storage unit near his home in Windermere, and detectives said he would sell them in small amounts, using the profits to pay for holidays and city breaks.

Barnes was jailed for 12 years at Carlisle Crown Court today (March 14) as he was sentenced along with eight others for conspiracy to supply class A drugs following Operation Matrix, a spokesman for the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) said.

FULL STORY: Lake District arrest unravelled Amazon-style crime ring with tentacles reaching from Portugal to Dubai

Alan Mercer

Alan Mercer

A pervert who tricked a group of girls into ‘standing guard’ while he went for wee before indecently exposing himself has been jailed.

Lancashire Constabulary said the children were playing in woods close to Lockeyer Park in Burnley on Saturday (March 9) when Alan Mercer approached them. The 58-year-old asked the girls to ‘stand guard’ while he went for a wee in the woods.

However, having then told the victims he had finished, they turned around to find Mercer with his ‘trousers around his ankles’. Mercer was arrested the next day following CCTV enquiries and was charged with exposure on Monday.

FULL STORY: Pervert tricked girls into ‘standing guard’ in woods before exposing himself

Thomas Humphreys

26-year-old Daniel Wray has been jailed

A speeding motorbike rider killed a pedestrian after slamming into him at almost twice the speed limit.

Thomas Humphreys, 67, had been crossing the road when he was hit by the bike. Rider Daniel Wray, 26, was wearing a tinted black motorbike helmet, despite it already being dark.

The crash happened on St Walburgas Road, Blackpool, shortly before 5.55pm on 11th of November 2022. Thomas died in hospital shortly after the collision having suffered multiple injuries.

FULL STORY: Horror footage shows moment heartless motorbike rider ploughed through man in fatal smash

Jordan Atkins

Ma Kelly’s on Talbot Road in Blackpool
(Image: BPL Bible)

A Blackpool holiday maker was knocked unconscious and had his Rolex watch stolen while he was out cold on the floor of Ma Kelly’s, a court heard.

Jordan Atkins, 26, has been jailed for his role in the attack on October 1, 2021, and another violent incident in the resort a week earlier. Preston Crown Court heard that on September 23, 2021, Shane Gregory had been out with his partner, her sister and her sister’s partner in Walkabout.

Outside the bar, Atkins, and a group of men, approached one of the women and began joking about an incident in. McDonald’s, where she worked, in which he had been asked to leave the fast food outlet. However the conversation quickly escalated into an argument, and Mr Gregory stepped in.

One of the men said they “couldn’t hit girls, so we’ll take it out on you”, the court heard. Mr Gregory was punched in the face and fell to the ground, where he was punched and kicked by his attackers.

FULL STORY: Blackpool holidaymaker’s Rolex stolen as he lay ‘out cold’ on floor of Ma Kelly’s

Michael Marsden

A cleaning company worker who was caught on CCTV dumping a large amount of waste at the entrance to a popular park has been jailed.

Michael Antony Marsden was employed by a contractor working for Blackburn with Darwen Council when the offence happened outside the gates of Queen’s Park. The authorities Environmental Crime Team the Environmental Crime Team received a complaint that there had been a large deposit of waste at the entrance to the park in November 2021.

Officers attended and found documents within the waste led the council to three separate properties where work had been carried out on behalf of the council. The council said their Environmental Crime Team used an established firm, John Hogg Cleaning, which had a ‘good reputation’ and had not previously been connected to any fly tips.

READ MORE: Cleaning company worker jailed for dumping waste at entrance to Blackburn park

Ashley McPhee

Ashley McPhee

A paedophile who bit a schoolgirl on the chest three times and then wrote a letter to her while on remand in prison has been jailed again.

Ashley McPhee, from the Blackburn and Darwen area, was a registered sex offender after being previously convicted of assaulting a teenage girl in Ireland in 2018. Preston Crown Court was told how the 26-year-old sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Darwen in August last year by biting her to the chest three times.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, later reported the incident and McPhee was quickly arrested. Lancashire Constabulary he was also found to be in possession of a knife.

FULL STORY: Paedophile bit schoolgirl on the chest three times then wrote to her from prison

Kenneth Sedman

A perverted ex-squaddie who rigged up a secret camera to record a teenager’s private moments claimed he was just ‘looking out for her’.

Kenneth Sedman clambered into a loft to install the sick device. But when he was rumbled tried to deny he had any sexual motive.

Despite his claims, the 61-year-old has been convicted of voyeurism and making a category A indecent image, following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

As a result of Sedman’s actions, the youngster said she felt violated and mistrusting of middle aged men. She said Sedman had become “obsessed with her” and had made frequent comments about her body.

FULL STORY: Barge-dwelling ex-squaddie installed depraved loft camera to record teenager’s private moments

Thomas De Lacy

Thomas De Lacy has been jailed for sex offences he committed while training as a C of E minister
(Image: Lancs Police)

A perverted clergyman has been jailed for sex offences he committed while training as a minister more than three decades ago.

Thomas De Lacy, 77, indecently assaulted a girl twice, when she visited his house in Preston on church related matters in the late 1980s. His victim was under 14 years old when he abused her.

The woman kept De Lacy’s abuse secret for more than 30 years but in 2020 found the courage to make a complaint through the Diocese of Blackburn’s safeguarding team. Officers started an investigation which led to De Lacey being interviewed and charged.

FULL STORY: After 30 years, this perverted clergyman has finally faced justice

Terence Kenny

Terrence Kenny

A vicious thug who launched a brutal street attack against a man before threatening to “do it again” if he told police has been jailed.

Terrence Kenny punched the victim, in his 40s, to the side of the head before knocking him to the floor. He then reigned further blows and left the victim with a fractured eye socket.

Lancashire Constabulary said the incident happened near to the Salvation Army in Heaton Street, Blackburn, on March 26. The next day, the 30-year-old approached the man in Blackburn town centre and asked him if he had reported the assault to the police.

FULL STORY: Vicious thug’s chilling threat to victim if he spoke out after brutal attack

Steven Paterson

Steven Paterson
(Image: Lancs Police)

A man has been jailed for a horrific attack which left a man so badly injured police officers thought he was dead.

Steven Paterson, 35, set upon the man in a drunken fury at his victim’s home on Bolton Road, Darwen, on October 26 last year. That morning, Paterson had been seen at a local Londis store, being rude and aggressive towards staff and the man he was with.

“He was spoiling for a fight”, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham said.

When officers arrived they found Paterson who was “extremely aggressive and drunk”. His victim “was in a condition which led them to believe he may already be dead”, Judge Altham said.

FULL STORY: ‘Dangerous’ thug left man so badly injured officers believed he had died

Leonard Simpson

Leonard Simpson has been jailed
(Image: Lancs Police)

A driver collared in a BMW packed with shopping bags of cannabis worth more than £1m was offered £2,000 to lug his illicit haul north of the border.

Leonard Simpson was pulled over at Forton Services on the M6. Realising the game was up, the 35-year-old admitted to police his ride was full of drugs.

Officers from Lancashire Police searched the vehicle and discovered 109kg of cannabis split into 243 separate vaccum packs, stuffed into shopping bags.

Simpson said he was travelling home to Scotland when he was caught on January 27, 2024. At the time of the arrest, Lancashire Police said they thought it was “possibly one of the biggest drug seizures in Lancashire in recent years”.

FULL STORY: Down-on-his-luck dad collared on M6 in BMW packed with shopping bags

Shane Oliver

Shane Oliver was spotted driving a Range Rover Evoque in Ormskirk before making off at speed

“You need to grow up,” a judge sternly told a young dad after his “stupid” high-speed police chase ended in chaos.

Shane Oliver caused havoc and thousands in damages when he crashed into a beer garden. A court heard how the 22-year-old was fortunate not to have killed someone during what the judge condemned as “some of the most appalling, dangerous and reckless driving” he had ever seen.

The incident unfolded at around 1.30pm on July 26 last year, when police patrols noticed a Range Rover Evoque being driven by a man in his 20s on Pendle Drive in Ormskirk. This is despite the car being insured only for two women and a man in his 60s.

FULL STORY: ‘Grow up’ judge tells young dad after his ‘appalling, stupid and disgraceful’ 90mph police chase

Cameron Parkinson

Kian Booth was among the group

A teenager was surrounded by a group of seven men and asked who he was ‘grafting for’ before being frogmarched round Preston city centre in the early hours of the morning.

The 17-year-old had gone to Church Street news on his bike to buy crisps and a vape when he was cornered by the group at 2:30am on August 8, 2023.

Cameron Parkinson, 24, and Aiden Wilding, 19, approached him and the three spoke for a while, as they knew each other. One of the men asked “who are you grafting for?” – suggesting they thought he was dealing drugs, Peter Barr, prosecuting, said.

The pair then ‘patted down’ the youngster, checking his pockets and waistband to see if he was carrying anything.

FULL STORY: Teen only wanted crisps and a vape but ended up having one of the worst nights of his life

Victoria Heaton

Victoria Heaton

A 47-year-old woman has been banned from four areas of Preston after a shoplifting spree. Victoria Heaton was arrested last week and charged with ten shoplifting offences from stores in and around the city centre.

The prolific thief appeared at Preston Magistrates Court on Friday (April 19) and pleaded guilty to her crimes. She was jailed for 44 weeks and given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order.

This prohibits her from entering Fishergate, Friargate, St Georges Shopping Centre or Market Place in Preston.

FULL STORY: Woman, 47, banned from four areas of Preston city centre over shoplifting

Darren McCaul

Darren McCaul

A prolific thief who targeted Tesco, One Stop and Iceland in a three-week shoplifting spree has been jailed. Darren McCaul was hauled before magistrates after terrorising stores in Fleetwood between March 29 and April 18 this year.

Lancashire Constabulary said officers were called to a store in the town last Thursday after reports of a male shoplifting. The 32-year-old was soon arrested on a nearby street and was later charged with nine shoplifting offences.

McCaul, of no fixed address, appeared before magistrates on Friday (April 19) and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

FULL STORY: Sweet-toothed thief targeted Tesco and Iceland in shoplifting spree

Anthony Grogan

Anthony Grogan

An abusive ex-boyfriend stormed into his former partners home before engaging in a tense 30-minute stand-off with officers who rushed to the scene. Anthony Grogan, from Kendal, appeared at his ex-girlfriend’s Huyton residence on Manor Farm Road around 5am on December 9, 2023, where he violently banged on the door.

After being told to leave, she retreated with her children into a bedroom and called the police – only for Grogan to break a window and force entry. He grabbed her phone and swiped her house keys before making his exit via the shattered window.

As police arrived and began speaking to the victim, the 32-year-old jumped into view once more, instigating an aggressive fight

FULL STORY: Bully boyfriend storms ex’s home and raises fists at police in violent 30-minute stand-off

Craig Barnes

A five-year-old boy was forced to hide behind his father as a racist thug unleashed a series of drunken attacks. Craig Davies, from Burnley, assaulted three different people in separate incidents and appeared at court yesterday (April 22) where he was jailed for 40 months.

The Army veteran, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, committed the first attack on May 5, 2020, when he was travelling in a taxi on Grafton Street in Preston at around 5.30pm. The victim, Prakash Patel, had just picked up his five-year-old son from school when Davies shouted at him, swearing at him and calling him a racial slur.

FULL STORY: Racist bully attacked girlfriend, taxi driver and dad picking up son, 5, from school in string of drunken assaults

Orgit Arapi

Orgit Arapi

A cannabis farmer expecting to make serious money on a quiet residential street in Lancashire had travelled to the UK after finding a route on TikTok, a court heard today (April 22)

Orgit Arapi used his Albanian passport passport to get to the Republic of Ireland legally before moving to Scotland and down to England.

He then met some fellow Albanian men in a café in Manchester. They put him in the house in Lostock Hall and instructed him to look after the grow of more than 300 plants. But the 20-year-old barely lasted a month before neighbours got wise.

FULL STORY: He found a route to the UK on TikTok, then some men in a café told him he could make serious money

Kelly Dawson

Kelly Dawson

A woman has been banned from entering four different stores following a shoplifting spree. Kelly Dawson was arrested following a covert police operation by officers from Blackpool South’s Neighbourhood Policing Team.

The 40-year-old was charged with 13 counts of shoplifting from multiple retail outlets across the Blackpool South area. Last Thursday (April 18) Dawson, of Burlington Road, Blackpool, was sentenced to six months in prison and also given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order.

It prohibits her from entering the Morrisons Daily on Harrowside Road, Dunelm Mill at Squires Gate retail park, and the Tesco Express stores on Lytham Road and Highfield Road.

FULL STORY: Woman, 40, banned from Tesco, Morrisons and Dunelm after shoplifting spree

Terence and Stephen Earle

Terence Earle (left) and Stephen Earle (right)

Two criminal cousins stashed hundreds of kilos of drugs in a Blackpool holiday park before setting up a £1m ‘secret lab’ to create amphetamines, a court heard. Terence and Stephen Earle were the brains behind a gang that trafficked vast amounts of heroin and cocaine between Merseyside and Scotland.

The organised crime group (OCG) was spearheaded by “kingpin” Terence Earle and cousin Stephen, who used the EncroChat handles ThickBoar and Octo-hand respectively to import drugs from “Europe and beyond”. The duo also hid hundreds of kilos of drugs at a Blackpool holiday park, which served as their base for producing amphetamines in a £1m covert laboratory.

However, the gang’s operations were eventually exposed by a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, dubbed Operation Joyfully, which aimed to dismantle the Earles’ drug empire.

FULL STORY: Criminal cousins stashed drugs in Blackpool holiday park for £1m ‘secret lab’

Gary Pearce

Saniya Riaz dreamed of opening a bakers with her aunt. Before Your Girl Can Bake opened its doors she was killed by a drink driver. Now her mural adorns the wall of the business in Nelson
(Image: YGCB)

On the morning of October 13, 2022, Saniya Riaz hugged her little boy and sent him off to school. The kind-hearted mum had turned 30 the day before and was looking forward to celebrations with her family.

She and her husband Mohammed Khan had booked a table for an evening meal, and her family had excitedly bought presents to mark the milestone birthday. But as Saniya and Mohammed drove back to the family home in Nelson, just before 8pm, they were struck by a drunk driver who ploughed their Toyota off the road.

Gary Pearce was twice the drink drive limit and had been driving his Mercedes C220 at speeds of 130mph on the 70mph A56 Accrington East Bypass. As Pearce, 59, approached the roundabout at junction 8 of the M65, he made a last minute decision to change lanes, colliding with the passenger side of the Toyota CH-R.

Saniya and Mohammed’s car was propelled across the dual carriageway, flipped on its roof and came to rest in the middle of the roundabout.

FULL STORY: A life full of promise torn away as ‘beautiful soul’ drove to celebrate 30th with family

Kamran Rashid

A ‘dangerous pervert’ who sexually assaulted a young woman at a house is set to face a long spell behind bars after playing a cruel waiting game. The ‘traumatised’ victim woke up to find Kamran Rashid was in the same bed as her.

He then engaged in sexual activity with her without her consent. Lancashire Constabulary said ran from the scene following the horrific incident in Blackburn in November 2021.

Rashid, formerly of Cheetham Street in the town, and now of no fixed address, was arrested later the same day and charged with rape.

