Preston Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 197 verdicts at Preston Crown Court (Preston, Preston). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Thomas Freret

Sexual communication with a child

July 14, 2025

Sentence: 6 years imprisonment

Thomas Freret, a 39-year-old sex offender, groomed and exploited a vulnerable 12-year-old child in Lancaster in 2020 for his own sordid sexual interests. He engaged in sexualised chats, pictures, and videos with the victim and instructed them to delete messages to cover his tracks. Freret was living in Elche, Spain, until his arrest on November 10 of the previous year and was in breach of a 2013 Sexual Offences Prevention Order that prohibited him from contacting children under 16 online.

Pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. Also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. DS John Barton noted that Freret groomed and exploited a vulnerable child.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Gabor-Tamas Szilaygi

Theft

July 13, 2025

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years, 20 days rehabilitation activities, 250 hours unpaid work, £150 costs, and victim surcharge

On November 5, 2024, Gabor-Tamas Szilaygi visited an 86-year-old woman's home in Blackburn to install a bed hoist. He stole her jewellery, including a gold and diamond watch, wedding ring, and a gold and emerald ring valued at £10,000, from her bedside drawer. The items were recovered from his van after police stopped him on the M55 the following day. He admitted the theft was due to financial strain as he was expecting a child and felt guilty about his actions.

Pleaded guilty to theft. No previous convictions. The sentence considers his potential for rehabilitation and the impact on his partner and two-month-old baby.

Sources: lancs.live

Abubakr Mahmood

Causing death by dangerous driving

July 12, 2025

Sentence: 12 years and six months imprisonment

Abubakr Mahmood, who never passed a driving test, caused a fatal crash resulting in the death of a beloved mum-of-two. He had a history of dangerous driving incidents, including putting a friend in a coma and fleeing from collisions, despite previous sentences in a young offenders institute.

Had multiple prior driving bans, caused the death of a mum-of-two, and had previous convictions for dangerous driving and related offences.

Sources: lancs.live

Carl Pollit

Burglary

July 10, 2025

Sentence: three years imprisonment

Carl Pollit broke into a property on Chapel Street in Nelson on July 10, 2025, stealing a laptop, mobile phone, camera, and keys. He was caught in the act by police responding to the burglary report.

Wahid Riaz

Sexual assault

July 10, 2025

Sentence: 5 years imprisonment and lifelong registration on the Sex Offender’s Register

Wahid Riaz, a 52-year-old taxi driver, picked up a teenage girl in his taxi just after midnight on July 23, 2023, in Burnley, Lancashire. During the journey, he asked her inappropriate questions about her age and relationships, despite her stating she was 14. He parked at the bottom of her street, told her to hug him, kissed her, and sexually assaulted her. The victim recorded the incident on video, reported it to the police, and suffered significant emotional distress, including vomiting and crying herself to sleep.

Pleaded not guilty and was convicted by a jury. Detective described him as a despicable individual with a sordid sexual interest in children.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Alan Forsythe

Benefit Fraud

July 9, 2025

Sentence: 15 weeks imprisonment

Alan Forsythe fraudulently claimed Universal Credit by stating he was living alone and later as a single father, while actually living with his wife and children. He amassed £3,182.70 through false claims between February 2019 and July 2023, and the deception was uncovered through social media posts and DWP investigations.

Confessed to fraudulent activities; already serving a four-year sentence for assault; barrister expressed concern about impact on children.

Sources: examinerlive.co.uk

Jemma Forsythe

Benefit Fraud

July 9, 2025

Sentence: Suspended sentence of 21 months

Jemma Forsythe claimed Universal Credit as a single parent while living with her husband and children, failing to disclose his residence and employment. She obtained £49,007.91 through fraudulent claims between June 2020 and June 2023, and the fraud was exposed via social media and DWP probes; she has since separated from her husband.

Confessed to providing false information; has a previous conviction for failing to notify DWP of changes; ordered to complete rehabilitation activities and a curfew; judge considered the impact on her children.

