Send us your news tips, photos and videos Text LT and your message to 80360 or click here for more ways to contact us »
4:43pm Monday 28th April 2008
SOPHIE Lancaster's teenage murderers were branded feral thugs' by a judge as he sent them to jail for life.
Brendan Harris, 15, and Ryan Herbert, 16, carried out a "hate crime against harmless people", Judge Anthony Russell QC said.
He said: "At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food.
"You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself.
"This was feral thuggery.
"It raises serious questions about the sort of society which exists in this country at the start of a new millennium which was heralded with such optimism."
Harris, 15, of Spring Terrace, Bacup, who was convicted after a trial last month, was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years.
Herbert, 16, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup, who admitted murder, received a 16-year tariff.
Sophie, 20, was kicked and stamped to death as she begged the pair to stop beating her boyfriend Robert Maltby in Stubbylee Park, Bacup last August.
The former Haslingden High School pupils, who lived together in Bacup, were targeted for being dressed like goths.
The tense sentencing saw four police officers brought in to stand guard outside the packed court room while another two stood inside.
Extra policing was also brought in for other areas of the building.
Sophie's family and supporters had sat in the jury box, while the defendants family were all separated from them in the public gallery.
Judge Russell told the defendents: "This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it.
"The intolerance you displayed in this case is shocking evidence of the attitudes of some of our people.
"This was a hate crime against these completely harmless people targeted because their appearance was different to yours."
Defence solicitors said that the age of the teens should be taken into consideration.
Richard Marks QC acting for Herbert said that the 16-year-old had not "tried to minimise the part he had played in this dreadful incident".
He said: "This was not in anyway a premeditated attack.
"Befuddled by drink he did not fully appreciate the very serious consequences that his actions were likely to entail."
Harris's lawyer Andrew O'Byrne, said that the 15-year-old felt remorse for what had happened but Judge Russell interrupted and said that in recent documents Harris was still adament he was not guilty.
But Judge Russell dismissed all the defendant sentiments of remorse as "shallow".
He told the defendants that he "noted the swaggering manner that some of you have displayed" in court.
"I noticed the wink that one of you exchanged with the public gallery when the murder charge was not proceeded with against you and that one of you thought it appropriate to shout out 'love you mum"'.
He said: "You have shown little genuine shame or remorse for your actions and I regard the sentiments of regret you have sought to put forward to the Youth Offending team and through your counsel as hollow when put into the overall context of this case."
After the case, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Lancashire Robert Marshall described the case as "truly shocking".
Mr Marshall said: ""The murder of Sophie Lancaster and the vicious attack on her boyfriend Robert Maltby stand out for their utter pointlessness and sheer brutality.
"Worse still, it seems very likely that the attack started as a form of amusement for those involved.
"We can only try to imagine the loss felt by Miss Lancaster's family, who have conducted themselves with outstanding dignity and restraint throughout this difficult case.
"The final words must be our heartfelt sympathy for them."
see all, rossendale says...
12:19am Wed 7 May 08
human animal (note correction in bold), earth says...
2:22pm Sat 3 May 08
human animal wrote:i like dogs and i like kids but both should be treated the same when they go feral and violent, the dogs that attacked and killed the little pony have been destroyed so should the attackers and killers OF rob and sophie. Its thanks to luck and maybe a stronger male skull that rob survived, and more delicate sophie died, its not thanks to the thugs for being less violent with rob than sophie. The law needs to change to make a kick to the head, a potentially fatal act and treat it as the attempted murder it actually is, not GBH with intent as it is now. The head is more vulnerable than the body, except a wounded heart, the head contains the brain. A kick to the head is not done with attempt to harm it is attempt to kill. If we don't want society to revert back to tooth and claw days of primitive man the sooner we recognise and treat something rotten in the species the better it will be for all.
i like dogs and i like kids but both should be treated the same when they go feral and violent, the dogs that attacked and killed the little pony have been destroyed so should the attackers and killers and rob and sophie. Its thanks to luck and maybe a stronger male skull that rob survived, and more delicate sophie died, its not thanks to the thugs for being less violent with rob than sophie. The law needs to change to make a kick to the head, a potentially fatal act and treat it as the attempted murder it actually is, not GBH with intent as it is now. The head is more vulnerable than the body, except a wounded heart, the head contains the brain. A kick to the head is not done with attempt to harm it is attempt to kill. If we don't want society to revert back to tooth and claw days of primitive man the sooner we recognise and treat something rotten in the species the better it will be for all.
human animal, earth says...
