January was a busy month for Lancashire's magistrates, as hundreds of criminals entered the courts to be sentenced for their crimes - some unable to leave.
In East Lancashire, we saw a mix of drug dealers, danger drivers, yobs, drunks and fraudsters receive a plethora of sentences, ranging from community orders and fines, to jail time.
Here, we've brought you a round up of all the wrong-doers appearing at Blackburn Magistrates' Court in January 2024:
Burnley FC yob fans banned after fighting at Blackpool game
Two Burnley FC fans have been made subject to Football Banning Orders as a result of trouble after a game against Blackpool FC last season.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how Thomas McDonough and Daniel Worthington were caught on CCTV attacking Blackpool fans near Turf Moor, and identified by a police football intelligence officer.
The violence followed a fiery game in the EFL Championship on August 20, 2022, in which both sides had players sent off in a 3-3 draw.
Both McDonough, 36, and Worthington, 34, denied using threatening behaviour but were convicted after trial.
Full story here: Burnley FC yob fans banned after fighting at Blackpool game
Teenager assaulted police officer while resisting search
A teenager who didn't want to be strip-searched on his 18th birthday ended up assaulting a police custody detention officer.
Blackburn magistrates heard Ajay Chadwick kicked custody officer Suzanne Hulley on the leg causing what she described as "immediate and intense" pain, on September 12 in Blackburn.
Chadwick, 18, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.
He was made subject to a community order for 12 months, with a 25 day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Full story here: Teenager assaulted police officer while resisting search
Driver said he was over drug limit due to secondhand smoke
A driver claimed he was over the cannabis limit because his passengers had been smoking the drug after being stopped by police.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard several men ran from the car - a BMW 3 Series - before Mohammed Hasan eventually stopped.
Hasan, 22, of Newport Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to drug driving.
Full story here: Driver said he was over drug limit due to secondhand smoke
Blackburn woman jailed for daylight sex romp by school
A woman caught having sex in bushes on church property in Blackburn ended up assaulting a police officer after her romp was cut short.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard officers caught Beverley Smith and her lover “in the act” in shrubbery which bordered a primary school.
Smith, 51, of Cleveleys Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to an act outraging public decency and assaulting an emergency worker on September 20, and being drunk and disorderly on a separate occasion.
Full story here: Blackburn woman jailed for daylight sex romp by school
Great Harwood woman assaulted another woman at Blackburn pub
A woman was left with four puncture wounds after a fight with another woman outside a pub.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Jodie Elizabeth Wharton accepted having a key in her hand at the time of the incident but denied using it to stab the victim on July 29, 2022.
Wharton, 30, of Cliff Lane, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to assault.
She was ordered to pay £300 compensation, £200 costs and a £114 victim surcharge and fined £200.
Full story here: Great Harwood woman assaulted another woman at Blackburn pub
Blackburn man sent 'sinister' TikTok messages to ex-partner
A man who sent love messages to his ex-partner via her Tik Tok account then sent "sinister" messages to her too.
Blackburn magistrates heard the messages were followed by a video of wolves in the wild, accompanied by a “sinister” message which read: “Never put me in the position where I have to show you how cruel and ruthless I can be.”
Glen Anderton, prosecuting, said the video was accompanied by music which gave it a “sinister” feeling.
“The victim has interpreted the video as a threat to her safety and the safety of her family,” said Mr Anderton.
Full story here: Blackburn man sent 'sinister' TikTok messages to ex-partner
Accrington drug user assaulted girlfriend and police
A man assaulted his girlfriend during a row over his use of cannabis and other drugs, including anabolic steroids.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Rory Marshall also assaulted a police officer who came to arrest him.
Marshall, 23, of Devonshire Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault, possession of cannabis and possession of valium, Dianabol and testosterone.
He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a 120 day alcohol treatment order and 80 hours unpaid work.
Full story here: Accrington drug user assaulted girlfriend and police
Blackburn paedophile caught with 1,500 indecent images
Police investigating child pornography followed an international trail to the door of a Blackburn man.
William Chambers had more than 1,500 indecent images of children on his devices, Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told.
Chambers, 60, of Weavers Court, Preston New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession of 166 Category A images, 544 Category B images and 854 Category C images.
Full story here: Blackburn paedophile caught with 1,500 indecent images
Darwen man fined after being 'lured into benefits scam'
A Darwen cricketer was caught out by a “shadowy figure” who lured him into a benefits scam.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Zac Whalley allowed the individual to use his personal details to make bogus claims.
He received more than £2,000 he wasn’t entitled to which he shared with the other man.
Whalley, 30, of Elswick Street, Darwen, admitted to retaining a wrongful credit.
