Burnley Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 7 verdicts at Burnley Magistrates' Court (Burnley). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

September 2026 3 cases

Joel Miller

29 Sep 2026

Poaching offences *

Sentence

£1205 fine

Joel Miller was involved in hare coursing on private land in Ormskirk and later Croston on Sunday 5th October 2025. Following reports of two men with lurcher-type dogs, police investigated and seized hare-coursing equipment from a vehicle. He pleaded guilty to four poaching offences.

Pleaded guilty to four poaching offences. He had previously been issued a 7-year Criminal Behaviour Order in January 2026 for hare coursing in Humberside.

central.radio

Checked against source 10 Oct 2026

John Doran

29 Sep 2026

Hare coursing *

Sentence

Fined £1,160 and issued with a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order

John Doran was caught hare coursing on private land in Ormskirk and Croston on 5 October the previous year. Police received reports of two men with lurcher-type dogs on private land. After arrest and a vehicle search, items and equipment used for hare coursing were discovered and seized. He pleaded guilty to four poaching offences at Burnley Magistrates Court.

Pleaded guilty to four poaching offences, including hunting wild mammal with dogs and trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs. The CBO imposes bans on owning lurcher-type dogs or sighthounds across England and Wales and restrictions on being in Lancashire with such dogs.

lep.co.uk

Checked against source 7 Oct 2026

Ashley Spencer

1 Sep 2026

Theft and fraud *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment

On March 1, Spencer used a bank card and took property from a vehicle belonging to another person. He was sentenced at Burnley Magistrates' Court on September 1.

Admitted fraud by false representation and theft from a motor vehicle.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Checked against source 1 Oct 2026

October 2025 1 case

David Driver

27 Oct 2025

Theft from a motor vehicle *

Sentence

24 weeks imprisonment

David Driver targeted vehicles in the Crawshawbooth area of Rossendale between August 10 and August 13, 2025, interfering with cars and stealing two pairs of sunglasses, a laptop, and a backpack. He was arrested following enquiries from the Rural Task Force.

Charged with vehicle interference and two counts of theft from a motor vehicle. Prior conviction in 2014 for six years imprisonment and 10-year ASBO for targeting businesses in Barnoldswick.

lancs.live

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Sentencing date not recorded 3 cases

We could not confirm the sentencing date for these from the source report, so none is shown. Everything else about them was checked as usual.

Jake Daniel Harkin

Fly-tipping *

Sentence

8 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months

Jake Daniel Harkin repeatedly dumped mixed household waste, including sofas, beds, and wardrobes, at The Halo public art landmark on Cribden End Lane in Haslingden, Rossendale. The first incident occurred on September 18, followed by further incidents on September 22 and 27. A van seen at the site was captured on video, and the dumped waste was traced back to the Bury, Bolton, and Rochdale areas. He pleaded guilty to three counts of fly-tipping.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of fly-tipping. Also ordered to pay a total of £1,553, including £1,054 prosecution costs, £354 compensation for waste removal, and a £145 victim surcharge.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

Murray James Blay

Animal Welfare Act offence *

Sentence

12-month Community Order, 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 40 hours unpaid work, £600 costs, £114 victim surcharge, and banned from keeping animals for 10 years

Murray James Blay failed to seek veterinary treatment for his Shar Pei, which suffered severe skin and ear conditions for at least four weeks. An RSPCA inspector visited his address after concerns were raised and observed severe fur loss, dry skin and crusting, issuing a warning notice requiring him to take the dog to a vet within a week. He initially took the dog to the vet but did not return for a further appointment and failed to attend subsequent follow-up appointments. A warrant was issued and the dog was seized. Veterinary examination found chronic skin disease, alopecia, thickened skin, scabbing, chronic skin and ear disease, sarcoptic mange and entropion. The dog's condition later deteriorated, she developed severe behavioural problems, and euthanasia was ultimately carried out to prevent further suffering.

Pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act after failing to seek veterinary treatment for his dog.

clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk

Checked against source 6 Oct 2026

Wasif Dar

Voyeurism *

Sentence

26 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months

Wasif Dar filmed a woman undressing through a window on his phone. The footage was discovered when he was arrested for an unrelated matter. The victim was traced and was completely unaware she had been filmed.

Convicted of two offences of voyeurism. Also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years and made subject to a restraining order until September 2027.

lancs.live

Checked against source, except the date 19 Sep 2026

About these records: Each record is compiled from a published media report or other publicly available source, and reports a sentence as it was published. It is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a criminal record check: it must not be used to make decisions about anyone's employment, housing, credit or insurance.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) follow the wording used in the report and may not match the formal legal charge. A record does not suggest that the person named has committed any other offence. Convictions can be overturned, and sentences changed, on appeal after a report is published. Records that share a name are separate records and may concern different people.

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The Court House, Parker Ln, Burnley BB11 2BS, Burnley, BB11 2BS, United Kingdom

+441254687500

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About Burnley Magistrates' Court

Burnley Magistrates' Court, located in Burnley, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 7 sentencing records in our database, it serves the Burnley area and surrounding communities. Magistrates' Courts handle the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales, with cases heard by a bench of magistrates or a district judge.

The court can be found at The Court House, Parker Ln, Burnley BB11 2BS, BB11 2BS.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441254687500.

The sentencing information on this page is compiled from published media reports and other publicly available sources, with automated and editorial checks applied before publication. If you believe any information is inaccurate, out of date, or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above and it will be reviewed by a person.