February saw plenty of wins for Lancashire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service as a number of organised crime gangs were banged-up for dealing drugs.
There were also a handful of other law-breakers put behind bars for committing crimes across East Lancashire, including rapists, shop lifters, danger drivers, a gang jailed for perverting the course of justice, and a husband and wife sentenced for recruiting their son into their drug-dealing empire.
While many of the criminals brought before the courts received non-custodial or suspended sentences, there were lots who had their liberty taken away.
Here, we bring you our monthly round-up of all the East Lancashire criminals jailed in February 2024:
Drunk robbed elderly man at Oswaldtwistle bus stop
A drunk who robbed and left a man in his 70s lying in the road has been sentenced.
Preston Crown Court heard that victim Alan Tufnall, 74, was waiting at a bus stop in Oswaldtwistle when defendant Glenn Morley, 32, of no fixed abode, approached him.
At 11:40pm on Sunday, August 28 2022, Morley was staggering on Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, with a bottle of whisky in his hand and crossed the road to reach Mr Tufnall.
Full story here: Drunk robbed elderly man at Oswaldtwistle bus stop
Men sentenced after supplying £100k worth of drugs
Four men have been sentenced after police found two cannabis farms and seized £100,000 worth of drugs and cash in East Lancashire.
The cannabis farms were found on Monday, May 15, 2023, at an industrial unit at the Eanam Industrial Park in Blackburn.
Cannabis farms were also found at an address on Glenfield Street in Nelson, of which the defendants were charged for both.
The court heard that 79 cannabis plants were found at Glenfield Street, 142 cannabis plants were found at Eanam Industrial Park, and another 65 cannabis plants were found at a different address in Nelson.
Full story here: Men sentenced after supplying £100k worth of drugs
East Lancs men sentenced after million-pound drug operation
Four men have been sentenced after they took part in an investigation of conspiracy to supply more than a million pounds worth of class A drugs.
The operation was part of Lancashire Police’s East Target Crime Unit, who investigated and dismantled organised crime groups, which operated the heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine supply lines, commonly referred to by their customers as the "Don", "Shark", "Rambo", and "Harry".
In October 2021, police officers found over a million pounds worth of cocaine and a large quantity of heroin inside a car garage in Nelson.
Full story here: East Lancs men sentenced after million-pound drug operation
Leader jailed for running million-pound Class A drugs ring
A head of an organised criminal group, who conspired to run a multi-million-pound Class A drug supply ring throughout the North-West, Yorkshire and the Midlands from their bases in Pendle and Burnley, has been sentenced.
Last year, Umar Hussain's co-conspirators were jailed for nearly 50 years and Hussain, 24, of Southfield Square, Nelson, has now been sentenced.
He was today (February 2) jailed for 11 years by Judge Simon Medland KC at Preston Crown Court.
The East Target Crime Unit at Lancashire Police investigated and dismantled the organised criminal group (OCG), which operated the heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine supply lines, commonly referred to by their customers as the ‘Don’, ‘Shark’, ‘Rambo’ and ‘Harry’ Lines from February 2022 to March 2023.
Full story here: Leader jailed for running million-pound Class A drugs ring
Man sold crack cocaine after withdrawing cash from Morrisons
A man who withdrew cash from Morrisons Supermarket in Nelson shortly went on to sell class A drugs.
Siahos Khan, 44, of Wroxham Close, Burnley, pleaded guilty to supplying class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and diamorphine.
Preston Crown Court heard that on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, plain clothed-police saw Khan get out of his SEAT car and take out cash from the machine.
Prosecutor Niamh Ingham told the court that police then saw another man enter the vehicle for a very short period of time before exiting, suspecting the interaction was a drug deal.
Full story here: Man sold crack cocaine after withdrawing cash from Morrisons
East Lancashire men shared pictures of cannabis on own phones
A group of Blackburn men filmed and shared pictures of cannabis on phones that were in their names with the intent to supply.
