New bid to track down East Lancashire's ‘most wanted’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

New bid to track down East Lancashire's ‘most wanted’

2:30pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Blackburn By Kate Jackson , Reporter

THE MOST wanted criminals in East Lancashire have been named as police track down runaways.

Some of the 95 people being hunted by police have been on the run for up to 28 years.

The list of offenders with warrants issued for their arrest have been revealed as part of a police crackdown.

During the past five years police said they have reduced the number of warrants issued in Lancashire from 2,500 in 2007 to 262 in June 2012.

In East Lancashire there are 49 people wanted from Blackburn with Darwen, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn and 46 wanted in Burnley Pendle and Rossendale.

Now the force has issued details of those still at large in a bid to try and catch those who have managed to evade police.

Those named have all have all been charged with offences and then failed to appear at court.

The list includes Phillip Lyons who has been on the run for 28 years after being charged with three counts of buggery in Haslingden.

Jack Wilson has not been seen since 1988 after being charged with three counts of incest in Accrington.

Algerian-born Abdul Kader Makhlouf was charged with rape in Haslingden in 1991 but failed to attend Preston Crown Court.

Tim Ewen, head of criminal justice, said: “In the past we have not been quite as proactive in terms of making all the necessary inquiries in order to track individuals down who have failed to attend court. More recently and certainly over the last five years inquiries are made in a timely manner and continue to be made until the time those involved are arrested and brought before the court and brought to justice.”

Lesley Miller, justice manager for Lancashire Constabulary, said: “We would welcome any information that people may have regarding these individuals.

"During the past five years we have made significant progress seeking out people who have failed to attend court by setting up a dedicated team and using information from other agencies to locate them. We never stop looking for people who fail at appear in court.”

WANTED

Agim Abazi

Abazi, 39, from Kosovo, was due before Preston Crown court charged with wounding and attempt wounding with intent in August 2001, but failed to turn up. He allegedly stabbed two men in Blackburn in July 2001.

Azwar Abdul Amin

Azwar, 30, was convicted in December 2006 of attempted kidnap and A.B.H but failed to turn up for sentencing. He is from Iraq but is known to have connections to Blackburn and was last seen in the town to say police.

Stuart Andrew Edwards

In July 1999 Edwards allegedly entered a Darwen house and threatened to shoot the occupier. The 37-year-old was charged with burglary with intent to inflict GBH but failed to attend Preston Crown Court in February 2000.

Andzelina Surmaj

Polish-born Surmaj, 30, was charged with five counts of assisting unlawful immigration matters and making a false statement concerning a marriage. She was due to appear at Burnley Crown Court in March but failed to appear.

John Ashworth

In January 2011 Ashworth, 25, was accused of assaulting a woman by choking and punching her in Accrington. He was due to appear at both Burnley Crown Court and Hyndburn Magistrates’ Court in June last year.

Andrew Moran

Moran, 30, is on the run after allegedly committing an armed robbery on a Royal Mail van using a machete, and a hand gun to steal cash in ASDA in Colne. He escaped from Burnley Crown Court during the hearing.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers on 0800555111, email warrants.lancashire@lancashire.pnn.police.uk or call the warrants office on 01257 246325.