Sources: examinerlive.co.uk

Qusai Abdalla

Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent

July 9, 2025

Sentence: 12 years and nine months imprisonment

Qusai Abdalla launched a frenzied attack on his friend, stabbing him 20 times in the head, chest, and arm at a property in Ingol, Preston, on September 29, 2024, due to an unpaid £20 debt. The victim, a man in his 40s, managed to stumble to a BP Garage on Tag Lane where he collapsed and was found by members of the public. Police discovered blood at the scene, and Abdalla was arrested at a property in New Rough Hey, Preston, with traces of the victim's blood on his trainers. The attack left the victim with severe physical and mental trauma, including flashbacks, anxiety, and loss of physical fitness.

Pleaded guilty to Section 18 wounding. Victim's blood was found on his trainers, and he filmed the aftermath of the attack, sending it to an associate. He admitted to stabbing the victim 20 times over an unpaid £20 debt.

Sources: lancs.live

Steven Westlake

Sexual Assault

July 3, 2025

Sentence: 8 years and 6 months imprisonment

Steven Westlake, a 43-year-old from Chorley Old Road in Bolton, groomed and sexually assaulted two young children in Preston, Lancashire. He threatened the victims and breached his existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order. An investigation was launched in February 2025, leading to his arrest and guilty plea.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and two breaches of his existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Police described him as a despicable man who abused children for his own abhorrent sexual desires.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Mohammed Alshafi

Attempted Murder

June 30, 2025

Sentence: 30 years imprisonment

Mohammed Alshafi attacked Craig Cardwell in Blackpool on October 2, 2024, after being confronted over allegations that he had assaulted Cardwell's girlfriend, Mary Kate Morrison. During the altercation, Alshafi pulled out a flick knife from his coat pocket and stabbed Cardwell eleven times in a sustained and frenzied attack, causing severe injuries including 11 stab wounds, six broken ribs, a fractured cheek bone, punctured lungs, and a spinal injury. Cardwell required five bags of blood at the scene and was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital, where he suffered ongoing physical and emotional effects, including pain, discomfort, panic attacks, and flashbacks. Alshafi fled the scene on foot, travelled to Birmingham, and then to Ireland, prompting a nationwide and international manhunt before his capture.

Found guilty after a trial of attempted murder, possession of a bladed article and assault. The sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes, as noted by Det Con Sally Blair.

Sources: lancs.live

Scott Simpson

Possession with intent to supply a Class A drug

June 28, 2025

Sentence: 30 months imprisonment

Scott Simpson, 29, from Exeter Place, Preston, was spotted acting suspiciously in a black Mercedes on Blackpool Road on December 2. Police stopped the vehicle and found Class A drugs, snap bags, scales, cash, and mobile phones.

Convicted of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, driving without insurance, and driving whilst disqualified. He was also disqualified from driving for two years.

Sources: lancs.live

Ilir Lelaj

Possession with intent to supply class A drugs

June 27, 2025

Sentence: 32 months imprisonment

Ilir Lelaj was stopped by police on Chancery Road, Chorley, on March 21, 2025, while driving a grey Vauxhall. He provided a false name and had 40 bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of £2,000 hidden in the roof seal of his car, along with £1,000 in cash. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and later admitted to the offence.

Pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply. Was acting under direction from others and gave a false name to police. The judge noted his lies aggravated the case.

Sources: lancs.live

Christopher O’Neill

Possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply

June 27, 2025

Sentence: 3 years and 9 months imprisonment

Christopher O’Neill was stopped by Lancashire Police on the M6 near Broughton while driving a BMW 320 and ordered to leave the motorway. A search of his car revealed a bag in the boot containing four vacuum-sealed packages of amphetamine, each weighing around 2kg, with an estimated street value of £80,000. He was arrested, charged, and remanded into custody before appearing in court.

Robert Cahill

Rape of a child under 13

June 26, 2025

Sentence: 9 years and 8 months imprisonment, plus 7 years on licence

Robert Cahill, 60, of no fixed abode, preyed on a young boy in Skelmersdale over several years, starting when the boy was six years old. The abuse involved sexual assault and multiple instances of rape. The victim repressed the memories for years before reporting to Lancashire Police, leading to Cahill's arrest and conviction.

Pleaded guilty to sexual assault and four counts of rape of a child under 13. The judge used discretion to add seven years on licence.