FULL STORY: ‘Dangerous pervert’ knew what he’d done, but forced victim to play cruel waiting game

Martin Greenwood

Martin Greenwood

A ‘manipulative’ pervert who raped a 15-year-old girl has been brought to justice thee decades later. Martin Greenwood, now aged 56, was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of raping the teenager victim in Burnley in the early 1990s.

Greenwood told his victim that nobody would believe her if she raised the alarm about what he had done to her. The victim contacted the police in 2018 and Lancashire Constabulary arrested Greenwood, of Waltham Abbey, Essex, on suspicion of rape.

Following a trial last week, Greenwood was unanimously found guilty of rape by a jury at Burnley Crown Court.

FULL STORY: He told girl nobody would believe her if she raised alarm about what he’d done

John Eichner

John Eichner

A terrified family, along with their two-year-old daughter, barricaded themselves in their bathroom as a man waving a machete barged into their home in Chorley.

The couple were heard on a harrowing 999 recording as John Eichner, 35, rampaged through their property in Chorley on the night of June 6, 2023.

Preston Crown Court heard how the woman and her partner were woken by the sound of a dog barking. At around 3.30am, one residents went downstairs to investigate and saw two men outside the house.

FULL STORY: ‘My baby, my baby, not my baby’: Mum’s terrified 999 screams as machete lunatic rampaged through home

Stephen Buckley and Scott Chadwick-Greer

Scott Chadwick-Greer and Stephen Buckley

Two members of an organised criminal group who distributed millions of pounds worth of Class A drugs across the UK have been jailed.

Stephen Buckley and Scott Chadwick-Greer, from Thornton-Cleveleys, were stopped in September last year at Tebay services on the M6 where 17kgs of cocaine was found in the boot of their hired Kia Stonic. Greer, 31, was arrested and Buckley, 39, ran off but was arrested a short time later.

Lancashire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit launched Operation Black Forest following their arrests which found that they were part of an organised crime group responsible for collecting multi-kilo consignments of cocaine from ports in the south of England and transporting them into Lancashire and beyond.

The investigation identified through telephony that Buckley and Chadwick-Greer were responsible for the distribution of at least 57 kilogrammes of cocaine across the UK between April and September 2023 with a value of over 4.5 million pounds.

FULL STORY: Lancashire drug gang’s £4.5m cocaine empire crumbles when car stopped at M6 Tebay services

Nathan Byrne

Byrne became aggressive and picked up a hammer which had been inside the property

A hammer-wielding thug subjected an extremely vulnerable woman to string of horrific sex attacks at a flat in Preston after going to retrieve drug money.

Nathan Byrne turned up at the victim’s home looking for her friend. The 24-year-old then demanded to be let in.

He became aggressive and picked up a hammer which had been inside the property. Byrne, of Glebe Close, Preston, then promised the woman he would let her go if she took him to her friend’s flat.

Byrne lied. While at the second property, he raped the woman several times. Throughout her ordeal, the attacker kept hold of the hammer.

FULL STORY: Hammer-wielding thug raped vulnerable woman on hunt for pal’s drug debt

Donna Gray

Donna Gray

A woman jailed for relentlessly pestering a pensioner is back behind bars – after visiting him the week she was released from prison.

In January 2021, Donna Gray was slapped with a restraining order. It banned her from contacting Roy Roberts, or going within 100m of his home.

After breaching the order, the 44-year-old was jailed. She was released on February 6, 2024, but just 11 days later – on February 17 – was back pestering her victim.

The nature of her visit to Mr Roberts’ home in Isherwood Street has not been disclosed. But a court heard how items of her clothing were being kept.

FULL STORY: She was banned from pestering pensioner or going within 100m of his home, but just couldn’t stay away

Robert Garrity

Robert Garrity has been jailed for 24 years

A ‘despicable’ pervert will likely spend the rest of his life in prison following a sickening string of attacks on two teenagers.

Robert Garrity was described as a “highly determined sexual predator” as he was sentenced to 24 years in prison. He committed six sexual offences in Blackburn.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court in December, the 67-year-old, of Brandy House Brow, was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a girl under 16, one count of rape of a girl under 16 and two counts of rape of a woman over 16.

The two victims were both teenagers at the time the offences took place.

FULL STORY: ‘Despicable’ pervert branded ‘highly determined sexual predator’ as he’s caged for sickening crimes

Saleem Chaudhri

A gang hid huge quantities of cocaine inside blocks of cheese in a desperate bid to swerve detection.

Based in a unit at the Old Fire Station in Blackburn, Saleem Chaudhri would import drugs from Belgium then distribute them throughout the UK. During a raid on May 3, 2023, police uncovered a haul worth £17.2m.

Some of it had been concealed inside blocks of Gouda cheese, while other packages were wrapped in black binbags, ready to be handed to couriers.

On the same day, officers from Lancashire Constabulary had seen the 46-year-old take possession of a Toyota Estate from a drugs courier in Walpole Street, Blackburn, and drive it to the Old Fire Station. When Chaudhri opened the shutters to police, they found 217 kilos of cocaine.

FULL STORY: Hard time for £70m gouda gang who hid cocaine inside blocks of cheese

Austin Duckworth

Austin Duckworth

A son who offered £5,000 on Facebook to anyone willing to kill his dad has been found guilty of his murder.

.Austin Duckworth breached his bail conditions by attending the home of Stephen Duckworth on St George’s Road, Preston, on August 26 last year. After forcing his way into the property, the 37-year-old repeatedly punched him to the head. As he walked away, he told his father he ‘better call an ambulance’.

After dialling 999 and telling police what happened, Stephen initially declined medical attention. But he felt increasingly unwell as the day progressed, resulting in him calling for an ambulance later that same evening.

Stephen was taken to hospital where it was discovered that he had a ‘devastating bleed to the brain’. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Stephen died from his injuries on October 12, 2023.

A post mortem examination revealed the cause of Stephen’s death was blunt force head trauma.

FULL STORY: Son who offered £5k on Facebook for someone to kill dad GUILTY of murder

Michael Davis

Ollie Davis died from a broken neck, having also suffered 23 broken ribs

A father has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years for murdering his four-week-old baby, who was left to die from a broken neck after suffering 23 broken ribs.

Ollie Davis was pronounced dead after being found lifeless in his cot in October 2017, having also sustained fractures to his skull, collar bone, both arms and the joints of all his limbs. Michael Davis, 29, was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court last month of murder and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm.

Jurors cleared Ollie’s mother, Kayleigh Driver, of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but found her guilty of charges of causing or allowing the death of a child and serious physical injury.

A safeguarding review partially published after the trial, compiled by the Leicester Safeguarding Children Partnership Board (LSCPB) in 2017, found “early opportunities to refer and assess (the family) were not taken” but that the abuse levelled against Ollie was “not foreseeable”, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported.

FULL STORY: Dad who snapped his four-week-old son’s neck after weeks of horror abuse is jailed

Christopher Flynn

Christopher Flynn was sentenced to six years in prison

A drug dealer known as ‘Scouse Jay Jay’ has been put behind bars for six years after a successful county lines crackdown operation. The police, hot on the heels of a drug trafficking network, traced the operation right back to his doorstep. Christopher Flynn, 35, was connected to the “Scouse Jay Jay” county lines scheme, which distributed crack cocaine and heroin throughout Chorley.

Officers from Project Medusa, an initiative by Merseyside Police aimed at tackling drug dealing and the exploitation of children, apprehended him at his home on Woolfall Heath Avenue, Huyton, in February. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (April 8) where he was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin).

FULL STORY: Police follow drug trafficking line trail straight to dealer’s front door

Brandon Brook

Brandon Brook
(Image: Lancs Police)

A serial offender who had a bread knife in Friargate bit a custody officer who was locking him up. Brandon Brook, 25, was seen with the knife near the Adelphi pub, Preston, on February 24, 2024. A member of the public called the police who chased Brook down Friargate towards McDonalds.

While at the custody desk he became aggressive, the court heard. Officers took Brook to a cell and put him on the floor but he continued to resist. He bit one officer twice, on the elbow and the knee, leaving the officer with tender areas.

FULL STORY: He took a bread knife to the Adelphi, swallowed a bag of heroin outside McDonald’s then bit police officer

Alan Causer, Gillian Melville and Ian Shacklady

John Germaine, Gillian Melville, Daniel Heeley
(Image: National Crime Agency)

The face of a mum who helped her criminal family make millions out of a dastardly drug operation has been revealed. Last week, members of the gang responsible for trafficking hundreds of kilos of heroin and cocaine across the country were locked up for a combined total of more than 50 years.

Led by Alan Causer, officers discovered nearly £500,000 of cash when they raided the home of his parents, Ian Shacklady and Gillian Melville, in Skelmersdale. A court heard how Melville, 66, was caught “red-handed” sitting on a bed next to a pile of cash by the cops.

FULL STORY: Face of ‘frail’ mum mum ‘caught red handed’ sitting on bed next to pile of cash

Craig Parr

They raised a glass as their plot played out – but had no idea they were being watched

“I’m f****d, aren’t I?”. This was the resigned response of criminal Craig Parr when police tracked him down to a hotel room. Just days earlier, he had been seen raising a glass at a service station, unaware that his daring plot was about to unravel.

Parr had been given the task of transporting an ‘immense’ consignment of heroin and ketamine from the south of England to its final destination in Lancashire. The drugs, concealed in bags of rice, were destined to cause havoc on the streets while lining the pockets of ruthless gangsters. However, as Parr enjoyed a cold beer, he and his associates were oblivious to the fact they were under surveillance.

FULL STORY: They drank beer as their daring £300m drugs plot played out – totally unaware they were being watched

Aaron Middleton

Aaron Middleton

A drunk thug waved a machete at a teenage girl and her father after a night drinking in Lancaster. Aaron Middleton was handed a suspended prison sentence for the incident, which he admitted he could ‘only vaguely remember.’ On July 21, 2023, the 46-year-old returned to the house where the 16-year-old had been babysitting.

He went to the bedroom, where the girl was staying, and began shouting at her, Preston Crown Court heard. The youngster said she did not want to speak to Middleton while he was drunk and began to call her dad to collect her, as she was worried about her safety. However she was also worried about leaving a younger child in the house with Middleton in the state he was in, the prosecution said.

FULL STORY: Raging drunk waved machete at terrified teen babysitter… then started on her dad

James Blundell

James Blundell

A paedophile who took boys to McDonald’s and Cheshire Oaks before sexually abusing them has been jailed.

James Blundell was trusted by parents with their sons but they ended up suffering the “ultimate betrayal”, a court heard. The 36-year-old embarked upon a depraved campaign of rape and sexual assaults after grooming his victims with cash and sweets.

He befriended one of the children and paid him £10 in order to wash his car. The boy then carried out further chores at his home in return for “pocket money”.

FULL STORY: Parents’ horror as man trusted with their sons carried out ‘ultimate betrayal’

David Hudson

David Hudson
(Image: Lancs Police)

A crook collared ferrying a huge haul of drugs down the M55 in a BMW Z4 has been jailed for nearly five years. When David Hudson was pulled over, officers from Lancashire Constabulary found almost half a million pounds worth of cocaine in his boot. And when they searched his home, on Mythop Road in Blackpool, the uncovered a sizeable cannabis farm.

The 37-year-old was sentenced to 56 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and production of cannabis.

FULL STORY: BMW driver collared rattling along M55 with £500k of illicit cargo in his boot

Dale Thompson

Dale Thomason has been jailed after pleading guilty

A knifeman who barged through a front door, sat on the sofa and then made threats to the homeowner has been jailed. During a three-day crime spree, Dale Thomason targeted several properties across Preston – pinching Louis Vuitton trainers and high-end smartphones as he went. The 29-year-old has now been sentenced to eight years and four months in prison.

FULL STORY: Brazen knifeman barged his way into home and sat on sofa during three-day crime spree

Kenneth McEwan

Kenneth McEwan

A prolific shoplifter who terrorised staff by striking at the same store over and over again has been jailed. Lancashire Constabulary were alerted by workers at the shop in Blackpool that they were being targeted by Kenneth McEwan, sometimes visiting up to three times a day. During a dedicated operation, officers arrested the 43-year-old after he was seen shoplifting food items and running out of the store.

FULL STORY: Prolific shoplifter terrorised staff by striking at same store over and over

Martin Brown

Martin Brown

A burglar has been jailed after police seized his vehicle and found more than £5,000 inside.

Martin Brown, from the north east, would target businesses across Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre. Once he’d chosen his victim, the 60-year-old would force his way inside.

He then would take large quantities of cash. Preston Crown Court heard how following his arrest, a total of £5,300 was found inside his vehicle by police.

Brown has now been sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

FULL STORY: Burglar would target Blackpool businesses then force his way inside

John Woods

John Woods was sentenced to 14 months in prison

A ‘respected business owner’ put a former employee in hospital for months after punching him outside a sports bar following a row.

John Woods lashed out at John Barton, in the head and left him unconscious on the ground following a ‘forceful blow’ to the head. A court heard how the 39-year-old dad felt “betrayed” by his victim after he went to work for his estranged brother.

Mr Barton, 37, had decided to gate-crash a party at the Champs pub in Ainsdale on the evening of February 24 last year. After being turfed out he was followed onto the street by a group of guests, including Woods – his ex-boss.

FULL STORY: Dad’s single punch outside sports bar put ex-employee in hospital for months

Sarah Stables

Sarah Stables bombarded her neighbour with unwanted letters, cards and gifts

A stalker who told police she was ‘in love with her neighbour’ has been jailed for 12 months.

Sarah Stables, 39, bombarded the woman with hundreds of text messages, letters and gifts – and even sent Christmas presents to her home.

Between June 2022 and April 2023, the woman repeatedly told Stables her attention was unwanted. However the harassment continued leaving the woman feeling like she was ‘a prisoner in her own home’.

FULL STORY: Besotted stalker bombarded her neighbour with unwanted letters, cards and gifts

Jonathan Lawrence

Jonathon Lawrence

A relentless petrol pincher has been caged after filling his vehicle up with more than £4,200-worth of fuel – and then leaving forecourts without paying.

Jonathon Lawrence even used vans that had been specifically designed for the theft, with fuel tanks and containers fitted in the back. The 24-year-old’s crime spree stretched across garages in Lancashire, Cheshire, West Yorkshire, and North Wales.

An investigation was launched by Lancashire Constabulary after Lawrence stole from businesses in Preston, Blackpool and Nelson in October, November, and December last year.

FULL STORY: Prolific petrol pincher who stole more than £4.2k of fuel finally runs out of gas

Kyle Vaughan

Kyle Vaughan has been jailed for a year

A brute swigged a bottle of Jack Daniel’s before savagely hitting his dog in the face, leaving kids and families in the park horrified.

Kyle Vaughan reportedly threatened to “set his dog on children” after being confronted about his appalling actions. He then directed his aggression towards the police officers who arrived at the scene, punching one multiple times and trying to gouge the eyes of another.

A court heard how officers were called to Hesketh Park in Southport just before 3pm on April 28 due to the 27 year old’s “aggressive behaviour”. Witnesses claimed they saw Vaughan, from Leyland Road in the town, embroiled in a row with another dog walker, during which he allegedly yanked his own pooch Honey away and smacked it across the face three to four times.