2:19pm Sat 3 May 08
sara f, middleton says...
1:49pm Sat 3 May 08
Jon Dale wrote:I'm in my 40s and underage drinking was common when i was in my teens, but apart from the odd little scrap, usually between 2 lads, which was over and done with in no time, there was nothing like the violence we have now, it goes deeper than alcohol.
After a crime that made national headlines and was as shocking as this, you might expect that things would have changed a lot and that a 'zero tolerance' zone would be in place in streets near the park to make certain that nothing similar could possibly happen again. But in Stacksteads - which is just along the road from the park - at about 10pm on Friday, under-18 boys were still shopping for booze at the off-licence in plain sight and hanging about in groups nearby. There was no sign of any police presence for miles in any direction.
Nemesis, Norway says...
11:26am Sat 3 May 08
Jon Dale, Nearby says...
10:59am Sat 3 May 08
Parent, Burnley says...
7:34pm Fri 2 May 08
bacup mum, bacup says...
6:58pm Fri 2 May 08
bacup mum, bacup says...
6:56pm Fri 2 May 08
Bacup200, Bacup says...
10:00am Thu 1 May 08
andy, spain says...
11:11pm Wed 30 Apr 08
escaped, Spain says...
11:42am Wed 30 Apr 08
andy wrote:Neil was right in everything he said Andy. They WERE dole scroungers off a council estate etc. He DIDN'T tar all council house tennents with the same brush.
Posted by: Neil Jackson, Derby on 6:58pm Tue 29 Apr 08 Council estate jobless dole-scroungers get away with murder yet again. They'll be offered computer courses before the flowers have withered. Scrap the hand-outs; let Darwin sort them out. Council estate jobless dole-scroungers get away with murder yet again. They'll be offered computer courses before the flowers have withered. Scrap the hand-outs; let Darwin sort them out. Choose tour words wisely my friend not every one who comes has you put it is a jobless dole scrounger. I was brought up on a Council Estate and I and my family and many like us have always worked. Some of those who have the biggest houses etc have been bought by the illegal Narcotics trade and other proceeds of crime. Your statement is tarring every person who lives or has lived on a Council Estate has bad people which is beyond the truth. These thugs could of come from any house hold in the country not just a Council Estate. For some unknown reason people of your mentality seem to think all Council Tenants are Criminals the true fact is most crimes are done by those who own their own homes check out the statics. Regarding Rob and Sophie you where the victims and always will be you are both in our thoughts over what happened that summer night last year we will never forget that even here in Spain the story is known. I made it my point to get people to view what had happened so it does not happen here and yes it could unless attitudes change.
andy, spain says...
9:22am Wed 30 Apr 08
whitworth vig, whitworth says...
9:56pm Tue 29 Apr 08
IT DOESNT MATTER wrote:LOL no i meant shoot me for using that dreadful word, and i base my opinions on previous similar history.
SO YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY WILL BE LOOKED UP TO BY THE GYPSY COMMUNITY YOU VE ASKED THEM HAVE YOU AND BY WHAT YOU WROTE THIS FAMILY USES GUNS ASWELL I DONT THINK SO AND AS FOR YOU HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRAVELLING FAMILIES THEN I GUESS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE BEING ON THE DOLE AS THEY DONT PAY TAXES
angry and disgusted, bacup says...
8:46pm Tue 29 Apr 08
IT DOESNT MATTER, IT DOESNT MATTER says...