Sources: liverpoolecho.co.uk

Shahzad Syed Haider

Fire Safety Breaches

June 26, 2025

Sentence: 9 months suspended prison sentence, 100 hours of unpaid work, and costs

Shahzad Syed Haider, as director of Smart Auto Parts Ltd, failed to implement proper fire safety measures at their Blackburn premises. This included no suitable fire alarm system, blocked and inadequate escape routes, lack of emergency lighting, absence of staff fire safety training, and no fire risk assessment. These deficiencies contributed to a fire on April 24, 2021, which engulfed the building and resulted in the accidental death of Waqas Quereshi four days later.

Stephen Godridge

Grooming

June 24, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment

Stephen Godridge perfected a method of grooming teenage girls for sexual activity, leading to his conviction.

Was described in court as a 'sophisticated, predatory paedophile whose intent was to satisfy his predilection for sexual activity with teenage girls' and is challenging the sentence.

Sources: accringtonobserver.co.uk

Sajid Hussain

Perverting the course of justice

June 24, 2025

Sentence: 12 months imprisonment

Sajid Hussain, a former taxi driver, was caught speeding twice on December 17 and 19, 2022, in the Burnley area. To avoid penalty points on his driving licence, which could have affected his job, he paid £600 to someone to falsify details on forms and produce fake insurance documents, claiming that a non-existent person was the driver. He was caught in his deception and charged with perverting the course of justice.

Pleaded guilty to the offence. Sgt Chris Birchall of Lancashire Constabulary's Safer Roads Unit commented that Hussain thought he could get away with perverting the course of justice and hoped the custodial sentence would allow him to reflect on his actions.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Imran Mulla

Bribery

June 23, 2025

Sentence: 4 and a half years imprisonment

Imran Mulla, a 39-year-old Home Office employee in Manchester, abused his position in the asylum team by taking £3,500 in bribes from Nural Amin Begh to grant his asylum claim after it was initially refused in February 2024. Mulla allocated the case to himself, breaching policy, and granted the application. He also attempted to solicit a bribe from another asylum seeker, a Turkish national, by offering to influence his application for £2,000.

Pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration to the UK, securing unauthorised access to computer material with intent to commit or facilitate an offence, and three counts of bribery.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Nural Amin Begh

Conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration

June 23, 2025

Sentence: 18 months imprisonment

Nural Amin Begh, a 23-year-old Bangladeshi national, paid £3,500 in bribes to Imran Mulla, a Home Office employee, to get his asylum claim approved after it was refused in February 2024. Begh transferred the money in instalments following contact from Mulla and was involved in the scheme to unlawfully influence the immigration process.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration to the UK and two counts of bribery.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

David Mitchell

Attempting to incite a girl under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity

June 20, 2025

Sentence: six years imprisonment and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order

David Mitchell engaged in online communications with a police officer posing as an individual with a sexual interest in children. He expressed intent to participate in the abuse of a child under 13 in exchange for payment through gift cards, stating a preference for victims as young as eight and providing explicit instructions. He was arrested on 18 February 2025 at his address in Nookfield, Mosside, Leyland, Lancashire, after officers executed a warrant.

Found guilty by a jury after trial. He will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life. Mitchell expressed a deeply disturbing and calculated intent to exploit children, preferring victims as young as eight, and provided explicit instructions for abuse.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Andrew Phillips

Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm

June 17, 2025

Sentence: 54 months imprisonment

Andrew Phillips, aged 26, attended Blackpool Victoria Hospital on January 28, 2025, where he was believed to have taken cocaine. He became aggressive in the resus department, ignored staff warnings, barged into a cubicle where an 11-month-old baby was receiving care, threw a chair, pulled at the baby's IV cable and oxygen tube, and assaulted staff. This resulted in one nurse sustaining a fractured arm and wrist, and another suffering a bruised ankle. The baby was unharmed.

Pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm, and affray. Detective Constable Alexa Taylor commented that the sentence sends a message against disturbances on hospital grounds and attacks on NHS staff.