Habib Khan, 29, of Whalley Old Road, his brother Valli Khan, 24, of Hastings Close, Abdullah Patel, 39, of Preston New Road, Hammid Zafri, 26, of Coinston Road and Leon Yates, 18, of Sandwich Close, all appeared at Preston Crown Court earlier this week.
Prosecutor Chloe Fordham told the court that on Tuesday, January 17 2023, police attended Vali Khan's address on Hastings Close, Blackburn.
Full story here: East Lancashire men shared pictures of cannabis on own phones
Blackburn couple recruited son to work for drug dealing business
A couple who supplied drugs across Blackburn from their home over a period of three years recruited their teenage son to work for them.
Rafiq, 50, and Zara Jamadar, 47, ran the extensive operation from their family home, using one of their sons as an employee and continuing to deal and use the home as a hub while their younger son was present.
The house was searched a number of times by the police, as was a second property associated with Rafiq Jamadar, which uncovered cannabis and other paraphernalia such as cash and mobile phones.
Full story here: Blackburn couple recruited son to work for drug dealing business
Man dangerously drove into farmer at Middle Mickle Hey Farm
A Blackburn man drove into a farmer in Rishton after they told him to move his car off their land, knocking him into the air.
On Sunday, July 10, 2022, Shahnuwaz Hassan parked his black BMW car on the side of the track at Middle Mickle Hey Farm on Blackburn Old Road.
Preston Crown Court heard that when farmer Mark Island noticed the car, he politely told Hassan to move on as it was private land.
Mark and his father Richard Island went to feed their sheep for 20 minutes, but when they came back they noticed Hassan's car was still there.
Full story here: Man dangerously drove into farmer at Middle Mickle Hey Farm
East Lancashire men sold class A drugs totalling £30,000
A group of men from East Lancashire sold class A drugs totalling £30,000 in just five months last year.
Preston Crown Court heard how from February to June 2023, five men had been dealing class A drugs such as crack cocaine and diamorphine in the Blackburn with Darwen area.
Prosecutor Tim Ashmore told the court that Lancashire Police arrested Adile Khalil on Monday, February 20, 2023, at his home address.
When the police searched his property they found £4,925 in cash and a samurai sword.
Full story here: East Lancashire men sold class A drugs totalling £30,000
Prolific Blackburn shoplifter Benjamin Wareing jailed
A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for committing 17 such offences across the county.
Benjamin Wareing, of Blackburn, was handed a 12 month community order in July last year after pleading guilty at the magistrates to eight counts of shoplifting.
The community order, imposed by District Judge Alexandra Preston also included a 10 week curfew between 7pm and 7am, a drug rehabilitation order for six months and 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement.
Full story here: Prolific Blackburn shoplifter Benjamin Wareing jailed
Accrington father and son sentenced for perverting course of justice
A father and son who conspired to pervert the course of justice by failing to attend court have been sentenced.
Danesh Hussain, 20, and his father, Abid Hussain, 52, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Monday (February 19).
The offences can be traced back to August 11, 2022, when police were called to Birtwistle Street in Accrington following reports that Danesh Hussain and a second man had been threatened with an imitation firearm and a knife, and were robbed.
Full story here: Accrington father and son sentenced for perverting course of justice
Man tucked crack cocaine and heroin under his genitals
A man caught with almost £2,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin had hidden some of the drugs under his genitals.
Demetrius Thompson was spotted driving a white Audi by police in the Infirmary area of Blackburn on October 11, 2022, Preston Crown Court heard.
Officers suspected a drug deal had just taken place between two men and the occupants of the Audi while it was parked up on Mosley Walk.
Naimh Ingham, prosecuting, said the police continued to observe the vehicle before eventually stopping it in Lammack Road.
Full story here: Man tucked crack cocaine and heroin under his genitals
Burnley man stole cables from Darwen water treatment works
A man broke into a water treatment works and stole £100 worth of electrical cabling during a burglary.
James Rickwood also pleaded guilty to one offence of producing cannabis at a hearing in November.