FULL STORY: He downed Jack Daniel’s then terrified children and families as he beat his dog in park

Lee Collier and Liam Jackson

L-R: Liam Jackson and Lee Collier

Two burglars who raided a house as their victims slept were eventually caught after their ‘suspicious’ antics after a taxi ride gave them away.

Lancashire Constabulary were called to reports of a burglary on Williams Lane in Preston just before 3am on November 21 last year. It was reported that the occupants of the house had awoken to find the front door open and items including iPads and a laptop, as well as around £1,200 in cash, missing.

Police said shortly after the incident, two men were ‘seen acting suspiciously’ in the area have been seen in a nearby taxi. When officers stopped the vehicle, one man was detained.

FULL STORY: Burglars raided home as victims slept, but their ‘suspicious’ antics after taxi ride gave them away

Paul Allen

Paul Allen

A shoplifter who repeatedly targeted a Booths supermarket has been jailed.

Paul Allen targeted the high-end grocery store on a string of occasions, stretching between January and March of this year. During that time he made off with around £500-worth of goods.

A court heard how the 48-year-old, of Meadowbank, Penwortham, targeted the branch based in the South Ribble town. He pleaded guilty at Magistrates Court on May 9.

FULL STORY: Serial Booths shoplifter jailed after stealing £500 of goods from fancy supermarket

Joanna Evans

Joanne Evans
(Image: Lancs Police)

A paedophile who sexually assaulted three young boys in East Lancashire has been given a sentence totalling 17 years.

In September 2020 Lancashire Police received information that Joanna Evans, who uses different male and female names and identities, had sexually assaulted three victims during or before 2020.

The youngest victim was just eight years old at the time he was sexually assaulted. All three were under the age of 13.

Evans, 40, last of Castle Street, Swansea, was arrested the following day and later charged with assault by penetration of a child and sexual assault by touching of a child.

FULL STORY: ‘Manipulative’ paedophile caged for sickening crimes against three boys under 13

Martin Brown

Martin Brown

A ‘travelling criminal’ who drove hundreds of miles to raid businesses in Lancashire for ‘large quantities of cash’ has been jailed.

Martin Brown targeted premises in Blackpool, Cleveleys and Kirkham after driving from the North East of England. The 60-year-old forced entry into the premises during the burglary spree before being identified by members of the Fylde Rural Task Force and Blackpool Neighbourhood Policing Team.

When officers seized Brown’s car they recovered over £5,300 in cash. He was found guilty at Preston Crown Court for numerous commercial burglaries and sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

FULL STORY: ‘Travelling criminal’ drove hundreds of miles to plunder Lancashire businesses for cash

Asim Hussain

Asim Hussain

A rapist told his victim ‘it’ll be over in a few minutes’ as she pleaded with him to stop His sickening attack.

The day after forcing himself upon her at a flat in Blackburn, Asim Hussain texted her to apologise for what he’d done. But then a court heard how he ‘then concocted a web of lies in a bid to undermine the victim’s truthful account and distance himself from any wrongdoing’.

On February 2, 2020, Hussain attended the victim’s property. When she pleaded with him to stop, the 36-year-old said: “It’ll be over in a few minutes. I really like you. It’s OK.”

FULL STORY: Rapist’s seven vile words as victim pleaded with him to stop

Christopher Walton and Cameron Wassall

L-R: Cameron Wassall and Christopher Walton

Two men are starting lengthy prison sentences for carrying out a terrifying knifepoint robbery at a convenience store in Blackpool.

Lancashire Constabulary launched an investigation after cash and cigarettes were taken in the raid at One Stop, Dinmore Avenue, on January 25 this year. At 9.51pm, the shop assistant was tidying the store and getting ready to close, when he saw two men walk in.

One of them approached the counter and shouted, ‘bag of cigs now’, with the shop assistant thinking he was joking. However, the second man then pulled out a kitchen knife from his jacket.

FULL STORY: Dozy knifemen waltzed up to newsagent and demanded ‘bag of cigs now’ then made getaway in a taxi

Harry Fowle

Anthony Harley died in hospital on March 17

Heartbroken tributes have been paid to a son killed in a horror one-punch assault in Blackpool.

Anthony Harley died in hospital a month after he was punched by Harry Fowle on Church Street, on February 19, 2023. The 53-year-old had approached a parked car, and informed the occupants they were unable to park in a taxi area.

Shortly after 8.30pm, he was approached by Harry Fowle who confronted him and punched him once.

Anthony fell and banged the back of his head. He would never recover from the injury and died in hospital on March 17.

Fowle, 34, of Brook Street, Blackpool, was originally arrested on suspicion of Section 18 wounding and was charged with manslaughter following Anthony Harley’s death. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court today ( May 21).

He was jailed for 1 year and 10 months.

FULL STORY: Beloved son killed in sickening one-punch Blackpool assault just weeks after mum

James Gregson

Paul Mathieson
(Image: Lancs Police)

A Prison Officer who was caught trying to smuggle cannabis to a Preston gunman is facing time behind bars.

James Gregson, 21, has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting he conspired with Paul Matheson, 41, and Stuart Matheson, 47, to take cannabis and mobile phones into HMP Preston. Gregson also admitted converting criminal property.

The prison officer was arrested on November 8, 2022, after he was caught by prison staff attempting to smuggle cannabis and mobile phones into the prison for Matheson, who was jailed in October 2022 for his role in a revenge shooting in Ingol, Preston.

All three men appeared at Preston Crown Court on Thursday May 2. Paul Matheson, of Houldsworth Road, Preston, was jailed for a further 20 months. Stuart Matheson, of Ashfield, Preston, was jailed for nine months suspended for 12 months for his involvement.

FULL STORY: Dodgy prison officer smuggled contraband to Preston gunman behind Euro 2020 revenge shooting

Liam Finlayson

Photograph posed by model
(Image: Simon Dack)

A controlling boyfriend subjected his pregnant partner to months of physical, verbal and emotional abuse, a court heard.

Staff at Royal Preston Hospital noticed injuries when she attended a 2020-week antenatal appointment and asked what had happened. The woman bravely disclosed that her partner, Liam Finlayson, had been abusing her for around seven months.

She was supported to make a police statement, in which she said her partner checked her phone and controlled the money in the relationship. He had thrown her phone at her, slapped her face, verbally abused her and called her names.

FULL STORY: Thug kneed pregnant girlfriend in face while she played with child on the floor

Stewart Langton

Stewart Langton

Homeowners were left with exposed roofs, overflowing gutters and damaged gardens after a rogue trader conned them out of more than £200,000.

Stewart Langton, 34, claimed to be a reputable tradesman but left a trail of devastation across Preston, Blackpool and Cheshire. Between 2022 and 2024, he used a number of business names to confuse customers as to who they were dealing with.

Customers were left suffering financial difficulties, anxiety and stress as a result of the damage he caused.

FULL STORY: Rogue roofer ramped up costs and left trail of devastation across Lancashire

George Miller

George Miller

A ‘cruel’ hare hunter was eventually snared following an audacious escape bid after a farmer desperately rushed to block him in with some of his machinery.

George Miller, from Morecambe, travelled nearly 200 miles to farmland in Lincolnshire with co-defendant Lewis Sheridan. Police were alerted just before 10am on Friday, October 13 last year after the pair were seen walking across the arable land near Spalding with two dogs.

A court heard how they were using the hounds, a beige long dog and a black long dog, to chase and catch hares. Police said they had arrived earlier that day in a silver Skoda which left near to a farm in the area, close to the villages of Twenty and West Pinchbeck.

FULL STORY: ‘Cruel’ hare hunter’s audacious escape bid after farmer desperately tries to block him in

Mark Beeby

Stefon Beeby was jailed for 15-and-a-half years

A dad-of-three who became drawn into an EncroChat drugs gang ‘out of loyalty to his brother’ has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Mark Beeby’s brother Stefon was previously jailed in 2022 along with other defendants from West Lancashire for more than 180 years after warrants were carried out as part of a joint operation between Merseyside and North Wales Serious and Organised Crime teams. A court heard yesterday (May 3) that Mark Beeby “became involved through his older brother” Stefon and travelled from his home in West Yorkshire to the drugs factory at Wood Farm in Sealand, Chester, on two occasions in April 2020.

FULL STORY: Dad-of-three drawn into EncroChat drug gang ‘out of loyalty to his brother’

Dale Barker

Dale Barker

A mum says she and her son were left prisoners in their own home after a ‘monster’ stole her son’s childhood and threatened them in their own home. Dale Barker, 33, has been jailed for six years and nine months after he admitted sexually assaulting a child and possession of a knife.

But as Barker, of Cotton Tree Lane, Colne, begins his prison sentence, the mum and son are left trying to rebuild their lives which they say have been completely destroyed by their abuser. Barker befriended the mum when they met in a shop where he was working, but after a few weeks the woman noticed ‘strange behaviour’.

“He kept buying gifts and things for my son and being overly pally”, she said.

FULL STORY: ‘I met a man in a shop near our home… then he kept buying my son gifts’

James Williams

A man has today (2 May) been given a life sentence for kidnap and sex offences after an incident in the Denton Holme area of Carlisle. James William, 34, of no fixed address, was at court for kidnap, kidnap a person with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence, sexually assaulting a boy under 13 by touching and breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). William pleaded guilty at a hearing on 20 February 2024. The court heard the incident occurred in August 2022 against a boy. The investigating officer in this case was Detective Constable Chloe King, of Cumberland CID.
(Image: Police handout)

A vile pervert kidnapped a boy, pulled his shirt out of his trousers ‘with the intention of him becoming naked’, then sexually assaulted him.

Convicted child rapist James William had recently been released from jail when he approached the 12-year-old during the summer holidays in August 2022. The 34-year-old, who is originally from Lancashire, offered his victim £20 to show him around Carlisle, in Cumbria.

He then plied the youngster vodka and Red Bull, which had been mixed together in a bottle. He then isolated the victim from a friend and walked him down a path, reports the Mirror.

FULL STORY: Summer holiday hell as ‘dangerous’ pervert kidnaps and sexually abuses boy, 12

Jonathan Lyle

Jonathon Lyle
(Image: Lancs Police)

An ‘immature driver’ caused the death of a man on a country road that he was treating ‘like a race track’, a court heard.

Jonathan Lyle, 23, was driving a Seat Leon on Whins Lane, Simonstone, in excess of the speed limit, on the afternoon of 20th April 2022. He collided with the back of a Land Rover Defender, driven by Nicholas Starkie, which was turning off Whins Lane.

The impact caused the Land Rover to turn on its side and the roof collided with a concrete post. Mr Starkie, 56, died at the scene.

FULL STORY: ‘Immature’ driver jailed for collision which killed loving dad on country road

Daniel Kirkby

HMP Garth prison

A prisoner hurled a bucket of faeces – mixed with porridge – into a guard’s face when he went to check on him in his cell.

Daniel Kirby, 35, was doing time at HMP Garth, in Leyland, when he carried out the disgusting attack. Preston Crown Court heard that on July 24, 2021, Kirby was on the segregation wing and was to be observed in person each time he was checked.

Niamh Ingham, prosecuting, said that at 11.15am he became verbally abusive and aggressive towards an officer on duty. Around 45 minutes later, he blocked the observation panel in the door of his cell and pressed the cell bell.

Three officers went to the cell, but Kirby was unresponsive so they opened the cell door. As they did, Kirby threw the bucket of faeces, mixed with porridge towards the officers. Liquid went into one of the officers’ face and over his clothing.

FULL STORY: Prisoner flung faeces and porridge into guard’s face when he went to check on him

Dilnawaz Hussain

Dilnawaz Hussain
(Image: Lancs Police)

A wannabe drill rapper launched a savage attack on two women who were enjoying a get-together in a backyard in Colne.

Dilnawaz Hussain, 28, worked himself up into a ‘boiling rage’ before setting upon the women with a monkey wrench in August last year.

Preston Crown Court heard the defendant has been arrested after he stabbed a wheelie bin with a knife in an alleyway that ran behind the houses in Duke Street in July 2024. One resident provided CCTV footage to support the police in their investigation.

In the weeks that followed, Hussain became ‘obsessed’ with the woman. He recorded TikTok videos of misogynistic raps, speaking about ‘snitches’ and ‘racist b****es’, and gave details of the woman’s name, home address and postcode – encouraging others to attack her.

On August 9 he sent a message saying: “Something needs to be done about this Duke Street situation immediately before I go to prison.” Two days later he messaged: “I need (the witness) done in on Duke Street. IDC about damage. IDC about ps.”

Two hours after sending the message on the evening of August 11, the witness was having a get-together with two of her aunties in the backyard of her home. At around 10:30pm, Hussain forced his way through the locked gate, wearing a balaclava and carrying a heavy monkey wrench.

He struck one of the aunts, knocking her to the ground, then kicked her while she was there. He then turned to the other aunt and kicked her.

FULL STORY: Wannabe drill rapper launched merciless wrench attack on two innocent women

Laimonas Prascevicius and Rimantas Vystartas

Laimonas Prascevicius
(Image: Lancs Police)

Rimantas Vystartas
(Image: Lancs Police)

Two men have been jailed for life for the murder of their housemate in Nelson.

Andrej Minin, 53, was beaten so badly he suffered a brain injury which itself could have proved fatal. He was also stamped on so hard his neck broke. He was killed in the attack on November 5, 2023.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Laimonas Prascevicius, 54, and Rimantas Vystartas, 54, were found guilty of murder. The men claimed Andrej fell down the stairs, but blood marks on the floor showed he had been dragged to the foot of the stairs in the course of the attack.

FULL STORY: Men jailed for life for ‘brutal and cowardly’ murder on man in his own home

Robert Ramshaw

The incident happened outside the Wyre Light pub
(Image: Google)

A judge commended the bravery of two pub doormen who tackled a drunk who lunged at them while carrying three kitchen knives.

Robert Ramshaw, 52, had fallen out with his ex at the Wyre Light pub in Fleetwood on September 4, 2022.

Preston Crown Court heard he went home and armed himself with three large kitchen knives before returning to the pub on London Street. The doormen told everyone who was milling around outside to go inside the pub for safety.

When asked why he was carrying the knives, Ramshaw replied: “Do you want f***ing cutting?”.

He handed Ramshaw a sentence of two years each count of possession of a bladed article, 15 months for affray and a month for possession of cocaine – each to run consecutively, totalling two years.

FULL STORY: Hero doormen took down drunk who had armed himself with three kitchen knives

Akra, Khan, Ahmed and Ellahi

Essa Akram, Asar Khan, Ghaffar Ahmed and Vakar Ellahi
(Image: Lancs Police)

Four drug dealers who conspired to flood East Lancashire with cocaine are beginning prison sentences totalling more than 30 years.

Police intercepted the Chyna drugs line, headed up by Asar Khan, after recovering a vehicle containing a kilo of cocaine, close to Khan’s home in July Street, Blackburn. The drugs, found in April 2019, were later forensically linked to Khan.

All four men appeared at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday (18th June) and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

FULL STORY: The inside story of how cops brought down the infamous Chyna drugs line

Reece Owen

Reece Owen

A burglar has been jailed after storming a house with sledgehammer and a crowbar.