Sources: lancs.live

Samuel Green

Dangerous Driving

June 17, 2025

Sentence: 15-month suspended sentence for 24 months with 80 hours of unpaid work and a mental health treatment requirement

Samuel Green, 36, was spotted struggling to unlock his car parked on double yellow lines in Dalkeith Street, Barrow-in-Furness, shortly after midnight on August 31, 2024. He ignored police lights and sirens, drove away dangerously, swerving around the road and mounting the pavement. He collided with the rear of a police car in Abbey Street, causing damage, and failed to stop. He was later seen leaving a pub in Cavendish Street and was arrested after being identified as the vehicle's registered keeper. The incident involved evading police and posed risks to public safety in a busy area.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop after a collision. Has previous convictions but stayed out of trouble for 10 years. A probation report indicated a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and the judge noted disappointment in his actions but accepted he could work with probation services.

Sources: lancs.live

Sadnam Singh

Sexual assault

June 16, 2025

Sentence: 2.5 years imprisonment

Sadnam Singh, 28, from Dunoon Drive, Wolverhampton, along with Navjot Singh, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in her home in Preston. They were delivery men involved in the incident.

Found guilty after trial of sexual assault. He was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order.

Sources: lancs.live

Navjot Singh

Sexual assault

June 16, 2025

Sentence: 2.5 years imprisonment

Navjot Singh, 26, from Bushbury Road, Wolverhampton, along with Sadnam Singh, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in her home in Preston. They were delivery men involved in the incident.

Found guilty after trial of sexual assault. He was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order.

Sources: lancs.live

Ismael Lombe

Dangerous driving

June 14, 2025

Sentence: 10-month custodial term suspended for two years

Ismael Lombe drove a BMW dangerously in Southport on April 22, 2023, while in possession of £17,960 in cash believed to be criminal property and cannabis with intent to supply.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, handling stolen goods, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation activities.

Sources: wigantoday.net

Gary Wanless

Sexual assault of a child

June 13, 2025

Sentence: 8 years imprisonment with 1 year extended licence

Gary Wanless subjected a girl to sexual abuse in the Morecambe area, including assault by penetration when she was 3-4 years old and non-penetrative sexual activity when she was 14 years old. The offences involved a clear sexual interest in children, and he was caught after the victim reported the crimes.

Pleaded guilty. Classed as a dangerous offender. Also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a 15-year restraining order, and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Sources: lancs.live

Brett Smith

Conspiracy to supply class B drugs

June 10, 2025

Sentence: 4 years imprisonment and ordered to pay £164,493.58 in criminal gains or 20 months in default

Brett Smith was linked to a drugs gang that imported large quantities of amphetamine and cannabis from Europe, which were processed and packaged at Hollins Mill in Darwen for distribution across the UK. The gang operated between January 2020 and March 2021, supplying over 200kg of amphetamine and 400kg of cannabis. Smith, who had a residence in Malaga, Spain, communicated via Encrochat messages with Zachariah Deaffern and was involved in discussions facilitating the conspiracy.

Convicted of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable only offence related to a drugs conspiracy. Made £294,986.28 from the conspiracy and must pay within three months.

Sources: lancs.live

James Bury

Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs

June 10, 2025

Sentence: 10 years and 6 months imprisonment

James Bury from Westhoughton in Bolton sent four parcels containing over 2kg of cocaine through the postal system, which were intercepted by Border Force authorities in Northern Ireland. He believed he could exploit the postal system for drug distribution. An investigation was launched in October 2024, leading to his arrest on 19 December 2024 at his home address. Additional quantities of Class A, Class B, and Class C drugs were seized from his home and rented business premises in Burnley, linking him to the drug supply operation.

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply controlled drugs.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Tony Parkin

Possession of a bladed article in a public place and making threats with a knife

June 10, 2025

Sentence: 20 months imprisonment

On February 21, 2024, in Kincraig Avenue, Blackpool, Tony Parkin was kicking at a neighbour's door with blood on his face. When confronted by a man, he pulled a knife from his hoodie and lunged towards him, pointing the blade at his chest. He then made stabbing motions towards a mobility scooter. Police arrested him, found a grey flick knife with a three-inch blade and a screwdriver on him, and another knife on a doorstep.

Pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place and making threats with a knife. Was subject to a suspended sentence for shoplifting and theft, which was activated. Has been free of illicit substances while in custody and obtained food hygiene certificates.