Burnley Crown Court heard how a site engineer at the United Utilities site in Lower Eccleshill Road, Darwen, reported a series of break-ins at the site between September 6 and September 17.
Full story here: Burnley man stole cables from Darwen water treatment works
Man raped and abused teenager inside work van in Whitworth
A man who raped and sexually abused a teenager in the back of his work van and at his home has been jailed for 18 years.
Burnley Crown Court heard how delivery driver Karl Chadwick, 57, would abuse the girl, who was between the ages of 13 and 16 at the time of the historic abuse, in his van and at his home.
The court heard he would give her drugs, with one summarised statement from the victim saying he would “get her stoned”, before going on to commit his grave crimes.
The victim also said she was told by Chadwick “no one would believe her” if she told anyone about what he did.
Full story here: Man raped and abused teenager inside work van in Whitworth
Blackburn stalker relentlessly harassed former partner
A terrifying stalker relentlessly harassed his former partner while he was in and out of prison, telling her to kill herself "before I get there myself."
Furqaan Hussain, 23, was convicted of harassment against his ex-partner in 2022 and he was jailed, with a two-year restraining order imposed in October of that year.
While Hussain was in prison between October 2022 and February 2023, he sent letters to the victim and her mother, going against the terms of the restraining order.
Full story here: Blackburn stalker relentlessly harassed former partner
Terrified Colne woman dragged out of car by irate man
A man followed his ex-partner to a car park before assaulting her over a dispute as to why she blocked his phone number.
Shoaib Shakil, 23, appeared at Preston Crown Court relating to offences of assault by beating and harassment, as well as two counts of breaching a non-molestation order and one count of failing to answer bail.
On December 12, 2022, having had a brief relationship with Shakil, the victim went to McDonald’s in Colne with her sister to get some food.
After returning to the car with the food and starting to eat, they noticed Shakil was sat in his car in the same car park, so they drove away to find another spot.
Full story here: Terrified Colne woman dragged out of car by irate man
Man assisted crime group who were busted in Nelson
A Lithuanian national played his part in the production of cannabis in East Lancashire by renting out a storage unit for an organised crime group to stow their drugs.
Arunas Lauraitis, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of participating in the activities of an organised crime group during a trial at Preston Crown Court which concluded on Thursday (February 22).
Police officers executed a drugs warrant at a property in Regent Street, Nelson, where the drugs were discovered.
The court heard that Lauraitis, of Norfolk Street in Peterborough, allowed members of the crime gang to use his trade bank account as a timber and building supplier to rent out the storage unit.
Full story here: Man assisted crime group who were busted in Nelson
Final defendants in perverting course of justice case jailed
The final four defendants involved in a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice which related to a ‘robbery’ have been jailed for more than 18 years.
In November, seven men and a woman were convicted following an investigation into a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
All eight have been jailed for a total of more than 25 years.
Full story here: Final defendants in perverting course of justice case jailed
Accrington and Rossendale drugs gang jailed for more than 50 years
An organised crime group headed up by “mastermind” Waqaas Khan from his prison cell who sought to flood Accrington and Rossendale with class A drugs have been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.
Preston Crown Court heard the opening and mitigation to the case against 12 men, all from the area they sought to peddle misery in, last week (February 15 and 16), with Judge Ian Unsworth passing sentence on the defendants on Friday, February 23.
The offending related to Operation Supercharger, launched by Lancashire Police’s East Exploitation Team two years ago after a boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in Rossendale in possession of drugs, £1,000 in cash, and a machete.
Full story here: Accrington and Rossendale drugs gang jailed for more than 50 years
Dealer and addict banged up again over Bacup drugs raid
An addict who was locked up for dealing drugs after he went on the run to Pakistan for NINE years, has been jailed again…for dealing drugs.
Mohammed Anwar fled to Pakistan around 2001 after being caught dealing drugs in Bradford.
Nine years later, when he returned to England, he was caught by police dealing drugs once again, and was finally jailed in 2010 for seven and a half years.
