Preston Crown Court Sentencing Results

On 14 September 2024, at a gathering of the Focal Countdown Group at the Wainwright Social Club in Blackpool, John Cowen, 31, from Morecambe, entered the venue with a knife in hand and stabbed fellow Countdown champion the victim in the upper arm. Cowen was arrested at the scene and charged with wounding and two counts of possessing a bladed article in a public place. The incident stemmed from possible ongoing disagreement over an app used to play Countdown, though the victim was unaware why he was targeted.

Kurt McGowan, 23, of Workington, Cumbria, was the chief propagandist in a far-right extremist Telegram group called The Hand and later Exiled393 UK, involving 6 to 12 members who considered themselves an active para-military cell. The group, accessed by an undercover officer in August 2020, discussed digging a tunnel in the Lake District as a base for operations, surveying the national park for phase one, setting up a PayPal account to pool money, and acquiring 3D printers to manufacture firearms referred to as 'art'. The group shared antisemitic, anti-Muslim, misogynistic, and homophobic views, promoting the extermination of non-white people as inferior. McGowan, using the handle Red Church, was compared to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. He shared documents including a white resistance manual with instructions on building pipe bombs, manufacturing firearms, fighting techniques, ammunition production, and guerrilla warfare tactics. In March 2021, his home on Hinnings Road was searched, recovering a mobile phone and USB stick with these materials. He pleaded not guilty to two further counts of disseminating terrorist publications, which were ordered to lie on the file.

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.

John Robinson was involved in disorder in Blackpool on August 3, 2024. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Preston Crown Court and was jailed on September 19, 2024.

Mark Cowperthwaite allegedly assaulted his 86-year-old mother, causing cuts and bruises, and later pressured her to withdraw her statement by sending letters and making at least 36 phone calls from prison. He involved his 12-year-old daughter as a go-between and attempted to manipulate the situation by referencing his mother's age-related memory issues, leading to the collapse of the original assault charge and his conviction for perverting the course of justice.

Christopher Walsh, a jealous and controlling gym owner from Dalton, engaged in a series of terrifying attacks on his ex-girlfriend over a four-day period starting on March 6, 2024. The incidents began after she posted a picture on Instagram, which angered him. He strangled her by pressing both hands on her neck while straddling her on the bed, threatened to kill her, and refused to let her leave the room, stating she would not leave alive. On March 8, he accused her of infidelity and threatened to attack a neighbour. On March 10, he again threatened to kill her, giggled while asking how she wanted to die, and attempted to force her to take his medication. He also shouted threats to the neighbour and demanded money before she could leave. Police arrested him after he resisted, and his ex-girlfriend reported living in constant fear, with severe psychological impacts.

Andrew Hook took part in violent disorder in Blackpool on August 3, 2024, following the Southport stabbings. He punched a security guard in the head and kicked them during the incident.

Daniel Stewart participated in violent disorder in Blackpool on August 3, 2024, following the Southport stabbings. He shouted and swore at mounted police, threw a can towards officers, pushed them, and assaulted a security guard at a shopping centre.

Roger Haywood led an angry and intimidating mob through the streets of Blackpool on August 3, 2024, during unrest following the Southport killings. He encouraged the group to follow him to locations including the Cenotaph, the Tower, and a shopping centre, where he attempted to pull up shutters at a store and assaulted security staff. He repeatedly confronted police lines, jabbed fingers at officers, led the mob into a pedestrianised area with families present, and incited them to breach police barriers, resulting in items being thrown at officers. He was also intoxicated and resisted arrest by kicking at police officers.

Oliver Kirkbride was involved in illegal waste operations at three sites on the Lune Industrial Estate, where thousands of tonnes of combustible waste were stored in breach of permit conditions, exceeding the 500-tonne, seven-day limit. Operations continued after a suspension notice in February 2022 and under a second company until October 2022, despite the site's permit being revoked in November 2022. This led to a major fire in December 2023, causing significant disruption to neighbouring businesses and costs exceeding £2 million for firefighting and clean-up.

Oliver Luke Kirkbride, of Stanley View, Mirehouse, Whitehaven, was involved in illegal waste operations at three sites on the Lune Industrial Estate in Lancaster. Between September 2021 and October 2022, he stored thousands of tonnes of combustible waste in excess of the 500-tonne, seven-day limit set in the site's environmental permit. Despite a suspension notice in February 2022 and permit revocation in November 2022, operations continued, leading to a major fire in December 2023 that caused significant disruption to neighbouring businesses and incurred firefighting and clean-up costs exceeding £2 million.

Hayden Salton strangled his victim, leading to his guilty plea. The incident involved a denied charge of threatening with an offensive weapon, which was not proceeded with after a trial of issue. He is from Exeter Street, Blackburn, and the case involved conflicting accounts about a knife.