Sources: lancs.live

Mathew Shuttleworth

Attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming

June 7, 2025

Sentence: 18 months imprisonment, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence

Mathew Shuttleworth, a 38-year-old farm worker and married father-of-two, engaged in online grooming of decoys posing as girls aged 12 and 14 for three weeks in 2022. He paid them compliments, discussed kissing, cuddling, and sex, and arranged to meet one, believed to be 12, at Booths supermarket in October 2022. When members of a child protection group confronted him at his home in Carnforth, he called the police, leading to his arrest on suspicion of attempted sexual communication with three children and attempting to meet one after grooming.

The defendant showed remorse; there was a significant delay in the case; he reported the matter to the police when confronted by a child protection group.

Sources: lancs.live

Elliott Wright

Possession with intent to supply class A drugs

June 7, 2025

Sentence: 32 months imprisonment

Elliott Wright, 23, of Harrowside, Blackpool, was arrested on February 2, 2024, for being drunk and disorderly, during which police found 18 wraps of cocaine (5.91g) in his underwear. On February 27, 2024, he was observed in a hand-to-hand drug transaction outside a pub, leading to the seizure of additional cocaine and the search of his home, where 13.46g of cocaine (valued at £1,600-£1,700), 421.79g of cannabis (valued at £2,800-£4,200), and drug paraphernalia were discovered. He operated a small-scale drug supply operation from his bedroom, supplying to friends and known users.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, one count of possession with intent to supply class B drugs, and supplying class A drugs. Judge Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi noted his naivety, that he continued offending after arrest, and the societal impact of drug dealing, while acknowledging his own drug problems and that he had stopped taking drugs.

Sources: lancs.live

Gulhassan Khan

Dangerous Driving and Actual Bodily Harm

June 6, 2025

Sentence: 27 months imprisonment and 25 months driving ban

On March 5, 2025, Gulhassan Khan drove his partner's white Audi onto the forecourt of the Springbank Service Station on Manchester Road, Nelson. He argued with her, punched her in the face, kicked at her when she fell, dragged her, and tried to force her back into the vehicle. He chased her as she ran away, during which she was struck by another car's bonnet. He threatened to throw battery acid on her and later taunted her in video footage showing her with two black eyes and cuts. Witnesses described her as screaming and traumatised, and police found her emotional and scared.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and actual bodily harm. Has taken steps to address gambling and drugs issues, and wrote a letter apologising to the court. The judge, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi, commented on his aggressive behaviour and appalling treatment of the victim, noting he is a father of five and needs to improve.

Sources: lancs.live

Jordan Banks

Theft by employee

June 6, 2025

Sentence: 22 months imprisonment

Jordan Banks, a 35-year-old trusted warehouse employee at Cycle Sport North, stole £30,000 worth of high-quality bike parts in September 2022. He was offered £2,000 to take the stock, which he used to purchase a cockapoo for his son. The thefts were discovered during a routine stock check on September 27, 2022, via CCTV footage showing him loading boxes into his car and obscuring cameras. This resulted in the company being unable to fulfil £150,000 of customer orders, putting jobs at risk and damaging trust.

Pleaded guilty to theft by employee. Was in financial difficulty and was offered £2,000 to steal the stock. Judge Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi noted the breach of trust, the impact on the business and colleagues' job security, and described it as a planned act that destroyed his life.

Sources: lancs.live

Steven Lee Junior

Fraud

June 5, 2025

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Steven Lee Junior, operating under the business names Drysky Property Services and Dedicated Roofing Solutions, swindled homeowners across the North West by engaging in fraud through false representation and aggressive commercial practices. He targeted eight victims, including three in Stockport, for unnecessary, substandard or incomplete property work, resulting in significant financial losses, such as £118,000 in one case, and was sentenced in his absence.

Pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and one under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Offences were committed while on licence, with previous convictions, and were described by His Honour Judge Unsworth as deliberate, planned and heartless, targeting vulnerable victims.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Steven Lee

Fraud

June 4, 2025

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Steven Lee conned vulnerable pensioners out of thousands of pounds by performing shoddy and unnecessary roofing work, leading some victims to lose their life savings and incur further costs for repairs. He has a history of fraud and used aliases to avoid detection.

Did not attend the sentencing hearing as he was on bail; judge urged authorities to find him due to his history of similar offences and risk to vulnerable people.