Full story here: Darwen man fined after being 'lured into benefits scam'
Billy Smith threatened security guard with 'HIV needles'
A man involved in a dispute with a shop security officer claimed he had "sharpies" and had HIV.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the threat made by Billy Smith frightened the security officer and made him consider changing his job.
Smith, 30, of Chester Crescent, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Langford on September 20 at Tesco in Eagle Street, Accrington.
He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.
Full story here: Billy Smith threatened security guard with 'HIV needles'
Ex-drug offender passed drugs wipe but had cocaine on him
Police who received information of a possible drug driver stopped a motorist in Burnley, who had a record of drugs convictions.
Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Adnan passed a roadside drugs wipe but was found in possession of a small amount of cocaine on August 6, when he was stopped in Burnley.
Adnan, 35, of Victoria Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine.
He was fined £100, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £45 victim surcharge.
Susheela Regala, prosecuting, said Adnan had previous convictions for drug offences but they were some time ago.
Full story here: Ex-drug offender passed drugs wipe but had cocaine on him
Burnley woman spat in police officer's face after arrest
Police responding to a report of a woman with a knife found a man bleeding heavily from a cut to his hand.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Claire Mellor, who told the officers she no longer had the knife, was arrested on September 30.
While in custody she became agitated and spat in a police officer’s face, leaving the officer worried she might contract a disease from the defendant.
Mellor, 24, of Hunslet Street, Burnley, admitted to assaulting an emergency worker and was given a 28-day curfew and ordered to to pay £100 compensation.
Full story here: Burnley woman spat in police officer's face after arrest
Man admits causing double death crash on A59 in Sawley
An HGV driver has appeared in court and admitted responsibility for a double death crash in the Ribble Valley.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard a man and a woman, both in their 60s, were killed when a Mercedes-Benz lorry driven by Christopher Kavanagh hit them head on.
The couple were travelling along the A59 at Sawley in a Chrysler car when the lorry crossed onto their carriageway and hit them head on, on October 6, 2022.
Despite the efforts of the emergency services both were declared dead at the scene.
Full story here: Man admits causing double death crash on A59 in Sawley
Blackburn crash teen told police he was ‘driving at 100mph’
A teenage motorist who was banned from driving led police on a high speed chase through Blackburn.
Blackburn magistrates heard the pursuit only ended when Hasnain Choudhry collided with a car and then a bus.
When he was being treated he told police and paramedics he had been doing in excess of 100mph when he lost control on Accrington Road near the junction with Harwood Street.
After hearing Choudhry was already subject to a suspended prison sentence imposed for dangerous driving in June 2023, District Judge Alexandra Preston told the defendant he was in "deep trouble."
Full story here: Blackburn crash teen told police he was ‘driving at 100mph’
Woman admits drink driving while three times over limit
A woman who was crashed her car was more than three times over the drink drive limit.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Vivien Groll had been drinking Jack Daniels and Coke at a friend's house, before driving off following a row on September 8.
While driving home, she crashed her Fiat 500 in Goldhey Street, and when breathalysed by police blew more than three times the legal limit, before providing a slightly lower reading back at the police station.
Full story here: Woman admits drink driving while three times over limit
Woman threw urine soaked knickers in police officer's face
A woman who had been arrested and taken to the police station deliberately wet herself then threw her urine sodden knickers in a police officer’s face.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard minutes before the vile assault on June 18, Sarah Cunningham had squatted in a cell and urinated on the floor while wearing her underwear.
Cunningham, 28, of Crabtree Avenue, Waterfoot, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.
Full story here: Woman threw urine soaked knickers in police officer's face
Man stole £42 of Dairy milk to fund heroin and crack habit
A man stole chocolate from Home Bargains to fund his drug habit.
Kaspars Burkevics admitted he was going to sell the confectionary to buy heroin and crack cocaine.
Blackburn magistrates heard Burkevics was detained as he tried to leave the store with £42 worth of Dairy Milk.
Full story here: Man stole £42 of Dairy milk to fund heroin and crack habit
Uber driver caught snorting cocaine in car at Kendal Calling
An Uber driver was seen snorting cocaine in his car while picking up and dropping off people at a music festival.
Blackburn magistrates heard Zaheer Abbas was initially reported to police because his vehicle was not authorised to be in the Lowther deer park near Kendal, where Kendal Calling was taking place.
Abbas, 42, of Carlton Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit for cocaine and its derivative, benzoylecgonine. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Full story here: Uber driver caught snorting cocaine in car at Kendal Calling
Blackburn Uber driver delivering takeaway sexually assaulted woman
An Uber driver making a takeaway delivery sexually assaulted the female customer.
Blackburn magistrates heard Shahbaz Ahmed grabbed the young woman on her doorstep, kissed her on the lips and then laughed as she slammed the door.
The victim had a panic attack and said she felt physically sick after the assault.