Appearing at Burnley Crown Court on Thursday, February 22, Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said Anwar, 45, had managed, more or less, to stay out of trouble since his release from that seven and a half year stint.
Full story here: Dealer and addict banged up again over Bacup drugs raid
Blackburn bus smash teen jailed over 100mph police chase
A teenager who told police and paramedics he’d been speeding through the streets of Blackburn at 100mph before he smashed his car into a bus full of people has been jailed.
Hasnain Choudry was already subject to a suspended sentence order and had been banned from driving for a similar offence, which he was convicted of in June 2023, when he sped away from police in Blackburn on January 13.
Preston Crown Court heard how the 19-year-old had been in a Volkswagen Golf travelling along Higher Audley Street on the morning of January 13 when police decided to follow him.
Full story here: Blackburn bus smash teen jailed over 100mph police chase
Nelson teen found with cash and drugs stashed above oven
A teenager who had been released under investigation for dealing was caught a further two times and found with cash and drugs worth more than £3,000 stashed above the oven in his parent’s home.
Mohammed Akmal Khan who was 17 at the time, was clocked by police along with a co-defendant, Sohail Akram, at a McDonald’s drive-thru on March 10, 2022.
Police attempted to stop the car, which Akram was driving, due to it having no insurance, and an officer told Akram to turn the engine off.
However, Preston Crown Court heard how he, and Khan, who according to the officers appeared nervous, sped off from police.
Full story here: Nelson teen found with cash and drugs stashed above oven
Racist thug sparked panic at Blackburn Town Hall
A man who went berserk in the reception area at Blackburn Town Hall has been jailed for 18 weeks.
Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Proctor shouted racist abuse at reception staff, head-butted and punched security screens and damaged various items of equipment.
A senior member of staff who came to assist reception staff was threatened with violence and feared he was going to be assaulted.
Proctor, 48, of Clayton Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of racially aggravated threatening behaviour, criminal damage to computers, check-in machines, signage and chip and pin machines and common assault of Ross McQueen and Anthony Keogh.
Full story here: Racist thug sparked panic at Blackburn Town Hall
Blackburn menace jailed and banned from driving again
A menace spotted driving erratically has been locked up after his latest incident of criminal driving while high on cocaine.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard a witness followed the Toyota Prius driven by Asian Najeeb for 20 minutes as it travelled along Haslingden Old Road towards Blackburn on May 12, 2023.
He saw the vehicle repeatedly swerving onto the opposite carriageway, hitting the far kerb on at least three occasions.
After being stopped by police, Najeeb tested positive for benzoylecgonine, the derivative of cocaine. He had 157 micrograms of drug per litre of blood, more than three times the legal limit of 50mcg.
Full story here: Blackburn menace jailed and banned from driving again
Shoplifter struck at Accrington Asda two days after prison release
A shoplifter who fled from a store through the fire exit didn't realise he was being watched by two police officers who were standing at the front door.
Blackburn magistrates heard Ryan Williams was caught and detained before he got off the car park at Asda in Accrington.
Williams, 22, of Eastgate, Accrington, pleaded guilty to stealing a vacuum cleaner worth £159.
He was jailed for four weeks by District Judge Alexandra Preston who said the latest offence had been committed just two days after he was released from prison.
Full story here: Shoplifter struck at Accrington Asda two days after prison release
Blackburn man contacted by ex put him in breach of order
A blind man who was handed a suspended sentence and restraining order after subjecting his former girlfriend and a police officer to a tirade of abusive phone calls, has been jailed.
Full story here: Blackburn man contacted by ex put him in breach of order
Jason Cocker was handed 68 weeks in prison suspended for 24 months in November 2022 after pleading guilty to theft, possession of a bladed article, stalking, and sending threatening messages.
However, Preston Crown Court heard that after managing to stick to the requirements of his suspended sentence order and comply with the restraining order for more than 12 months, things fell apart for the 31-year-old in December last year.
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