Sources: lancs.live

Eli Young

Fraud

June 4, 2025

Sentence: 4 years imprisonment

Eli Young assisted Steven Lee in carrying out three fraudulent roofing jobs, targeting vulnerable individuals and deceiving them into paying for unnecessary work.

Connor Pearce-Sugden

Making indecent images of children

June 2, 2025

Sentence: 250 days imprisonment, suspended for two years, plus rehabilitation days, notification requirements, Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and barred from certain professions

Connor Pearce-Sugden was found with 73 Category A, 46 Category B, and 371 Category C indecent images of children, involving children as young as 0 to 2 years old and up to 10-14 years old. The offences took place from February 2022 to July 2023, when he was 17 to 20 years old.

Brought up in a children's home; significant emotional and developmental immaturity; judge warned he could become a real danger to children if he does not change

Sources: lancs.live

Jake Balmforth

Manslaughter

May 22, 2025

Sentence: Five years imprisonment

Jake Balmforth, 35, from Burnley, punched Tony Johnson, 55, from Blackpool, during a clash between rival football fans outside a pub on Blackpool Promenade on March 4, 2023, after a Championship match between Blackpool and Burnley. Johnson suffered a serious head injury, was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, and died two days later without regaining consciousness. The incident was captured on CCTV, and Balmforth was convicted by a jury.

Found guilty of manslaughter after a six-day trial. Also given a nine-year football banning order. Judge Robert Altham presided over the sentencing.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Sean Broadhurst

Breach of Fire Safety Regulations

May 19, 2025

Sentence: £17,000 fine and costs

A fire broke out in the kitchen of St Luke's Church in Preston on January 9, 2020, spreading through the Grade II listed building which housed flats and a House in Multiple Occupation. Serious fire safety deficiencies were identified, including a non-functioning fire alarm system, substandard fire doors, poor compartmentation, inadequate fire safety management, and the absence of a Fire Risk Assessment, placing occupants at risk.

Pleaded guilty to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, specifically Articles 8 and 9.

Sources: lancs.live

Kerri Pegg

Misconduct in a public office

May 16, 2025

Sentence: 9 years imprisonment

Kerri Pegg, a prison governor at HMP Kirkham, engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Anthony Saunderson, a major organised crime boss. She signed off on his temporary release without authority in October 2018, accepted a £12,000 Mercedes car paid for with 34 kilograms of amphetamines, and possessed criminal property such as expensive jewellery, designer clothes, and items with Saunderson's DNA. This misconduct occurred between 2018 and 2020, during her role in the Prison Service, and involved overriding rules and ignoring obligations to declare personal debts, leading to her vulnerability to corruption.

Convicted of two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of possession of criminal property. She had a relationship with a drug gang boss, accepted gifts including a car paid for with drugs, and failed to declare debts, as noted in court.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Colin Mcgregor

Indecent Assault

March 27, 2025

Sentence: 30 months imprisonment and lifelong registration on the Sex Offenders Register

Colin McGregor indecently assaulted a 10-year-old girl multiple times in Blackburn during the 1980s. The assaults were not reported until 2023, after the victim suffered from stress-related illness and confided in her husband and a psychologist. The matter was reported to Lancashire Police, leading to his arrest and charging by Hampshire Police.

Leon Richmond

Engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour

February 28, 2025

Sentence: 31 months imprisonment

Leon Richmond, formerly of Victoria Grove, Bolton and now of no fixed address, engaged in a 19-month campaign of abuse against his ex-partner. This included strangling her twice while she was pregnant, biting her arm, threatening to kill her, regularly accusing her of being unfaithful, undermining and criticising her, destroying her property, throwing food at her, and bombarding her with abusive messages.

Pleaded guilty to engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour. Made subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim.

Sources: lep.co.uk

Shaha Alman Miah

Child sexual abuse

February 21, 2025

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment with an extended four years on licence

Shaha Alman Miah targeted teenage girls in Barrow-in-Furness after moving there around 2008 to work in a family-owned takeaway. He started a relationship with a 15-year-old girl who was subsequently raped by his brother, Amran, and the shop became a hub for criminality where girls in school uniforms were picked up, given drink and drugs, and sexually assaulted.