7:38pm Tue 29 Apr 08
whitworth Vig, whitworth says...
7:09pm Tue 29 Apr 08
IT DOESNT MATTER wrote:Well well wondered how long it would take before the PC Bigade made and appearance, unless you know these people a **** site better than i do then please dont try to tell me they wont be looked up to has happened previously within this GYPO(shoot me) family. Im quite shaw that whatever walk of life the poor victim came from this would have been seen as harrowing. Oh and yes i do have a problem with travelling families who dont pay taxes etc and illegal immigrants who dont pay their way but race and colour are irrelevant this was dispicable and sentences are way to short.
whitworth Vig wrote: Having known three of these vermin since they were in the infants at school in shawforth I can honestly say this is no real surprise, Harris was always an out of control aggressive primary student who fought like an adult at 8 years of age much to his families amusement. The Hulme brothers have just got progressively worse as they have got older and could be seen hanging around street threatening other youngsters over the last 5 years. These sentences will mean nothing to them or their families. The Hulmes will be held in high esteem within their GYPO community and fully supported like the rest of their family have when being imprisoned. Harris well most of his family will have hopefully drank themselves to death by the time he comes out, they could quite easily set up their own branch of AA within that family. RIP SophieSORRY U R WRONG THEY WONT BE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM AND WHATS WITH GYPO REMARK SO LET ME GUESS IF IT WAS A TRAVELLER OR AN ASIAN WHO THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPEN TO YOU WOULD NOT BE BOTHERED IF FACT I BET ALOT OF YOU ON HERE WOULD SAY OH WELL ONE LESS GYPO OR ASIAN TO WORRY ABOUT
Neil Jackson, Derby says...
6:58pm Tue 29 Apr 08
IT DOESNT MATTER, IT DOESNT MATTER says...
6:54pm Tue 29 Apr 08
whitworth Vig wrote:SORRY U R WRONG THEY WONT BE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM AND WHATS WITH GYPO REMARK
Having known three of these vermin since they were in the infants at school in shawforth I can honestly say this is no real surprise, Harris was always an out of control aggressive primary student who fought like an adult at 8 years of age much to his families amusement. The Hulme brothers have just got progressively worse as they have got older and could be seen hanging around street threatening other youngsters over the last 5 years. These sentences will mean nothing to them or their families. The Hulmes will be held in high esteem within their GYPO community and fully supported like the rest of their family have when being imprisoned. Harris well most of his family will have hopefully drank themselves to death by the time he comes out, they could quite easily set up their own branch of AA within that family. RIP Sophie
leston, says...
5:33pm Tue 29 Apr 08
Gemma, harle syke says...
4:20pm Tue 29 Apr 08
d, b/burn says...
1:19pm Tue 29 Apr 08
Alyson Vinnyey wrote:agree totally.since corprel punishment was abolished in schools kids are growing up with no disapline.Most of these kids are now being brought up by parents who went to school after corprel punishment was abolished so a teacher only has to shout at them and the parents are in trying to get them sacked.they spend over six hrs a day in school so surely teachers should have the right to punish without the fear of getting sacked.
This is a very sad story and unfortunately a much more common one the world over. I think we need to get back to some sort of discipline in our so called democratic societies and the people who say we cannot punish our children are very much to blame. This is where it starts, the very early years, children do not automaticaly know right from wrong - it is taught and this doesn\'t have to be through hard smacking before you do gooders try to get on the band wagon! If a child is brought up not knowing the boundaries and by sheer good fortune get through their own life without hiccup they still haven\'t learned the boundaries and so their children don\'t because their parents don\'t know them etc etc and on and on - we are bringing up a society that are totally undiciplined. We\'ve taken the art of teaching discipline away from parents, teachers and anyone in authority. What hope have we got without this!! On top of this when these people get into trouble they still don\'t learn because the sentence doesn\'t match the crime. These \'youths\' should be sentenced to life and life should mean life. They have taken a life for goodness sake - doesn\'t this mean anything anymore!! Does a life not count!! They will still have theirs in prison and should think themselves very fortunate to have that privilege because that\'s what it is, a privilege.
cazzer, bacup says...