Reece Owen, 24, was among the gang seen entering the property in Fylde Road, Southport, at around 2pm on April 5. After smashing a rear window, the group was seen fleeing the scene in a white Mercedes car, which was later found on Brookdale Drive in Liverpool with the weapons still inside.

Following an investigation, Owen, from Cawthorne Avenue, Southdene, was arrested and charged with burglary. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (June 21) where he was sentenced to 29 months in prison.

FULL STORY: Man storms house with sledgehammer and crowbar in terrifying raid

Antonino Seminara

Antonino Seminara

Two victims of a man convicted of sexually abusing four teenage girls in East Lancashire has detailed how the heinous crime had impacted their lives.

Antonino Seminara has been jailed for 14 and a half years after being found guilty of 11 offences of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault. The ‘manipulative and deceitful’ 65-year-old committed his horrific offending in Padiham and Blackburn and his youngest victim was just 14.

The jury at Preston Crown Court was told how Seminara told two of his victims that they ‘liked that’ as he sexually assaulted them. He also boasted to one victim that he had ‘done this before with somebody your age’.

FULL STORY: ‘What happened to me when I was 14 ruined my life. Ever since that first time it happened I’ve felt damaged, dirty, worthless’

Callum Roberts

A thug who used a stun gun on his ex-partner before headbutting her and pulling her to the floor by her hair has been jailed.

Callum Roberts inflicted the ‘sickening attack’ while engaging in a campaign of ‘spontaneous violence in and around pubs in Blackburn’ with pal Liam Donlin. The pair have now both been jailed ‘despite most victims and witnesses being reluctant to give evidence’.

Lancashire Constabulary said the offence took place in Blackburn town centre on August 26 last year and involved Roberts, while on a night out with Donlin. He used a stun gun on his ex-partner and then violently threw her around before headbutting her and pulling her to the floor by her hair.

FULL STORY: Thug used stun gun in ‘sickening attack’ on ex during campaign of pub violence

Jeremy Wood

Jeremy Wood was deemed by the Judge to be a ‘dangerous offender’

A ‘dangerous’ paedophile who poses a ‘significant risk to female children’ has been jailed.

Jeremy Wood was found guilty of attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl at a house in Brierfield. The horrific incident happened in September 2022 and Lancashire Constabulary said “thankfully Wood was disturbed before he could succeed”.

The 56-year-old, formerly of Hope Street, Brierfield, but now of no fixed address, was arrested the day after the offence was committed. He was found guilty of attempted rape earlier this year and hauled back into the dock at Burnley Crown Court on Friday (June 14) where a Judge deemed him to be a ‘dangerous offender’.

FULL STORY: The ‘dangerous’ paedophile every parent with a young girl needs to know about

Liam Swayne

Liam Swayne has been jailed

A controlling and abusive thug peppered bombarded his victim with threatening text messages and forced her to Facetime him from her holiday – to prove she was alone in her hotel room.

Liam Swayne’s actions were described as ‘truly despicable’ as he was sentenced to three years eight months in jail at Carlisle Crown Court today (June 13). The 33-year-old, of Woodfield Road, Blackpool, was also given an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

He was jailed for coercive and controlling behaviour, assault by beating, criminal damage, false imprisonment, and intimidating a witness in civil proceedings. He also threatened to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.

His crimes relate to one woman between April and August 2023 in north Cumbria.

FULL STORY: Jealous thug bombarded victim with texts and threatened to share intimate pictures

Karen Foster

Karen Foster
(Image: Lancs Police)

Killer childminder Karen Foster has been sentenced to 12 years and seven months in jail following the death of nine-month-old Harlow Collinge.

Nine-month-old Harlow was shaken ‘in frustration’ by the 62-year-old after he fell from a chair while under her care on March 1, 2022. Today (June 13), Preston Crown Court heard how Harlow’s parents had trusted Foster to look after their youngest child – but that trust had been betrayed.

The court was told how Harlow suffered injuries typical of the “extreme end of what is seen in abusive head trauma”. Foster had ‘snapped’ after the youngster fell from a chair while struggling to cope with the demands of caring for four children.

At the time Harlow was killed, the childminder was caring for more children than she was allowed under Ofsted rules. It was a decision she had made ‘for financial reasons’.

FULL STORY: Killer childminder Karen Foster jailed for 12 years after ‘snapping’ and shaking baby Harlow Collinge

Andrew Jefferson

Andrew Jefferson

A booze-fuelled boyfriend who hounded his partner for money to fund his gambling and cocaine habits yelled ‘it’s showtime!’ before taking a hammer to his neighbour’s car.

Andrew Jefferson also controlled his partner’s movements. If she was out of contact for a few hours, the 38-year-old would call relentlessly.

Preston Crown Court heard how she would walk on eggshells when he returned from work and demanded his tea would be ready for him. Today (June 11), Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, said Jefferson, of Parkfield Close, Lea, had been in an 18 year relationship with his partner. But from 2018 the relationship became toxic.

Now the dad-of-three is behind bars after a judge said his behaviour was so serious only a prison sentence could serve justice. He has also been banned from contacting his ex for four years.

FULL STORY: ‘It’s showtime!’: Drunk boyfriend’s mad rant before taking hammer to next door’s car

Liam Bain

Liam Bain
(Image: Lancs Police)

A neighbour from hell terrorised elderly residents in a peaceful cul-de-sac in the village of Longton. Liam Bain, 35, shouted obscenities, peered through windows and wore Spiderman masks and balaclavas to intimidate the pensioners living in Higher Furlong and Tranmoor.

He used a hose pipe to drench a woman in her 70s, and blocked driveways and entrances to the street with his van. Bain was often seen flexing his muscles in his front window and shadow boxing in the street, with his top off.

He loitered outside his neighbours’ homes, played loud music from his van and shone a laser at houses and cars. He even harassed the pensioners using their Ring doorbells when he knew they were out of their homes – knowing they would receive a phone alert.

FULL STORY: ‘I’ll still be here when you’re all dead’: Neighbour from Hell in Spiderman mask led reign of terror on quiet cul-de-sac

Mohammed Waqas

Mohammed Waqas
(Image: Lancs Police)

On the night of September 29, 2021, Mohammed Waqas was concerned about his car. The battery had gone flat, and it needed charging.

He decided the best way to do with was to go for a quick drive. There list of reasons he shouldn’t have was long.

The 33-year-old wasn’t insured, the car didn’t have an MOT, and he had taken drugs before getting behind the wheel. Waqas had even been advised he should not drive and should notify the DVLA after being diagnosed with epilepsy earlier that year.

FULL STORY: Drug-fuelled spin in Audi left four children without a father, and a dad desperately searching for his son

Scott Harrison

Scott Harrison
(Image: Lancs Police)

A shop robber who was one of a gang chased out of the store by a brave employee has been jailed for three years. Scott Harrison, 32, was with James Rush, 33, and a third man when they raided the Premier convenience store on December 21, 2020.

The trio went to the store at 9:30am and demanded alcohol but they were chased out by the shop assistant. However, the gang returned a short while later armed with weapons they had collected from a nearby car. Rush jumped on the shop assistant’s back and one of the others attacked him with a stick.

FULL STORY: Baseball bat-wielding robber broke police officer’s Apple Watch after terrifying raid left shop assistant scared to work alone

Kamran Rashid

A ‘dangerous’ pervert plied a young woman with drugs and alcohol then sexually assaulted her when she blacked out in his bed. Kamran Rashid, 40, has previous convictions for having sex with a teenager who had gone missing from home, and spending time with two other teenagers after he was handed a sexual harm prevention order which banned him from doing so.

In November 2021, the woman, who was 20, had arranged to stay at Rashid’s house. He returned with a friend, drunk, and she asked if her friend could join them.

Throughout the evening the group drank alcohol and took cocaine, supplied by Rashid. The woman woke in Rashid’s bed, with the defendant ‘spooning’ her at 11am the following morning. Rashid then sexually assaulted her, leaving DNA evidence on her body before getting up and leaving the bedroom.

FULL STORY: She woke up to find a dangerous pervert in her bed – then he tried to claim she molested HIM as he slept

Martin Brown

Martin Brown

A burglar has been jailed after police seized his vehicle and found more than £5,000 inside. Martin Brown, from the north east, would target businesses across Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre. Once he’d chosen his victim, the 60-year-old would force his way inside.

He then would take large quantities of cash. Preston Crown Court heard how following his arrest, a total of £5,300 was found inside his vehicle by police.

Brown has now been sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

FULL STORY: Burglar would target Blackpool businesses then force his way inside

John Woods

John Woods was sentenced to 14 months in prison

A ‘respected business owner’ put a former employee in hospital for months after punching him outside a sports bar following a row. John Woods lashed out at John Barton, in the head and left him unconscious on the ground following a ‘forceful blow’ to the head.

A court heard how the 39-year-old dad felt “betrayed” by his victim after he went to work for his estranged brother. Mr Barton, 37, had decided to gate-crash a party at the Champs pub in Ainsdale on the evening of February 24 last year.

After being turfed out he was followed onto the street by a group of guests, including Woods – his ex-boss.

FULL STORY: Dad’s single punch outside sports bar put ex-employee in hospital for months

Michael Wyld

Michael Wyld claimed to be making safe investments

A “thoroughly incompetent” day trader stole more than £100,000 from a Lancashire man, leaving him so desperate he took his own life.

Michael Wyld, 67, met his victim Ian Crossley when he carried out work as a landscape gardener for him. Mr Crossley had received a substantial inheritance and was convinced to invest the money with Wyld, who promised low risk investments on the financial markets.

The pair agreed that any capital invested by Mr Crossley would remain his property, but that any profits would be split equally between them. Mr Crossley handed over £209,000 to Wyld, who invested the money through CMC Trading.

When Mr Crossley became concerned about the returns of his investments, Wyld, of Linkside Avenue, Nelson, provided false statements and documents to reassure him all was well. However over time, Mr Crossley realised he was being lied to and was “driven to absolute desperation.”

FULL STORY: Day trader stole £107k leaving victim so desperate he took his own life

Rhys Jones

Rhys Jones
(Image: Lancs Police)

A man who killed a Blackpool dad in a sickening attack has been jailed for 10 years and two months.

George Fenlon, 23, was knocked unconscious by Rhys Jones, 26, on a night out in the resort on August 15, 2023. Jones, from Cannock, Staffordshire, had been visiting Blackpool and started drinking ‘almost immediately’ up on his arrival.

By 2am he was “spoiling for a fight”, Preston Crown Court heard.

George, an innocent passer by, was knocked unconscious by Jones. He died in hospital having never regained consciousness.

FULL STORY: Blackpool dad never regained consciousness following vicious street attack

Ergi Derka

Inside the Balfour Road cannabis farm
(Image: Lancs Police)

A young Albanian man travelled to the UK in the hope of making money in the construction trade to send back to his sick relatives.

But Ergi Derka, 23, ended up working in a cannabis factory in Preston after finding himself homeless and £20,000 in debt to people smugglers who helped him into the country.

Now he is in prison and facing deportation when he has served his 15 month sentence.

FULL STORY: ‘I came to Preston from Albania for a better life but ended up £20k in debt and living at a cannabis farm’

Daniel Evans

The Bretherton Arms, Chorley
(Image: Submitted)

A man lost the sight in one eye and will lose sight in the other following an unprovoked attack in a pub garden.

Daniel Evans, 33, of St Thomas Road, Chorley, has been jailed for 15 and a half years for his role in the attack, which left another innocent pubgoer with a serious head injury.

Two others have been handed suspended prison sentences for their roles in the incident on September 13, 2020.

Preston Crown Court heard the victims were out celebrating a friend’s birthday at the end of lockdown when ‘words were exchanged’ with a group of men in the smoking area of the Bretherton Arms, Chorley.

One of the victims said he thought Evans, his brother Lewis Evans and Callum Cheyne were ‘out to cause trouble’.

FULL STORY: ‘I play the attack over in my mind, causing me to cry’: Chorley pub cosh attack on soldier and pals

Hamza Alam

Hamza Alam, 22. A ‘vile’ TikTok terrorist who glorified ISIS and celebrated the 9/11 attacks has been jailed for four years. Hamza Alam, who went by the acronym ‘H’ and told police he was simply an ‘online librarian’, encouraged followers on TikTok and Telegram to attack and kill jews. The 22-year-old, of Romford in East London, also created a shareable folder containing Islamic State propaganda and videos of public floggings. He told police he was an ‘online librarian’ after he was arrested by counter terrorism detectives, who identified him as an administrator of a Telegram channel that shared terrorist publications that encouraged Jihad.
(Image: No credit)

A ‘vile’ TikTok terrorist who glorified Isis and celebrated the 9/11 attacks has been jailed for four years.

Hamza Alam, who went by the acronym ‘H’ and told police he was simply an ‘online librarian’, encouraged followers on TikTok and Telegram to attack and kill jews.

The 22-year-old also created a shareable folder containing Islamic State propaganda and videos of public floggings.

He told police he was an ‘online librarian’ after he was arrested by counter terrorism detectives, who identified him as an administrator of a Telegram channel that shared terrorist publications that encouraged Jihad.

FULL STORY: ‘TikTok terrorist’ who glorified Isis and 9/11 attackers jailed

David Liptrot

Caroline Gore. GMP/Family. The family of a woman at the centre of a murder investigation have paid tribute to ‘a dearly loved mum, daughter and sister’, saying she has been ‘tragically taken way too soon’. Caroline Gore was found dead inside a flat in Douglas House, a high-rise on Millbank in Scholes, Wigan, on Monday night (October 30). She was 44. Greater Manchester Police today released a touching tribute to her from her family – and a family-album photograph of her.

A drunken brute who murdered his partner in a sick stabbing while she sat on the toilet is set to be jailed for life.

David Liptrot, from Shelley Avenue, Coppull, was found guilty of the horrific crime following a two-week-trial after denying the charge.

It took the jury around 90 minutes to convict the 56-year-old of the murder of his partner Caroline Gore.

FULL STORY: Drunk thug’s chilling words to punter after murdering partner as she sat on toilet

Charlie Butterworth

Exterior of Preston Crown Court in Lancashire
(Image: James Maloney/LancsLive)

A woman feared for her life when her boyfriend locked her in a bedroom and tortured her.

Charlie Butterworth threatened to kill the woman and her dog during the terrifying ordeal at her home in Colne.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that during the ‘prolonged’ incident, the woman hoped neighbours would hear her distress and call the police. She considered trying to escape through the bedroom window, he said.

Butterworth, of Thomas Street, Colne, was sentenced to 50 months in prison.

FULL STORY: Colne thug tortured girlfriend and threatened to kill her dog

Gary Sheridan

Gary Sheridan
(Image: Lancs Police)

A convicted paedophile struck up a relationship with a mum-of-three but did not reveal the truth about his past.

Gary Sheridan, 37, has spent time in jail after he had sex with a 13-year-old he met through their shared love of horses.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which bans him from having any unsupervised contact with children without the written permission of social services.

FULL STORY: ‘I had no idea of his past’ – mother’s Facebook date jailed for keeping dark secret

Daniel Hardcastle

Daniel Hardcastle
(Image: Lancs Police)

A tattoo artist who murdered his two-year-old son has been jailed for life.