Convicted of three offences; part of the group dynamic where brothers supported each other's denials and discredited witnesses.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Shaha Amran Miah

Child sexual abuse

February 21, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years

Shaha Amran Miah sexually abused two girls aged six and seven in Leeds in 1996, continuing for several years, and later targeted teenage girls in Barrow-in-Furness after 2008. He raped a 15-year-old girl and threatened her and her family, including grabbing her off the street, shoving her into a car, and warning of retaliation from the Pakistani community. He also threatened a woman to prevent her from being interviewed by the police, leading to the interview not taking place.

Convicted of 16 offences; characterised as part of 'Team Miah' with family loyalty prioritised, and involved in threats to victims and witnesses to prevent reporting.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Shaha Joman Miah

Child sexual abuse

February 21, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years

Shaha Joman Miah groomed and sexually abused teenage girls in Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness, starting with the abuse of two girls aged six and seven in Leeds in 1996, which continued for several years. After moving to Barrow around 2008, he targeted vulnerable girls at a family-owned takeaway, where they were plied with drink and drugs, given cash and cigarettes, and assaulted in rooms above the shop. He started a relationship with a 14-year-old girl, grooming her with gifts, alcohol, and cigarettes, and acted in plain sight with confidence that victims would not be believed if they reported the abuse.

Convicted of 40 offences; described by Judge Ian Unsworth KC as acting in a predatory and paedophilic manner, with strong family bonds and an 'omerta' among the brothers.

Sources: standard.co.uk

David Cairney

Section 18 Wounding and Robbery

January 20, 2025

Sentence: 18 years imprisonment and 5 years extended licence

David Cairney carried out a frenzied hammer attack on a male victim at a flat in Stonyhurst Road, Blackburn, on March 30, 2024. When a woman attempted to help the man, Cairney attacked her as well, fracturing her eye socket. He then stole the male victim's bank card and wallet before fleeing. Both victims sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment, including potential brain injury and vision problems for the victims.

Found guilty on all counts of two counts of Section 18 Wounding and robbery. Deemed a dangerous offender by Judge Richard Archer.

Sources: lep.co.uk

Ashley Sanderson

Supplying cocaine

December 14, 2024

Sentence: Imprisonment

Ashley Sanderson supplied large quantities of cocaine to users in Barrow between November 5, 2024, and December 14, 2024, with police finding the drugs at his home.

Amanj Hasan Zada

Facilitating illegal immigration

November 11, 2024

Sentence: 17 years imprisonment

Amanj Hasan Zada organised cross-Channel small boat crossings for Kurdish migrants from France to the UK in November and December 2023. He advertised his services on social media, including videos of successful crossings, and was involved in direct communication with migrants. Evidence included YouTube footage from 2021 showing him celebrated as a smuggler, recordings of his conversations, and analysis of his seized phone, which contained travel tickets and links to social media accounts. He was arrested in May 2024 and charged with multiple offences.

Convicted after a two-week trial. Ran a sophisticated people smuggling enterprise using social media to advertise services and was linked to multiple migrant crossings.

Sources: blackpoolgazette.co.uk

Graham Marshall

Breaching Sexual Harm Prevention Order

September 24, 2024

Sentence: 3 years and 4 months imprisonment

Graham Marshall, previously jailed in 2020 for distributing indecent images of children and encouraging a sexual offence, was released from prison in February 2024 and moved back to Lancashire in May 2024. He breached his sexual harm prevention order by installing cleaning apps and a virtual private network (VPN) on his phone, which was discovered during a visit to his home on August 12, 2024. This breach led to his arrest and sentencing.

Pleaded guilty to four offences of breaching the sexual harm prevention order. He had previously been convicted for distributing indecent images of children and encouraging a sexual offence.

Sources: lep.co.uk

Robert Flynn

Indecent assault

September 11, 2024

Sentence: 9 years and 8 months imprisonment

Robert Flynn, an American citizen, sexually abused a teenage boy under 16 in the Rossendale area over several years in the 1970s while working in the UK. He fled to the US in 1976. The victim reported the abuse in 2021, resulting in Flynn's arrest by US authorities in May 2024, extradition to the UK, and subsequent court appearance.

Admitted four counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16. Given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). The victim reported the abuse in 2021, leading to Flynn's extradition from the US.

Sources: lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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