District Judge Alexandra Preston said the victim had done nothing to encourage his “disgraceful” behaviour.
Full story here: Blackburn Uber driver delivering takeaway sexually assaulted woman
Man made revenge porn threat to ex-partner after break-up
A bitter separation which had “rumbled on” came to a head when a man threatened to send intimate photographs of her to her friends and family.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Ashley Holden sent three messages on consecutive days which his partner claimed amounted to blackmail.
Holden, 39, of Hargrove Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to three charges of sending menacing messages via a public network between April 5 and 7 last year.
Full story here: Man made revenge porn threat to ex-partner after break-up
Woman threw plastic glass at peacemaker causing nasty cut
A man who tried to act as peacemaker during a town centre confrontation between two groups of young people was hit in the face by a plastic beer glass which was thrown at him.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the victim could not see out of his eye immediately after the incident and needed hospital treatment.
Kiera Wiggett, 24, of George Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assault, having arrived late to an argument between two groups before deciding to launch a plastic beer glass at the victim causing a nasty cut.
Full story here: Woman threw plastic glass at peacemaker causing nasty cut
Shoplifter holding razor blade threatened to kill guard
A shoplifter detains by security staff produced a razor blade before making a throat-slitting gesture towards one of them.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Richard Croskell ran the blade across his own throat and also told a security guard he would kill him.
Croskell, 37, of Penistone Street, Burnley, admitted to racially aggravated threatening behaviour, possessing a bladed article in public, and theft of alcohol worth £153 from Sainsburys in Colne.
He was committed in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced, after District Judge Alexandra Preston said her powers of punishment were not sufficient.
Full story here: Shoplifter holding razor blade threatened to kill guard
Padiham builder driving van on country lane had cocaine in his system
A man who had used cocaine at a party a “couple of days” earlier didn’t appreciate the drug would still be in his system.
Blackburn magistrates heard Peter Hamilton was stopped by police for no other reason than he was driving his van on a country lane in the early hours of the morning.
Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Hamilton did not expect the level of the drug still in his system to be as high as it was.
Full story here: Padiham builder driving van on country lane had cocaine in his system
Stabbing victim had heroin, cocaine and Tramadol in home
Police returning property to a victim of crime were presented with evidence of three more offences.
Blackburn magistrates heard Ian McGarry invited the officers into his home where they saw heroin, cocaine and Tramadol on the table.
McGarry, 49, of Hall Carr Road, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to possession of all three drugs.
Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, said the offences went back to December 2022 and he could offer no explanation for why they had taken so long to come to court.
Full story here: Stabbing victim had heroin, cocaine and Tramadol in home
Man was punched by thieves who stole grandma's handbag
A man who confronted the people who had stolen his grandma’s bag was punched in the face by a woman and threatened with a bottle by her male accomplice.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Leanne O’Brien and the man had been working together in the theft of the bag, which had been hung on the back of a chair in a pub.
O’Brien, 43, of Pansy Street, Accrington, admitted to theft and assault following the theft of the bag from the Gamull pub in Longridge on January 12.
Full story here: Man was punched by thieves who stole grandma's handbag
Man in court charged with death by dangerous driving
A man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged in connection with the death of a 74-year-old man in a car crash in October 2022.
Anthony Brown, 42, of Rising Bridge Road, Accrington, was charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of Harry Boothby, while driving his Mercedes-Benz Vito van on the A6068 at Hapton.
He was committed on bail to Burnley Crown Court where he will appear on February 19.
Mr Boothby, from Padiham, was driving his Volkswagen Passat on the motorway link road when it was in a collision with the van driven by Brown at about 7.40pm on October 29, 2022.
Full story here: Man in court charged with death by dangerous driving
Burnley neighbour feud saw pensioner attack fellow retiree
Bad blood between neighbours who used to be friends deteriorated into violence for a second time as they came to blows on the driveway,
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard 74-year-old Harold Durant attacked his neighbour Ian Zirins as he was bringing his wheelie bin in on September 6.
He threw a punch which missed and Mr Zirins, a fellow pensioner, used his bin to try and keep some distance between him and his attacker.
CCTV footage showed Durant push the bin to one side and then repeatedly punch the other man to the head, neck and back.
Full story here: Burnley neighbour feud saw pensioner attack fellow retiree
Man threated to burn woman's house down out of jealousy
A man who had “developed feelings” for a long-standing friend became upset when he saw her with another man.
Blackburn magistrates heard two days later Anthony Young sent threatening messages to the woman and her daughter on September 10.
He then turned up at her home and said he would return with a bottle of petrol.
Young, 47, of Grange Road, Whitworth, pleaded guilty to threatening to damage the victim’s house by burning it down, and harassing the woman by leaving threatening voicemails and attending at her address.
Full story here: Man threated to burn woman's house down out of jealousy
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