Daniel Hardcastle, 31, must serve a minimum of 22 year before he is eligible to apply for parole.

Hardcastle was convicted of murder after a jury at Preston Crown Court heard harrowing details of catastrophic injuries he inflicted on his son on the morning of August 19, 2023.

Emergency services were called to the flat in Central Drive, to find Damion covered in bruises and in a state of cardiac and respiratory arrest.

On August 19, 2023, Hardcastle called 999 reporting his son had fallen on a coffee table while playing.

Police and paramedics rushed to the flat bit were instantly sceptical about the account Hardcastle gave. Attempts had been made to clean blood from the floor and bloodstained clothes and bedding had been placed in bin bags and the washing machine.

FULL STORY:‘A gross abuse of trust’: Shameless Blackpool dad shows no emotion as he’s jailed for brutal murder of ‘helpless son’

Daniel Weatherhill

Darren Weatherhill
(Image: Echo)

A former street peddler was caught red-handed dealing drugs on the streets after returning to a life of crime because he didn’t want to “dip into his savings”.

Darren Weatherhill was arrested by cops when his escape attempt on a bike went pear-shaped as he crashed trying to mount a kerb, a court heard. The 57-year-old was found with seven wraps of crack cocaine worth around £70 and £303.21 in cash.

The police then turned over his home on Saunders Street in Southport and uncovered another seven bags of crack cocaine valued at roughly £150, a bag of heroin pegged at about £210, and scales containing traces of both substances. A police examination of his mobile phone also exposed texts from “three or four” punters enquiring about drug deals.

FULL STORY: Former street dealer returned to life of crime because he didn’t want to ‘dip into his savings’

Thomas Gerrity

Thomas Gerrity has been jailed for sexual offences
(Image: Lancs Police)

A paedophile who subjected two young children to “abhorrent” abuse has been jailed for more than two decades after they bravely spoke out to put him behind bars.

Thomas Gerrity was found guilty of three counts of assault by penetration, six counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

The 69-year-old, of Sandhurst Avenue, Bispham, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and an extra four years on an extended licence.

It follows an investigation by Lancashire Police. Det Insp Andrew Crook said Gerrity’s crimes were “nothing short of abhorrent” and praised the “bravely” of the two victims following the sentencing hearing.

FULL STORY: He assaulted them as kids, but their incredible bravery has put him behind bars for decades

‘Monster’ left boy, 11, terrified and fearing he ‘wouldn’t make it out of room alive’

Mark Ward
(Image: Lancs Police)

A “monster” who left a boy “terrified” and “fearing he wouldn’t make it out of the room alive” will now spend longer behind bars due to his perverted crimes.

Mark Ward “destroyed” the lives of countless children and has been locked up since 2007 after being convicted for heinous acts. The 63-year-old has now been handed a further six-year prison sentence after he abused and raped the victim in his latest court case.

Ward committing the vile acts on a boat and in a disused building and chillingly told the boy on one occasion: “You know I’m not a person to be messed around.” A court heard how he abused the boy when he was aged around 11 over the course of up to two years in the early 1980s.

FULL STORY: ‘Monster’ left boy, 11, terrified and fearing he ‘wouldn’t make it out of room alive’

Peter Barnes

Peter Alan Barnes was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life
(Image: Lancs Police)

A sick sexual predator refused to attend court to face his victims as he was jailed.

Peter Barnes, 55, was handed a 30 year sentence for a campaign of grooming, abuse and rape of his victims spanning more than 25 years.

During a trial at Preston Crown Court, he denied what he had done to his victims, taking every opportunity to blacken their names. But the jury saw through his lies and convicted him of 43 counts of sexual abuse of young women and girls.

As he was due to be sentenced for his crimes, which date back to the 1990s, Barnes refused to leave his prison cell. His victims bravely sat in the public gallery to see justice served – but the dock remained empty.

FULL STORY: Sick sex abuser’s ‘final insult to victims’ as he refuses to attend court for sentence

John Ryan

John Ryan
(Image: Lancs Police)

A ‘depraved’ man who raped and sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for 20 years.

John Ryan, now 75, subjected his young victim to abuse over a number of years from when she was just six-years-old. Most of the offences were carried out in Blackpool

.Ryan, formerly of the seaside town but originally from Tamworth in the West Midlands, denied offences of rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity but was found guilty after a trial.

FULL STORY:‘Depraved’ rapist who abused young girl for years finally brought to justice

Stephen Godridge

Stephen Godridge
(Image: Lancs Police)

A former special constable who raped girl just months after being let out of prison has been jailed for life.

Stephen Godridge arranged to pick up the girl in his car and then took her to a park where he raped and sexually assaulted her. The 31-year-old had only been released from prison a few months prior, after exploiting two other young girls in eerily similar circumstances.

Godridge, who at the time of the offences was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was on the Sex Offenders Register for life for offences committed in 2019, denied the offences. He was today (July 5) sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months in prison.

FULL STORY: Ex-special constable jailed for life after raping teen he groomed on Snapchat

Stephanie Heaps

An AI image of Ramsden and Heaps’ wedding day
(Image: GMP)

A former police officer worked as a prison officer in HMP Wymott in Leyland at the same time as having an intimate relationship with a convicted murderer who was an inmate there. Stephanie Heaps – now known as Stephanie Ramsden – did not declare that she was in an intimate relationship with Leon ‘Layton’ Ramsden, 35.

Ramsden was sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 17 years, in 2010 after killing Paul Gilligan, 31, at a Bolton pub, and was in the prison as Stephanie Heaps worked in her previous role at HMP Wymott. The pair are now married, with the above AI image of them shared on social media.

A Greater Manchester Police investigation revealed Heaps’ levels of deceit in getting a job at the police. It also uncovered her links to an organised crime group – associated with Ramsden – which was involved in money laundering, drug dealing, and a conspiracy to burgle an address in St Helens in November 2019.

FULL STORY: Ex-prison officer-turned-cop was in relationship with convicted murderer in Lancs prison

Stuart Mallen

Stuart Mallen

A pervert who travelled to St Annes to meet what he thought was a teenage boy has been jailed for 20 months.

Stuart Mallen believed he had arranged to meet a 15-year-old boy after meeting on the dating app Grindr and exchanging WhatsApp messages. But when Mallen arrived at the meeting point he was surrounded by self-styled paedophile hunters who surrounded him and called the police.

His electronic devices were seized and he was found to be in possession of indecent images of children. Earlier this week, Judge Ian Unsworth KC, said the case needed ‘careful consideration’ before he could pass sentence

FULL STORY: Jail time for pervert who tried to meet schoolboy he met online

Van driver killed man in horror crash after running red light at high speed

Reece Fowler

A van driver who killed a man in a horror crash when he jumped a red light at high speed and hit his car has been jailed.

Lancashire Police said Reece Fowler “drove dangerously” directly through a red light at almost 30mph over the speed limit, colliding with a Ford Focus and killing the driver Martyn Smith. Emergency services rushed to the scene of the collision on Myerscough Smithy Road, Blackburn, shortly after 5.30am on February 23 last year.

Fowler’s Citroen Dispatch grey van collided into the car at speed and despite the best efforts of members of the public and the emergency services, the 57-year-old victim from Burnley died at the scene. Crash data recovered from the vehicle shows that prior to the fatal collision, Fowler was driving at 77mph in a 50mph speed zone.

FULL STORY: Van driver killed man in horror crash after running red light at high speed

Mum’s four-word message to son who ruined his life during one night of madness

Jake Lowther, 20, from Banks

A mum said “love you, it’s ok” as her 20-year-old son with a promising future was jailed for a night of madness.

Jake Lowther, from Banks, was filmed throwing “two pieces of rock or concrete” towards police officers and was “seen to be part of the mob as it moved towards officers” during rioting in Southport. A court heard how he had never found himself in trouble with the police before the violent scenes unfolded in the town on July 30.

Around 50 police officers were injured as a 1,000-strong crowd descended on St Luke’s Road. Rioters thereafter hurled missiles, “damaged and looted” properties and chanted “this is our f***ing country”, “s***houses”, “scumbag b*******s” and “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah?” as the nearby mosque on Sussex Road became the “focus” of the violence.

FULL STORY: Mum’s four-word message to son who ruined his life during one night of madness

He ‘heard a commotion’ while drinking in the pub but was sent to jail for what he did next

Nicholas Sinclair, 38, of Bury Road, Birkdale

A company manager who “heard a commotion” while out on an all-day drink sesh and “went outside to see what was happening” has been jailed for what he did next.

Nicholas Sinclair was seen “shouting towards the police and throwing missiles” including bricks, as well as “pointing and shouting” and “motioning for others to move forward into the surge of people as they pressed upon the police cordon”. The violent scenes unfolded in Southport on July 30 – the day after the fatal stabbings of three young girls.

The 38-year-old was later recorded “rummaging in bins and bin bags” in the street. Sinclair handed himself in at Copy Lane Police Station on August 14 after footage of him was released as part of a public appeal by the force.

FULL STORY: He ‘heard a commotion’ while drinking in the pub but was sent to jail for what he did next

Dad landed at Manchester Airport from holiday to Greece and was sent straight to prison

Thomas Whitehead

A father-of-three landed at Manchester Airportfrom a holiday in Greece – and was arrested on the plane just minutes later for his role in the violent scenes in Southport.

Thomas Whitehead, 53, was “seen in and amongst the large group” which gathered outside a mosque in the town on July 30, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, said his picture was circulated and he was arrested on August 13 at the airport on board a plane.

When interviewed, the self-employed told detectives that he had “been at a public house and noticed a large group gathering and went to see what was happening”. Whitehead “accepted throwing an item” but said he “didn’t believe it had hit any of the officers”.

FULL STORY: Dad landed at Manchester Airport from holiday to Greece and was sent straight to prison

Dad-of-three left police officer ‘fearing for his life’ as he tried to smash van window

Luke Moran

A father-of-three who left a police officer fearing for his life as he tried to smash a van window amid disorder has been jailed for three years.

Luke Moran, 38, had lost his job with a roofing firm after his image was published after violence broke out in Southport the day after a knife attack in which three girls were killed, a court heard. Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, said Moran, of Leybourne Avenue, Birkdale, was seen on footage with a large piece of concrete in his hands, smashing the driver’s side window of a police vehicle with an officer inside.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Liverpool Crown Court: “This is as bad a case as I have seen so far.” He said serious disorder, in the form of vandalism, intimidation and violence, broke out in Merseyside and across the country following the fatal stabbing in Southport on July 29, in which three girls died.

FULL STORY: Dad-of-three left police officer ‘fearing for his life’ as he tried to smash van window

‘She can see all the rage and all the hate in your eyes’ – Morecambe dad’s attack on partner left her gasping for breath

Niall Ryan

A man stood on his partner’s throat wearing his work boots when their eight year relationship came to an end, a court heard.

Niall Ryan set upon the woman when she stopped paying for his phone. On February 2, 2024, Ryan visited the house in Lancaster and began unplugging the TV – saying he would remove items until she reactivated the phone account.

Ryan pushed the woman to the floor and stood on her throat. “The pressure was immenmse,” Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said. “She tried to take a breath but all she could do was wheeze.

“As she was getting up he kneed her in the stomach. He ran out of the house with her phone and she ran after him, calling for help.”

FULL STORY: ‘She can see all the rage and all the hate in your eyes’ – Morecambe dad’s attack on partner left her gasping for breath

Major M6 drugs bust as gang caught with 130kg of cocaine

(Image: West Midlands Police)

An organised crime gang was busted on the M6 with thousands of pounds worth of cocaine. The drugs gang, who flooded millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK, have been jailed.

Martin Brown was caught red-handed with 130kg of drugs on the M6. Brown, 40, was part of a major drugs conspiracy that saw hundreds of kilograms of cocaine transported from London and Bedfordshire into the Midlands. He worked alongside Mark Cheadle, Paul Paterson, and James Piotrowski.

Officers from the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) uncovered that the four-strong drugs gang were transporting and distributing drugs in November 2022. A van hired by the group was stopped on the M6, and 130 kilograms of cocaine were found in the back, West Midlands Police said.

FULL STORY: Major M6 drugs bust as gang caught with 130kg of cocaine

Mum’s horror at finding ex snoring on her sofa when she came home at 2am

A mum was horrified to find her ex snoring on her sofa when she returned home in the early hours of the morning.

Mark King, 56, was banned from having any contact with the woman or going within 100m of her house in , Crown heard. The couple had previously been in an 11 year relationship and had a daughter together.

But in June 2023, the family court granted a non-molestation order to keep them apart. On November 11, 2023, the woman returned home at 2am expecting her house to be empty.

She put her bag and keys down in the kitchen but was surprised her dogs did not react in their usual way when she walked through the door. She then heard snoring from the living room and saw King asleep on the sofa.

Fearing he may become violent if she woke him, she left the house and called the police.

FULL STORY: Mum’s horror at finding ex snoring on her sofa when she came home at 2am

The ‘dangerous and cowardly bully’ who subjected pair to ‘horrific attack’ and showed no remorse

Fayaz Khan

A ‘dangerous and cowardly bully’ who stabbed a woman and man at a house in a ‘horrific attack’ has been jailed for 15 years.

Fayaz Khan, 69, attended the home address of the victims in Burnley at 6pm on December 13 last year, a court heard. Once inside, he approached the female and produced a lock knife before ‘repeatedly stabbing her’.

The pensioner then attacked and stabbed the male who was trying to disarm him and protect the woman and other people inside the property. Lancashire Constabulary officers rushed to the scene attended Khan was arrested at 6.07pm.

FULL STORY: The ‘dangerous and cowardly bully’ who subjected pair to ‘horrific attack’ and showed no remorse

Rioter ‘smiled in satisfaction’ as he hurled missile at police, but didn’t realise officer knew him

Paul Dryhurst.

A rioter who was seen to “smile in satisfaction” as he joined in violence outside a mosque has been jailed after he was recognised by an officer who went to school with him.

Self-employed joiner Paul Dryhurst, 33, was given a two-year prison sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (August 19), where footage was shown of him in a crowd outside a mosque in Southport. Simon Leong, prosecuting, said “misinformation and lies” were spread on social media following the fatal knife attack at a dance class in the town on July 29 and led to huge numbers gathering outside the Southport Islamic Society Mosque, as evening prayers were under way, following a vigil in the town on July 30.

He said Dryhurst, of Gale Road, Litherland, was caught on footage from the scene and identified by a police constable, who recognised him as someone he went to school with. Sentencing him, Judge Denis Watson KC said: “You can be seen to pick up some item, throw it at police before seeming to smile in satisfaction then taking up a position to film the disorder.”

FULL STORY: Rioter ‘smiled in satisfaction’ as he hurled missile at police, but didn’t realise officer knew him

Southport riot thug’s Subway boycott and racist attack at Pleasureland

Gareth Metcalfe

A riot thug who was “at the forefront” of the disorder in Southport had previously staged a boycott of Subway and launched a racist attack at Pleasureland

Gareth Metcalfe was jailed for 40 months last week and nodded as he was sent down. His dad told him “see you Gareth, love you” as he was escorted out of the courtroom, while his mum added: “It’s over.”

