Burnley Crown Court Sentencing Results

Mark Bocker, a 65-year-old former headteacher from Gorse Lane, Formby, sexually assaulted three girls at a school in the Oswaldtwistle area between 2007 and 2016. He was caught and convicted following the victims' reports to the police.

On April 18, 2024, Joshua Tattersall, 25, of Ambleside Road, Ribbleton, targeted four shops in Preston in 20 minutes armed with a machete and wearing a balaclava. He demanded cash at each but fled empty-handed from the first three after being challenged by staff. He successfully stole £100 from the till in the fourth shop. Victims reported feeling scared due to the proximity and size of the weapon. Police identified him quickly via investigation and arrested him on suspicion of robbery, attempted robbery, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Zak Honeyman attended a bonfire in Barnoldswick on November 5, 2022, where he propositioned the victim, but she rejected his advances. He persistently asked to walk her home, and once inside, he propositioned her again and sexually assaulted her twice despite her rejections. The assault occurred in the victim's own home, leading to profound effects on her life.

Dylan Saville, aged 26 and from Helme Lane, Meltham, West Yorkshire, assaulted a baby by shaking him, resulting in multiple bleeds on the brain. The incident led to the baby being taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital on February 20, 2024. Saville was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm, initially denied the offence, and feigned concern for the baby. The assault caused significant and lifelong injuries to the innocent child.

Liam Vyse, 31, of Walton Street, Colne, battered the victim with a wheel brace over a debt on February 24, 2024, in Padiham. Vyse drove up to the victim's car, where the victim was in the front passenger seat with relatives, shouted at him, and struck him several times with the brace handed to him by his partner. The victim sustained a laceration to his head, fled the scene, and was treated at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. Vyse later called and messaged the victim with threats, warning of worse consequences if the debt was not paid.

Joanna Evans sexually assaulted three young boys in East Lancashire. The victims were all under the age of 13, with the youngest being eight years old at the time of the offences, which occurred during or before 2020. Evans was reported to the police in September 2020, arrested the following day, and charged with the crimes. A trial proceeded in Evans's absence, resulting in a guilty verdict.

Jordan Woodburn broke into a family home in Fence while the victims were asleep in August 2019, stealing items including mobile phones, a wallet, a game console, and keys to a Volkswagen Jetta, which he used to steal and later crash the car, leaving his DNA on the driver's seat. He was also forensically linked to another burglary involving a stolen BMW in Sough, where his fingerprints were found on the rear view mirror. The incident left a nine-year-old girl particularly traumatised, scared to sleep at night, and the family considering moving home.

Fraser Robertson, 26, and Oliver Taylor, 29, wearing balaclavas and dark clothing, approached the victim from a nearby alleyway as she arrived home to Alexandra Close in Clayton-le-Moors at 7pm on May 9, 2018. Robertson, the taller one, stopped her from closing the van door, reached in, grabbed the strap of her handbag, and pulled hard, dragging her along the seat until she let go or the strap snapped. The handbag contained an iPhone, e-cigarette, spare keys, passport, driving licence, bank cards, and £190 cash. The incident occurred in front of her young son. They fled through house gardens, hid in a shed at Sparth House hotel, discarding incriminating apparel. Tracked by police dog Rhyker and arrested. Originally charged with possessing an imitation firearm, but allegation not pursued as no object was used or displayed.

Fraser Robertson, 26, and Oliver Taylor, 29, wearing balaclavas and dark clothing, approached the victim from a nearby alleyway as she arrived home to Alexandra Close in Clayton-le-Moors at 7pm on May 9, 2018. Robertson, the taller one, stopped her from closing the van door, reached in, grabbed the strap of her handbag, and pulled hard, dragging her along the seat until she let go or the strap snapped. The handbag contained an iPhone, e-cigarette, spare keys, passport, driving licence, bank cards, and £190 cash. The incident occurred in front of her young son. They fled through house gardens, hid in a shed at Sparth House hotel, discarding incriminating apparel. Tracked by police dog Rhyker and arrested. Originally charged with possessing an imitation firearm, but allegation not pursued as no object was used or displayed.