12:30pm Tue 29 Apr 08
escaped wrote:yes i agree bring hanging back if there is 100% proof we should be like america where there are levals of murder ie 1st degree u get lethal injection or 2nd degree and your banged up. 1St degree would apply in this case i think. There is to much of this type of thing happening when will we get tough on this scum. Even when we try tp protect our kids propety and ourself we get beten up or worse off gangs of kids. If there where more police and kids had respect this type of thing would not happen. I mean you cant even give one of the little **** a clip round the ear without facing a criminal charge yourself. When I was a kid a copper scared you half to death there is no way any kids i knew would disrespect thier parents or ploice. Are we to blame as parents are the goverment to blame due to being to soft with punishments !!
They are all as bad as one another. Hang the lot of them and it will stop this sort of feral behaviour overnight.
Adam, Blackburn says...
12:27pm Tue 29 Apr 08
fed up about it all, says...
11:14am Tue 29 Apr 08
Moonie wrote:http://timetostandup
I agree with all the comments, especially about letting their braisn rot away, good punishment and well thought out DTM. I just want to know who's listening to us? Why are we not heard? Maybe someone needs to copy, paste and post all of our comments from here to our quite clearly deluded justice MP, Jack Straw(-for-brains). I don't agree with introducing Sharia law here, but why not ship out our criminals to Saudi, let them see what real punishment feels like.
anon Ex Rossendale Overseas, Middle East says...
11:03am Tue 29 Apr 08
k, hassy says...
10:12am Tue 29 Apr 08
whitworth Vig, whitworth says...
10:10am Tue 29 Apr 08
KC, London says...
9:20am Tue 29 Apr 08
cate wrote:I agree with bob parents of these wild animals and the country is full of them should be punished as the owner of a vicious dog would be if it attacked someone, my sympathies go out to sophies familly. also prison is no punishment anymore with tv's stereos free meals no work etc no wonder its not a deterent
Bob wrote: The parents of these scummy individuals should also face punishment, as it is their neglect/poor parenting which allows these people to grow up with no regard for anyone else.totally agree with u there bob
bacupman, Bacup says...
9:01am Tue 29 Apr 08
Moonie, Darwen says...
8:50am Tue 29 Apr 08
andy, spain says...
8:49am Tue 29 Apr 08
Dave, Accrington says...
6:53am Tue 29 Apr 08
DTM, says...
2:13am Tue 29 Apr 08
CD, Blackburn says...
10:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08
cate, says...
10:31pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Bob wrote:totally agree with u there bob
The parents of these scummy individuals should also face punishment, as it is their neglect/poor parenting which allows these people to grow up with no regard for anyone else.
macca, England says...
10:28pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Anon too, Bacup says...
10:07pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Chavbuster, Lancashire says...
10:02pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Bob, Blackburn says...
9:30pm Mon 28 Apr 08
mike rigby, blackburn says...
8:45pm Mon 28 Apr 08
see all, rossendale says...
8:38pm Mon 28 Apr 08
ydt, millenium falcon says...
8:02pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Pete, bacup says...
7:34pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Young & Proud, Blackburn says...
7:34pm Mon 28 Apr 08
lala, Burnley says...
7:29pm Mon 28 Apr 08
anon, bacup says...
6:24pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Harwood Girl, says...
5:14pm Mon 28 Apr 08
black cap, behind the bar says...
5:11pm Mon 28 Apr 08
bob, bburn says...
5:04pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Tan, blackburn says...
5:02pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Tan wrote:Not long enough they always say life,but life is not 18 years in my eyes,i hope they get there just deserts in prison!! i can only imagine what that poor family family must be going through,my thoughts are with them and R
I really hope these two little pieces of s*** get whats coming to them..life is still too good for them,they should hang the little ba****** and save us paying to keep them in there!!!
Gill, Bacup says...
1:08pm Wed 14 May 08