The 44-year-old became embroiled in the violent disturbance on July 30 following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. The ECHO has revealed that Metcalfe previously staged a boycott of Subway, having posted a picture of himself on his Facebook page standing outside a store holding a placard headed “boycott Subway”.

FULL STORY: Southport riot thug’s Subway boycott and racist attack at Pleasureland

Blackpool thug launched ‘running kick’ at punk in Winter Gardens violence

Ethan Miles
(Image: Lancs Police)

A violent thug who instigated mob violence on the streets of has been jailed for 30 months.

Ethan Miles, 21, was captured on cameras kicking and punching police vehicles, throwing chairs, spitting at police officers and throwing missiles. He later took a running kick at a punk who had been headbutted to the ground in a clash outside the Winter Gardens, Crown heard.

Beth Pilling, prosecuting, said violence erupted in the resort on August 3 in the wake of the killing of three young girls at a holiday club in . Disorder broke out at the Metropole Hotel, where it is said a number of asylum seekers have been housed, the town’s cenotaph, Blackpool mosque and .

FULL STORY: Blackpool thug launched ‘running kick’ at punk in Winter Gardens violence

Thug in England shirt with ‘dad’ on back led ‘angry mob’ through the streets of Blackpool

Roger Haywood
(Image: Lancs Police)

A thug in an England shirt who led an “angry mob” through the streets of Blackpool has been jailed for 30 months.

Roger Haywood, 41, was front and centre of a so-called ‘demonstration’ which saw protestors draped in Union Jacks march through the resort. The march was one of several across the UK in the wake of the tragic killings of three young girls who were stabbed to death at a summer holiday club in Southport.

Wearing a white football shirt with ‘Dad 1’ emblazoned on the back, Haywood marched with his arms in the air.

The father-of-three confronted a line of police officers who were protecting the War Memorial, telling them he wanted to “pay my respects”. When he was refused access to the monument he told officers they were “outnumbered ten to one” in a “clear threat to the police” – before turning to the hundreds of people behind him and beckoning them forwards.

FULL STORY: Thug in England shirt with ‘dad’ on back led ‘angry mob’ through the streets of Blackpool

She was screaming and crying in terror, but this ‘dangerous rapist’ didn’t care

Daniel Owen Mercer

A ‘dangerous rapist’ has been jailed for 17 years with police hailing the ‘incredible strength’ shown by the victim in bringing her vile attacker to justice.

Daniel Owen Mercer was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court of raping a woman in Clayton-le-Moors. His victim was screaming and crying while 39-year-old Mercer raped her.

The homeless defendant was sentenced yesterday (August 15) to 14 years immediate custody, with a further three years extended licence after the Judge deemed him to be a ‘dangerous offender’. Mercer was also ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.

FULL STORY: She was screaming and crying in terror, but this ‘dangerous rapist’ didn’t care

Dad-of-six hurled ‘slate’ at police because ‘everyone was doing it’

Tony Hazlett

A father-of-six who threw ‘pieces slate’ at police ‘because everyone was doing it’ has been jailed.

Tony Hazlett was caught on CCTV launching two items, possibly bricks, towards officers during violent clashes in Southport on July 30. A court heard how the 46-year-old was later identified by his clothing, a distinctive blue polo shirt with green piping.

Prosecutor Chris Taylor said police visited his home on August 7 where Hazlett was “very drunk”. He violently resisted arrest before clothes matching those seen in the CCTV footage were found.

FULL STORY: Dad-of-six hurled ‘slate’ at police because ‘everyone was doing it’

Baby-faced rioter pelted police officers with bricks as violence flared

Tom Neblett

A young rioter who hurled bricks and a smoke flare at police during a violent outbreak in Southport has been sentenced to prison.

Tom Neblett was captured on CCTV launching missiles towards law enforcement during the chaotic scenes on July 30. The 20-year-old climbed onto a van and repeatedly threw missiles at police officers after attending a vigil in the town where mourners had gathered to remember Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were tragically stabbed to death the day before.

FULL STORY: Baby-faced rioter pelted police officers with bricks as violence flared

‘Keyboard warrior’, 53, jailed over ‘blow the mosque up’ Facebook post after Southport riots

Julie Sweeney

A “keyboard warrior” who lived a “quiet, sheltered life” has been told by a judge that “even people like you need to go prison” after she posted an online message stating: “Blow the mosque up with the adults in it.”

Julie Sweeney, 53, was jailed on Wednesday (August 14) for 15 months after she sent the comment to her local community Facebook group. Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, told the court one of the group’s 5,100 members became “uneasy” at a number of comments posted on the site in the wake of widespread violent disorder following the deaths of three young girls in Southport on June 29.

Following the posting of a photograph which showed a number of white and Asian people involved in the clean-up from the aftermath of the Southport disorder, Sweeney posted: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Don’t protect the mosques. Blow the mosques up with the adults in it.”

FULL STORY: ‘Keyboard warrior’, 53, jailed over ‘blow the mosque up’ Facebook post after Southport riots

Thug hurled abuse at ‘innocent’ bus station worker, now he’s in jail

Andrew Ashworth

A man who hurled abuse and threats at an ‘innocent’ bus station worker has been jailed.

LancsLive reported earlier this week how police were called to reports of an incident on Sunday (August 11) at Burnley bus station. Local PCSO’s chased and detained a man who had caused damaged to the building.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing damage and using threatening and abusive words and behaviour towards an innocent member of staff at the building. In an update issued today (August 14), officers said Andrew Ashworth, from Blackburn, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for criminal damage and section 4a Public Order.

READ MORE: Thug hurled abuse at ‘innocent’ bus station worker, now he’s in jail

He should have been caring for his terminally ill dad, instead he hurled bricks at police

Philip Prescott

A man who hurled bricks at police when he ‘should have been looking after his terminally ill dad’ has been jailed.

Philip Prescott was seen on CCTV and video footage captured by a police helicopter taking items out of a bin and hurling them towards police officers after violent scenes flared up in Southport on July 30. It followed the the fatal stabbings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, the previous day.

Police vans were set alight and officers were attacked during protesting on St Luke’s Road in the seaside town. Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday (August 13) that Prescott and another man Gareth Metcalfe were involved in the disturbance.

FULL STORY: He should have been caring for his terminally ill dad, instead he hurled bricks at police

Man jailed for carrying metal pole during violent protests in Blackpool

A man has been jailed for having an offensive weapon on the day violence broke out in Blackpool.

On Saturday, August 3, the town was one of many across the country which saw unrest on the streets as protests got underway. Around 1,000 people from both left and right wing groups took to the streets in the seaside resort, Preston Crown Court heard.

Throughout the day, officers from Lancashire Constabulary tried to keep the situation under control and by 6:30pm, around 100 people remained. But as one man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, crossed Blackpool Promenade he was seen hiding a metal bar inside his jacket.

As officers went to arrest him, he put the bar and at least one bottle into a nearby planter. He was walking in the direction of Church Street, where the groups of protestors had gathered, the court heard.

FULL STORY: Man jailed for carrying metal pole during violent protests in Blackpool

He went to lay flowers and light a candle with pregnant partner but will now miss birth of his child for his ‘unexpected’ actions

Dylan Carey

A “hardworking family man” will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence which broke out after a vigil in Southport.

Dylan Carey’s pregnant girlfriend burst into tears in the public gallery as he was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he earlier admitted violent disorder. Carey, 26, travelled to the seaside town on July 30 with his girlfriend, Natasha Keenan, to lay flowers and light a candle a day after three girls were fatally stabbed at a dance class.

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people started after the vigil ended with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Chants of “who the f*** is Allah?” and “this is our f****** country” were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

FULL STORY: He went to lay flowers and light a candle with pregnant partner but will now miss birth of his child for his ‘unexpected’ actions

He stalked woman for months and left her ‘destroyed’ and ‘living a sheltered life’

Darren Mitchell

An obsessed stalker who forced a woman to make changes to her daily routine to keep herself safe has been jailed.

Darren Mitchell embarked on a stalking campaign against the terrified victim for months and threatened to turn up at her place of work. The 23-year-old also began to follow her partner and left her feeling ‘destroyed’ and ‘living a sheltered life’.

The Lancaster man, of no fixed address, was jailed for two-and-a-half years when he appeared before Preston Crown Court last Thursday (August 7). He had pleaded guilty to stalking and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour and was also made subject of a six-year restraining order.

FULL STORY: He stalked woman for months and left her ‘destroyed’ and ‘living a sheltered life’

‘What you think you saw, you didn’t’: Jail for man who took knife with him to A&E department

Patrick Doran
(Image: Lancs Police)

A man who took a knife into the A&E department at Royal Preston Hospital has been jailed for eight months.

Patrick Doran, 28, accompanied two women to the department on June 24, 2024, after an unrelated incident. On the way to the hospital he stopped at home to collect a flick knife as he feared for his safety, Preston Crown Court heard.

Sarah Gryffyd, prosecuting, told the court a triage nurse noticed Doran was holding an item, which appeared to be made of metal, inside a glove. Doran told her; “What you think you’ve seen, you haven’t. I’ve just got out of prison.”

FULL STORY: ‘What you think you saw, you didn’t’: Jail for man who took knife with him to A&E department

Boxer found guilty of killing man found slumped in the door of Blackpool McDonalds

Mali Wright

A boxer has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Daniel Allsop, who was found slumped in a doorway of McDonalds in Blackpool.

The jury at Preston Crown Court cleared Mali Wright of murder but unanimously found him guilty of the lesser charge. Daniel, 38, was was assaulted on Bethesda Road at around 4:30pm on Monday October 2, 2023.

Wright punched Daniel so hard that he broke several of his ribs and ruptured his spleen. Daniel walked away but collapsed in Bank Hey Road a short time later. He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but died from his injuries on October 4.

Wright, 29, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged in connection with killing Daniel. Following a two week trial the jury cleared him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.

FULL STORY: Boxer found guilty of killing man found slumped in the door of Blackpool McDonalds

Preston thug jailed for ‘headlock’ role in railway station disorder

Declan Carroll
(Image: Lancs Police)

A Preston man has been jailed for his role in a violent outbreak at railway station.

Declan Carroll, 26, was one of a number of men involved in the fight on January 23, 2021. Preston Crown heard how two men had travelled from to spend the day with friends and were waiting for a train home when trouble began.

As they stood in the smoking area, near the entrance to the Fishergate Centre, a group of men wearing dark clothes and face coverings approached them. They were walking in a threatening manner and fiddling with their pockets giving the impression they may be carrying weapons, the court heard

FULL STORY: Preston thug jailed for ‘headlock’ role in railway station disorder

Jealous thug told girlfriend ‘you’ll die in Crete’ as he battered her after 20 holiday drinks

A jealous thug told his girlfriend “you’ll die in Crete during a ferocious holiday attack after downing 20 drinks.

Kyle Speight inflicted physical and mental scars on his now ex-partner through a series of brutal assaults earlier this year, triggered by his jealousy after consuming drugs and alcohol.

She was left to tend to her own injuries using nail glue.After meeting the woman online, Speight, 36, swiftly moved from his Bolton residence into her Penrith home. “The relationship lasted a mere 16 weeks,” prosecutor Kim Whittlestone stated.

“But within those 16 weeks the victim was subjected to numerous violent offences by this defendant.”

FULL STORY: Jealous thug told girlfriend ‘you’ll die in Crete’ as he battered her after 20 holiday drinks

Ex-shopkeeper’s double life as drug lord exposed after M6 stop

A shopkeeper turned property tycoon’s secret life as a drug lord has been revealed after he was apprehended by police on the M6.

Islaam Bashir was found with 25kg of cannabis, valued at a minimum of £250,000 when he was stopped by officers. Known as Izzy, Bashir was travelling north with the stash, intending to distribute it to customers in the west of Scotland.

The 32-year-old was intercepted in an Audi A4 near junction 37 of the M6 in Cumbria on July 4. He was joined by his mate and co-conspirator Andrew McQuade, 32.

FULL STORY: Ex-shopkeeper’s double life as drug lord exposed after M6 stop

Disgraced teacher begged girl for indecent pictures and suggested ‘detention session’

A perverted teacher who begged a girl for pictures and asked if she wanted a detention session with him has been jailed.

Robert Collins, who was the head of art at a high school, was exposed for sending vile messages to several young girls over a four-year period. The extent of his misconduct came to light in June 2023 when Collins mistakenly messaged an undercover police officer, thinking she was a 12-year-old girl.

Believing he was conversing with a young student, he brazenly boasted about being a teacher and asked her “what’s the naughtiest thing you’ve done?”. Collins, from Southport, even suggested if she would like to have detention with him.

FULL STORY: Disgraced teacher begged girl for indecent pictures and suggested ‘detention session’

The county lines kingpin who sat in his prison cell shipping heroin and cocaine from Manchester to Cumbria

Lieutenants and drug runners – acting on the orders of an incarcerated county lines kingpin – will tonight be joining their boss behind bars.

Al-Shakil Sadiq, who controlled the Shakka OCG from his prison cell in South Yorkshire, used illicit mobile phones to coordinate the activities of his gang arranging for the transportation of Class A drugs from Manchester to Barrow to be sold. Today, the gang has been been jailed for a total of more than 50 years.

In September 2023, Cumbria Police set about dismantling the ‘Shakka’ organised crime gang (OCG) which ran the drugs line from a prison cell in HMP Lindholme. The gang flooded the streets of Barrow with class A drugs, using graft phones and bulk text messages to advertise their illicite wares. They even offered a delivery service, dropping drugs off at customers’ homes.

FULL STORY: The county lines kingpin who sat in his prison cell shipping heroin and cocaine from Manchester to Cumbria

Rebecca Ruler

Rebecca Ruler

A nurse from Chorley who wrote sick stories and shared images of child abuse has been struck off for life.

Rebecca Ruler was working as a ward manager on an adult respiratory ward at the Royal Bolton Hospital when she committed four offences including making and sharing indecent images of children. Ruler, previously of of Springfield Road, Coppull, was given a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years, last August.

A ruling by the Nursing and Midwifery Council has now revealed that Ruler, who was 32 at the time, logged onto the internet chat room while she was working at the hospital. The panel said in its ruling: “It is noted that the IP address used to log on to the chat site where the offences were committed was traced to the NHS Trust hospital where Miss Ruler was working.”

FULL STORY: Chorley nurse committed vile sex abuse offences during shift at hospital

Luke Roberts

A thief who stole hundreds of pounds worth of skincare from a Boots store has been jailed.

The products, worth £206, were stolen from the shop in Preston city centre on Wednesday (September 18). Luke Roberts was arrested on suspicion of theft after the incident was reported to police.

The 27-year-old, of West Park Avenue, was later charged with the offence and appeared before magistrates on Friday. He was sentenced to a total of 16 weeks in prison.

FULL STORY: Boots shoplifter jailed after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of skincare

James Cresswell

A dad held a knife to his son’s throat and said he would ‘do time for both of you’.

James Cresswell, 49, was at a caravan park in Ulverston when he made the chilling threats to his ex wife and son. On January 9, 2022, he became moody after his wife spoke with their grandchild, who he was not in contact with.