Stuart Smith, a 48-year-old bogus roofer from Whalley Road, Accrington, deliberately targeted a 92-year-old vulnerable woman in Accrington. On March 13, 2019, he attended her home claiming urgent roof repairs were needed, agreeing on a price but requesting cash payment. Lacking cash, she entrusted him with her bank cards and PIN numbers. He then withdrew hundreds of pounds from various banks in Accrington town centre. On March 26, 2019, at around 10am, he burgled her home, entering through the front door wearing a dark hat, blue coat, dark trousers, and trainers, stealing her purse. He subsequently withdrew more money (£100 and £200) from cash machines and used the cards to top up his mobile phone, totaling over £1,150 stolen. A neighbour identified him from CCTV footage. He has previous similar convictions for targeting elderly women in Hyndburn. The victim stated the incident left her a nervous wreck, constantly on edge, and destroyed her peace of mind.

Christopher Ankers, 43, from Accrington, broke into the victim's bungalow on Queensborough Road in Accrington through the kitchen window at around 3am. He approached the victim's bedroom, leading to a confrontation where Ankers headbutted the victim, knocking out his front top tooth, and threatened to kill him unless he handed over money. The victim defended himself with a bayonet in a scabbard, striking Ankers and pushing him off. A scuffle ensued in the hallway, and the victim eventually threw Ankers out empty-handed. Ankers was arrested the next day after being identified by blood left on a hallway mirror. He was disguised with a hood and intruded into the victim's bedroom while he was asleep.

Kevin King Yates, 25, of Comrie Crescent, Burnley, carried out a three-month spree of burglaries between November 9, 2018, and January 25, 2019, targeting more than 50 properties in affluent parts of East Lancashire including Whalley, Colne, Higham, Barnoldswick, Simonstone, Read, Fence, and Accrington. He smashed windows with stones or bricks to enter homes, often at night and sometimes while occupiers were asleep, stealing car keys and high-value vehicles such as Audis, Mercedes, and Volkswagens worth £500,000 in total. He was paid up to £1,500 per vehicle and also took watches, computer equipment, jewellery, and mountain bikes. Around 60% of East Lancashire burglaries in this period were linked to him. He was tracked to the Hilton Hotel in Blackpool after a wanted appeal and arrested violently, with a knuckleduster and wrapped mobile phone seized. In one incident, he stole an Audi and MacBook from a Whalley home and was traced via Apple to Padiham. Another targeted a 71-year-old man in Accrington living with his disabled wife, cutting a perfect circle in the window to steal an Audi. Stolen vehicles were used in further crimes under false plates. Yates admitted in interview to burgling for cars and valuables, often with others but as the intruder.

On February 6, 2019, John Carroll, under the influence of a significant amount of drugs, attempted to rob Matthew Taylor, an employee at the McDonald's restaurant on Hyndburn Road, Accrington. Wearing a scarf and hoodie, Carroll grabbed the victim by the shoulder, held a hammer to his head, and demanded money while pushing him towards the tills. Two cleaning staff witnessed the incident, chased Carroll outside, tackled him to the ground, and seized the hammer. They flagged down police, who arrested Carroll and recovered a Stanley knife, a chisel, and a pillow case from him. The shift manager had alerted staff to flee and sought help. The victim reported feeling shocked, scared, and more paranoid about work.

Charlie John David Hope, 22, of Wilfred Street, Accrington, targeted four homes in Accrington and Huncoat over a six-week period in 2018, stealing jewellery, cash, a games console, two cars (Ford Fiesta and Ford Kuga), sunglasses, a watch, handbag, money, and electrical items. The spree began on June 14, 2018, at Hudson Street, Accrington, where he took electrical items, jewellery, and keys to a Ford Fiesta, which he stole. On June 26, 2018, at Foxwood Chase, Huncoat, he stole a wallet, cash, sunglasses, and keys to a Ford Kuga, which he also stole. On July 4, 2018, at Lodge Street, Accrington, he took a watch, handbag, and money. On July 31, 2018, at Manchester Road, Accrington, he stole a games console and keys to a Golf, which he used in a burglary at Fife Street, Accrington (taken into consideration). After being bailed, he burgled another property in Accrington on August 30, 2018, stealing hundreds of pounds worth of computer equipment. The offences were committed after taking drugs and falling into debt following a relationship breakdown and the death of his uncle.