His young adult son left the room but Cresswell took a flick knife and held it towards him. Cresswell’s wife heard her ex telling their son: “I’m going to slit your throat. I’d do time for both of you.”

FULL STORY: ‘I’d do time for both of you’ – dad’s chilling threats as he held a knife to his son’s throat

Pimp flashed cash and danced on camera as smiles hid his wicked crimes

A vile sex trafficker who enslaved a vulnerable woman, subjected her to physical abuse and stole her earnings was caught on camera gleefully dancing with a wad of cash.

Jean Marinel Mihai, 29, raked in at least £100,000 over a span of 15 months as he forced the woman into prostitution on the streets. Mihai had lured the woman with promises of a better life after she had endured “years of physical and emotional abuse” in her home country of Romania.

He flew her to Liverpool in December 2018, where he lodged her in a guest house and made her work on the streets of Manchester. This week, he faced justice at Manchester Crown Court, where he was sentenced to ten years behind bars after admitting to modern slavery and exploitation, the M.E.N. reports.

FULL STORY: Pimp flashed cash and danced on camera as smiles hid his wicked crimes

‘If I hadn’t left him I would have been dead’ says woman who feared for her life at the hands of violent construction boss

A dad-of-two pinned his partner on a couch and held a knife to her head after a drunk row over who had paid the bill on a night out.

Glenn O’Connell, 59, also pushed his partner down the stairs and stepped over her as she lay on the floor in a separate attack, a court heard.

The woman, who had been in an 18-month relationship with the thug, said: “If I hadn’t left him I would have ended up dead.” She said she had been a vibrant woman with a large group of friends but since her relationship with O’Connell her confidence is at rock bottom.

FULL STORY: ‘If I hadn’t left him I would have been dead’ says woman who feared for her life at the hands of violent construction boss

David Yates and Scott Chinnery

Scott Chinnery and David Yates

Two prolific shoplifters who made life a misery for traders have been jailed.

David Yates and Scott Chinnery were arrested following investigations by Blackburn Police. Officers detained Chinnery, 35, on September 4 in connection with a number of thefts that had taken place at various businesses across the town.

Chinnery, of no fixed address, appeared in court the next where he pleaded guilty to the charges. He was jailed for 36 weeks.

Yates, 39, of no fixed address, was arrested on September 10 and was charged with 14 shoplifting offences and two breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. He appeared in court on September 11 where he was jailed for 22 weeks.

FULL STORY: Prolific Blackburn shoplifters who made hardworking traders’ lives a misery jailed

Dad who won Pride award unable to watch in court as ‘horrifying’ video showed his crimes

A dad who had previously been heralded as a hero with a Pride award faced the stark glare of condemnation in court for attacking police officers with bricks, concrete, and a wheelie bin.

Joshua Cropper was honoured last year for saving five dogs were trapped inside a burning house. However the 31-year-old found himself at the heart of violent clashes in Southport after the fatal stabbings of three young schoolgirls.

The dad-of-three was unable to watch as shocking video footage revealed his crimes. He covered his eyes in the dock of Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (September 17) as he was played footage of himself stripping off his t-shirt to use as an improvised mask, before trying to smash the window of a police van while one PC was still trapped inside.

FULL STORY: Dad who won Pride award unable to watch in court as ‘horrifying’ video showed his crimes

Pauline Sumner

Pauline Sumner
(Image: Lancashire Police)

A woman feared she was going to die in a vicious attack with chair legs and an alarm clock at the hands of her ex.

Pauline Sumner, 49, was drunk when she arrived at her ex’s flat in Blackpool and declared she was still in love with her, on December 9, 2023. The pair argued about issues in their past relationship but when the woman tried to leave, Sumner pushed her back into the bedroom.

She began hitting and kicking the woman, who felt ‘defenceless’ as Sumner rained down blows on her. Sumner took the legs from a chair and continued to beat her with them. She left the room briefly but returned, swinging an alarm clock by its cable and launching other household items at her ex.

FULL STORY: Drunk woman beat ex-girlfriend with chair leg in booze-fuelled attack at her Blackpool flat

Peter Wilson

A depraved paedophile whose actions have left a trail of devastation over five decades has been sentenced to prison.

Peter Wilson, 67, has been handed a 27-year sentence due to the courage of his victims. Spanning 51 years from 1972, Wilson preyed on seven individuals.

He admitted to two charges of sexual assault on a child under 13 and making an indecent image of a child. A jury also convicted him of an additional 23 sexual offences against children and adults, including indecent assault and rape, following a trial.

FULL STORY: Predatory paedophile, 67, left lives ‘shattered’ by vile crimes over five decades

Preston teen, 13, attacked lollipop man while on bail for spree of violence

Tim Akroyd with the hamper collected by teachers, parents and pupils
(Image: Facebook/Tim Akroyd)

A Preston teenager who attacked a lollipop man was on bail for a separate spree of violence when he injured the school crossing patrol man.

Tim Ackroyd suffered a fractured rib when he was assaulted at work outside Queens Drive Primary School, on Black Bull Lane, Fulwood. The 74-year-old was kicked to the ground by a teenager, who was riding on the back of a motorbike which sped up, moments before the attack.

The 14-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, has been handed a 12 moNth youth referral order for the attack on Tim, as well as violence against a married couple six weeks earlier.

FULL STORY: Preston teen, 13, attacked lollipop man while on bail for spree of violence

Frank Wrona

Frank Wrona

A killer who murdered his house mate in a drug fuelled frenzy had been placed in the house following his release from prison.

Frank Wrona, 44, had only been free from custody for three weeks when he killed Richard Chamberlain on Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024).

Richard, 34, was a vulnerable man who lived with the challenges of autism. His family described him as a loving and caring man who enjoyed art and nature, and dreamed of becoming a fashion designer.

Wrona, 44, was a violent thug who had just been released from a 31 month sentence for attacking his brother with a broken mirror. Following his release, on March 6, he spent a night on the streets before being housed at the property in New Market Street, Colne, where Richard and another man lived.

FULL STORY: Killer who stabbed vulnerable flat mate to death was housed with victim after release from prison

Jordan Gibson

A racist thug who hurled bricks at police while joining in with racist chants of “we want our country back” and “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah” has been jailed.

Jordan Gibson was part of a mob of 1,000 that descended on Southport on July 30 – a day after the tragic deaths of children Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar. The dad-of-two had journeyed to the town to pay his respects at a vigil for the three young victims.

FULL STORY: He sighed and scoffed throughout the court hearing, then the Judge threw the book at him

Mali Wright

A boxer who killed a man after punching him so hard that he broke several of his ribs and ruptured his spleen has been jailed for more than 14 years.

Daniel Allsop, 38, was brutally attacked by Mali Wright, 30, in Blackpool at around 4.30pm on October 2 last year. The victim had walked to Bethesda Road with the intention of buying drugs.

However, when he arrived Wright attacked him, breaking his ribs and rupturing his spleen before chasing him away. A short time later Mr Allsop collapsed in the doorway of a nearby McDonalds restaurant and was taken to hospital.

FULL STORY: Boxer Mali Wright jailed for killing Daniel Allsop in ‘brutal’ Blackpool attack

Ruth Auta

An NHS nurse who left her 10-week-old baby to die while she went to work at hospital has been jailed for three years after being caught trying to flee to Nigeria.

Single mother Ruth Auta, 28, abandoned Joshua Akerele in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours so she could work her shift at Royal Bolton Hospital. When she returned, she found Joshua lifeless and dialled 999, telling operators her son was not breathing.

Despite efforts to resuscitate Joshua, he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. When the police arrived, Auta initially lied, claiming that she had picked up Joshua from his childminder after her shift.

FULL STORY: Nurse left 10-week-old son to die at home while she went to work

James Costello

A self-proclaimed “gentle giant” high on cocaine burst into an estranged friend’s home, licked his face and slapped his mum on the bum.

James Costello, 39, told his victim that he “loved him” after climbing on top of him on a sofa before kicking a dog during the bizarre episode. Appearing at court yesterday (September 11), he thanked a judge for “giving him the biggest gift” in the sentence she imposed upon him, and begged: “Give me more if you can.”

Costello “used to be friends with” his victim before the two “drifted apart.” However, he bumped into the man’s mother in a shop in the in March this year.

FULL STORY: ‘Gentle giant’ burst into home, licked man’s face and slapped his mum’s bum

Ellie Clarke

A nursery worker who hurled racial abuse and struck out at a police officer’s riot shield during violent scenes has been remanded into custody and warned to face jail.

Ellie Clarke cried and hung her head in shame in court as she was shown what happened when “the adrenaline got the better of her”. The 21-year-old was seen “at the front of the mob” in Southport on July 30 – the day after the fatal stabbings of three young girls.

A court yesterday (September) heard how Clarke pointed towards a cordon which had been formed by officers and shouted “if it was your f***ing daughter who was stabbed dead by a f***ing p**i” and “pushed aggressively” at one of their riots shields. Crowds had gathered in the area of St Luke’s Road in the town and hurled missiles towards police at the Southport Islamic Society Mosque with more than 50 officers suffering injuries.

FULL STORY: Nursery worker cries and hangs head in shame as she’s shown what happened when ‘adrenaline got the better of her’

Amy Barnes

Amy Barnes has been jailed for 12 weeks

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed ‘for a number of months’ after terrorising local businesses.

Police said Amy Barnes ‘continuously’ committed offences of shoplifting in the Nelson area. She was charged with a number of offences of theft from shops and appeared before magistrates on Friday (September 6).

LancsLive previously reported in 2022 how Barnes was jailed for 14 weeks for her significant amount of shoplifting. She was also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order banning her from local stores following her release from prison.

FULL STORY: Prolific shoplifter jailed as police hail ‘good news’ for businesses

Paul Harrison

A violent thug who used an England flag to cover his face and threw a wheelie bin at police during the Southport riots has been jailed.

Paul Harrison, 30, was captured on shocking footage launching the receptacle at a group of police officers during the disorder on July 30. He can later be seen wrapping a St George’s Cross flag around his face before picking up glass bottles from a recycling bin to lob at a retreating police van.

He was part of a mob that had descended on the seaside town after three young girls were knifed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club event a day earlier. The racially-motivated violence was spurred on by false online rumours that the killer was a Muslim immigrant who travelled to the UK illegally and yobs targeted a mosque in the town before attacking police.

FULL STORY: He covered his face with an England flag and threw a wheelie bin and 18 bottles at police, but ‘struggles to understand why’

Brendan Thompson

Brendan Thompson
(Image: Cumbria Police)

A predator who invited a child into his home before sexually abusing her has been jailed for nine years.

Brendan Thompson, 56, of Grammerscroft, Millom was convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 and a count of sexual touching of a girl under 13. He denied the offences but was found guilty following a trial at Carlisle Crown Court.

Following his arrest, Thompson gave a prepared statement to the police and refused to answer any further questions.

FULL STORY: Sick predator, 56, who invited child into his home ‘refuses to take responsibility for his actions’

Gary Stock

Gary Stock
(Image: Lancs Police)

A shoplifter who stole £800 of designer clothes from a Preston store has been jailed.

Gary Stock took two coats from Tessuti, in the city centre, and left the shop without paying. Police were called on Friday December 19 and launched an investigation.

Following multiple enquiries, Stock was arrested by the Preston City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team and was charged with theft from a shop.

On Monday, (December 23), Stock, 42, of Maudland Bank, Preston, appeared at Preston Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison.

FULL STORY: Preston shoplifter stole £800 in designer coats from city centre clothing store Tessuti

Brian Spencer

Brian Spencer, 40

A rioter who went viral on social media as he was filmed dancing and taunting police – just moments before he took a brick to the head and his private parts – has been jailed.

Brian Spencer, 40, from Southport, had consumed ten pints and a litre of rum before provoking police on St Luke’s Road. The violence erupted following the tragic deaths of Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, killed during a dance class with a Taylor Swift theme at Hart Space on Hart Street, just moments away from where the riots later occurred.

Spencer, from Lytham Road, found himself hit twice by flying debris in the face and head after goading officers, then turned to receive a third blow to his privates from a thrown brick. In the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (December 23), Spencer pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder and also to racially abusing a Polish patient at Southport Hospital while awaiting medical attention for his injuries.

FULL STORY: Rioter who went viral for being smacked in privates with brick while dancing is jailed

Adam Larkin

Adam Larkin

A prolific shoplifter will spend Christmas behind bars after stealing baby formula and other items from Asda.

Lancashire Police were called to the Asda Express store on Moor Road in Chorley on Friday (December 20) following reports a number of goods had been stolen. Adam Larkin, 37, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with two counts of theft from a shop.

He was also charged with attempted theft from a shop and breach of a criminal behaviour order (CBO). On Monday (December 23), he appeared at Preston Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 20 weeks.

FULL STORY: Christmas behind bars for prolific thief, 37, who stole baby formula from Asda

Robin Connolly

Robin Connolly has been jailed

A thief has been jailed for 12 months following a string of burglaries in Accrington.

Robin Connolly of Corporation Street was arrested and charged with four burglaries and three shoplifting offences. On Friday, December 2024 the 34-year-old appeared before Blackburn Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to the charges. Connolly was then sentenced to 12 months in prison.

FULL STORY: Thief jailed for 12 months after string of burglaries in Accrington

Michael Stevens

Michael Stevens has been jailed
(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)

A man from Colne has been jailed over his actions during a violent rampage in public.

On July 26, Michael Stevens was involved in an incident on Market Street in Colne where he started to argue with members of the public. The 35-year-old then drove his gold Mercedes AMG at speed up and down the street, going the wrong way down a one-way system and towards the public.

He then got out of his car and got involved in a fight. Stevens continued his rampage the following day by visiting a property on North Street.

FULL STORY: ‘Appalling brute’ jailed after ‘driving towards crowd’ and smashing windows in three-day violent rampage in Lancashire town

Aaron Bridge

Aaron Bridge
(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)

A Nelson man has been jailed and banned from certain high street stores after a string of shoplifting charges.

Aaron Bridge of Princess Street was charged with six counts of shoplifting and one count of Section 4 public order. The 37-year-old was sentenced to two weeks in jail after an appearance at Blackburn Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 19.

Bridge was also given a five-year CBO with a number of conditions. He is not to enter or attempt to enter a number of stores on the North Valley Road Retail Park,Colne.

FULL STORY: Lancashire thief will be banned from Aldi and Lidl when he gets out of jail

Jordan Blenkinship

Jordan Blenkinship

A paedophile described as ‘the worst kind of predator’ has been locked up after a string of sick attacks against a young girl.

Jordan Blenkinship, from Blackpool, was found guilty of 10 offences against the victim, dating back to 2009. He has been jailed for six years and given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order with strict restrictions.

Police said at the time of the offences, the victim was four-years-old and Blenkenship was 17-years-old. It was heard in court that Blenkinship sexually assaulted the young girl over a two-year period.

FULL ST ORY: ‘Worst kind of predator’ finally behind bars after sick attacks against girl, 4

James Donnelly

James Donnelly
(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)

A Lancaster man has been jailed for 32 months after being found guilty on a number of charges.

James Donnelly was found guilty of four shopliftings, one battery assault and three breaches of his restraining order. The courts heard Donnelly, of Crossdale Square, Lancaster, targeted a specific retail shop in Lancaster and stole from them on three occasions over three days in November 2024.

On one occasion, Donnelly pushed a female shopkeeper out of the way to make his escape. Previously, on October 11, Donnelly was given a restraining order from the same court to protect the shop’s members of staff after threatening to attack them with a knife.

FULL STORY: Lancaster man jailed for nearly three years for shoplifting and breaching restraining order

David Bryson and Steven Mitchell

Steven Mitchell and David Bryson

Two men who supplied drugs including crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Lancashirehave been jailed.

David Bryson and Steven Mitchell were snared as part of a crackdown on serious and organised crime in the Park and Mount wards of Fleetwood

Bryson, 36, of Chatsworth Avenue, Fleetwood, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for possession with intent to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place

Mitchell, 42, of Broadway, Fleetwood, was also sentenced to 40 months in prison for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin), possession of class A drugs (methadone) and facilitating the acquisition of criminal property

FULL STORY: The Lancashire drug dealers who flooded streets with cocaine

Rehan Yousaf and Zulkernan Mahmood

Rehan Yousaf

Rogue builders who used a TV ad starring EastEnders’ Dot Cotton to fleece £1m from OAPs seeking energy savings under a government scheme have been jailed.

Four men were sentenced after they left vulnerable residents who hired them for work ‘living in structurally unstable properties’. The gang was sentenced after being convicted of fraudulent trading and criminal property offences.

Trading under names including Pilkington Home Improvements and Love Windows Ltd, the criminals installed poor quality, undersized, and cracked or scratched windows in people’s homes. In a TV ad for Love Windows, EastEnders star June Brown, who played Dot Cotton, says there is ‘no catch’ with windows being ‘fully fitted’ with ‘no confusing sales offers to worry about’.

Zulkernan Mahmood

Another ad, featuring boxer Floyd Mayweather, showcased the company’s triple-glazed windows and promised a ’15-year guarantee’. There is no suggestion that either the undefeated boxer or the EastEnders star, who died in 2022, knew anything about the crimes.

FULL STORY: Cowboy builder gang duped EastEnders star Dot Cotton into ad for £1 million fraud

Kyle Ronald

Kyle Ronald

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed after breaching a criminal behaviour order SIX times so he could steal coffee and chocolates.

Kyle Ronald, from Fleetwood, was issued with a CBO which prohibited him from entering various stores in the town, including Asda, Poundstretcher and Savers. The 32-year-old ignored the order six times between November 23 and December 13 this year.

He ignored the rules by walking into the three stores and stealing razors, milkshakes, jars of coffee, bath products and boxes of Ferrero Rocher. According to the magistrates court sheet, the total value of items stolen was £393.

FULL STORY: Brazen crook with town centre ban jailed after breaching order SIX times

Malcolm Hutchinson

Malcolm Hutchinson, 64
(Image: Lancashire Police)

A man from Preston has been jailed for nine years over sex offences.

Malcolm Hutchinson sexually assaulted a child and took indecent photographs of him. Hutchinson’s victim made a complaint to police and after doing so, the 64-year-old’s phone and iPad were seized by officers.

An investigation by Lancashire Police commenced and digital analysis of the devices found 48 indecent images and 26 indecent videos of another boy, which were in Category C of indecent images. There were also nine images in Category B one of which was linked back to the original victim.

Hutchinson, formerly of Skeffington Road, Preston, appeared for sentencing at Preston Crown Court last Thursday (12th December).

FULL STORY: Preston man jailed for nine years after sexually assaulting a child

Paul Irwin

Paul Irwin

A man who murdered his partner in a ‘horrific’ attack has been jailed form life.

Paul Irwin was sentenced today (December 17) to a minimum term of 32 years in prison for killing his partner, Tiffany Render. The 50-year-old had denied charges of murder and sexual assault, but during the trial, he did plead guilty to manslaughter and sexual assault.

Irwin was on trial accused of murdering the mum-of-seven in March 2024.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how police received a called from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) shortly before midnight requesting assistance for a woman in cardiac arrest.

Miss Render, 34, had been at Irwin’s address in Whitehaven that evening and at some point, suffered an injury which caused a substantial bleed, causing her to suffer a cardiac arrest, resulting in her death. Officers arrived at the scene and Irwin was arrested on suspicion of murder.

FULL STORY: Murderer’s chilling message to family after killing mum-of-seven in ‘horrific’ attack

Paul Mockett

Paul Mockett

A gang member from Lancashire furiously told his boss “I’m not being treated like a t*** anymore” and called him a “clown” as their cunning scheme to smuggle £140million of cocaine into the UK fell apart.

The gang, led by a drug importer nicknamed “Thor”, concocted a scheme to conceal a massive haul of class A drugs within a shipment of flour. Six men, including three from Lancashire, have now been sentenced to over 75 years combined for their roles in the operation, including one man who received his term as he turned 70.

Last week a court heard how the National Crime Agency initiated Operation Lemonlike following the confiscation of 1.3 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk – a haul with a street value of up to £140million. The substantial quantity of the narcotics, which would be worth £36million wholesale, was found hidden among garri flour that had sailed in from Freetown, Sierra Leone, on June 8, 2022.

FULL STORY: Gang member called his boss a ‘clown’ in furious rant as plot fell apart at the seams

Wayne Lewis

Wayne Lewis has been banned from every Tesco, Alsi or Sainsburys in Southport
(Image: Merseyside Police)

A Southport man has been issued with a year long Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) following allegations of multiple thefts from supermarkets.

Wayne Lewis, 47, of no fixed address, was made the subject of the CBO at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on December 4. The CBO stipulates Lewis can’t enter any Tesco, Aldi, or Sainsbury’s store in Southport and he cannot remain within 100 yards of any shop in Southport when asked to leave by a staff member.

He is also banned from wearing any form of face covering or cause harassment, alarm, or distress to any member of staff in shops.

FULL STORY: The man banned from every Tesco, Aldi and Sainsburys in Southport

Alan Morris

Alan Morris

A prolific shoplifter who was snared by two ‘brave’ six-year-old girls despite trying to ‘shush’ them has been jailed.

Officers were called on Blackpool following reports that Alan Morris, wanted for 22 offences throughout the seaside town October, had been spotted. Following a short foot chase, the 31-year-old thought he had escaped officers by hiding between a bin shed and a bush in a nearby front garden.

However, two eagle-eyed girls saw the offender and, realising officers were looking for him, pointed him out to them, despite the offender trying to ‘shush’ them. Morris, of no fixed address, was arrested at the scene on November 7.

FULL STORY: Six-year-old girls help snare prolific shoplifter who tried to ‘shush’ them

David McNally

David McNally

A paramedic from Lancashire has admitted stealing ‘at least £75k-worth’ of equipment from Manchester City over a four-year period while serving on the matchday medical team at the Etihad stadium.

David McNally, an employee of North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), sold football boots, medical equipment, and branded kits and tracksuits on eBay, earning £24,676 over several years. The 47-year-old also admitted to stealing valuable memorabilia, including eight signed men’s first team football shirts valued at £1,000 each, a signed banner from their 2021/22 Champion’s League campaign, and ‘personalised football boots’ made for Sergio Aguero.

FULL STORY: Lancashire paramedic admits stealing ‘at least £75k of goods’ from Man City

Leon Pate

Leon Pate and some of the work he left customers with
(Image: Trading Standards)

A rogue builder who pocketed thousands of pounds from Lancashire customers in return for shoddy, unfinished construction work, has been jailed.

Leon Pate fleeced six homeowners while trading under various names, including Driveway Designs and Landscapes, and Build Landscapes. He promised to repair their homes or landscape their gardens, but instead left them with piles of rubble and huge repair bills.

Pate, who has had addresses in Colne and the Burnley and Padiham areas, initially appeared at court in June and was given six months by a judge to pay his victims £30,000 or face a prison sentence. However, not a penny was paid back and he was hauled back to Burnley Crown Court this week and sentenced to 11 months in jail.

FULL STORY: Rogue builder fleeced Lancashire customers for thousands leaving trails of unfinished work

Jack Davies

Jack Davies

A woman subjected to a harrowing ordeal by a violent thug has expressed her fear that he might be ‘capable of killing’ her.

Jack Davies, 21, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for a series of brutal attacks on his ex-partner. A court heard how he was also violent towards police when he was arrested.

Prosecuting, David Toal said: “Quite simply, this case is about the violent behaviour of the defendant towards her.” On March 22, Davies, from Bolton, and the woman were together at his mother’s house, where they would often stay.

A neighbour heard a knock at the door, and on answering it found it was Davies’ partner. She told the neighbour that Davies had ‘just tw*****’ her, and asked her to call the police, the

M.E.N

reports.

FULL STORY: ‘If he gets out of jail he is not going to leave me alone and I could die’

Claire Snowden and Amy Barnes

Claire Snowden and Amy Barnes

These serial shoplifters found themselves in trouble with the law after targeting some big name stores.

They repeatedly used five-finger discounts to nab items from the likes of

Asda

, M&S, Aldi, Matalan. As punishment for their crime sprees, Claire Snowden and Amy Barnes have been handed

criminal

behaviour orders, which ban them from entering certain shops in

Blackpool

, Colne and

Nelson

.

FULL STORY: The ‘prolific shoplifters’ banned from entering Asda, M&S, Aldi, Matalan and more

Arshad Hussain

Arshad Hussain

A passenger was caught red-handed as a drug mule after he confessed to having ‘some things that I shouldn’t have’ upon his return from Thailand.

Father-of-three Arshad Hussain attempted to sneak cannabis into the UK after his trip but was nabbed by Border Force officers at

Manchester Airport

. He owned up, saying: “I’ve got some things that I shouldn’t have.”

The 50-year-old was found with two suitcases brimming with vacuum-sealed parcels containing roughly 40 kilos of the class B substance. His journey had taken him from Bangkok via Dubai, landing back in the UK on July 31.

FULL STORY: Dad-of-three’s honest eight-word admission at Manchester Airport sends him in jail

Paul Wilson

Paul Wilson

A serial rapist who preyed on three women showed no emotion as he was sentenced to more than 20 years behind bars.

Paul Wilson committed multiple rapes against one victim over several years and attacked another woman while she was asleep. In a further horrific attack, the 44-year-old continued a sexual assault on a third woman until she was able to fight him off with a candle.

When questioned about his actions, the father-of-two chillingly responded: “Because my head’s up my a**e.” Wilson, from

Southport

, subjected one woman to a harrowing campaign of rape over the course of more than a decade, continuing during some of the attacks even as she screamed for him to stop, a court heard.

FULL STORY: Harrowing six-word reply from serial rapist when his victim asked ‘why?’

Angel Hill

Angel Hill

A ‘dangerous’ predator has been jailed for committing violent physical and sexual abuse.

Angel Hill, 20, received an extended sentence for her offences. the

court

was informed that Hill, who is transitioning from male to female, exhibited ‘violent, manipulative and controlling behaviour’.

She pleaded guilty to charges of assault by penetration, sexual assault, strangulation, and threatening with a bladed article concerning the victim. Judge Jason MacAdam told Hill: “I conclude you have no insight regarding your behaviour at all.”

FULL STORY: ‘Dangerous’ woman jailed for violent physical and sexual abuse

Lewis Watson

Lewis Watson has been jailed for rape after he targeted a teenage girl in Burnley
(Image: Lancs Police)

A man has been jailed after raping a 17-year-old girl in

Burnley

.

Lewis Watson, 30, approached his victim as she was walking to the bus stop in the rain on Monday January 29. He asked the youngster her age and said he was 23.

He suggested they sheltered in the overhang of a shop to get out of the rain, but sexually assaulted her while they were there. He then guided her to another location where he raped her as she tried to stop him.

An investigation was launched and Watson, of Hazel Grove, Ribbleton,

Preston

, was arrested on suspicion of, and later charged with rape and sexual assault.

FULL STORY: ‘Despicable rapist’ attacked teenager as she walked to the bus stop in Burnley

Mohammed Joel Chaudhry

Disgraced cop Joel Choudhury

Three women say they have lost trust in the police after a pervert cop stored their private sexual photos on his own mobile phone.

Mohammed Joel Chaudhry, 43, kept a secret stash of sexual photos which he sourced while carrying out his duties in Lancashire. One of his victims was just 16 when Chaudhry helped himself to sexual images from her phone after she was reported as a missing person.

Another was horrified to learn the officer, from Lytham St Annes, had secretly snapped photos down her top, showing her breasts and cleavage, when he visited her following reports of an assault. The third was physically sick when she learned a photo sent to her partner ‘for his eyes only’ had been copied into Chaudhry’s phone.

Now the disgraced officer is behind bars after being sentenced to 16 months for three counts of misconduct and possession of indecent images of a child.

FULL STORY: ‘I called the police and this officer used me as a toy’ – victims’ horror at learning pervert cop had saved their private photos

Gavin Chesworth

Gavin Chesworth

A brave blackmail victim has told of his ongoing fear and anxiety as a man who obtained £22,000 from him was jailed.

Gavin Chesworth, from Blackpool, forced his victim to pay him money for more than a year and was brought to justice following an investigation by Lancashire Police. The blackmail involved a club membership, with Chesworth threatening to tell the victim’s employers that a fraud had taken in place.

In fact, the victim had done nothing wrong, but Chesworth demanded money and bank transfer payments were made by the victim to him between November 2021 and December 2022. The blackmail had a major effect on the victim, which he detailed in his Victim Personal Statement presented to the court.

FULL STORY: Blackmail victim says he feels ‘powerless and vulnerable’ in emotional statement as man jailed

Caleb Mansfield-Marr

Caleb Mansfield-Marr

This is the shocking moment an ‘idiot’ driver filmed himself speeding at 80 miles per hour with his feet sticking out of the window before ploughing into an elderly couple’s car, killing a beloved grandfather.

Caleb Mansfield-Marr, from

Blackburn

, overtook numerous cars on the wrong side of the road while driving twice the speed limit using cruise control before the catastrophic collision in August last year. As grandparents Jack and Judith Howe turned right onto a street, the “brazen” 22-year-old crashed into them head-on.

Mr Howe, 76, was left with serious internal injuries and tragically died weeks later. His wife of 50-years was left with serious injuries, but made a full recovery.

Mansfield-Marr had been speeding moments before, hitting 64mph in a 30-zone. A woman said she felt her car ‘shake’ as he drove past, while another driver said he was ‘driving like an idiot’, the

M.E.N

reports.

FULL STORY: Horrific moment ‘idiot’ driver dangles legs out of car window before killing OAP in crash

‘The Big Fella’ fruit and veg drugs gang

Members of an organised crime gang which smuggled up to £7 billion worth of drugs from the continent

Members of an organised gang which smuggled up to £7 billion worth of drugs from the continent hidden in fruit and vegetables have been jailed.

The gang’s ringleader Paul Green, known as ‘The Big Fella’, has been jailed for 32 years after a judge said his operation brought about “addiction, misery, social degradation and death”. It is believed to be the largest drug smuggling operation ever detected in the UK.

FULL STORY: Downfall of ‘the Big fella’ and his fruit and veg gang who smuggled £7bn of drugs into the UK

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