Jailed in July – the rapists, paedophiles and drug dealers now doing time
All the criminals put behind bars in July (Image: Lancs Police)
Drug dealers, burglars, rapists and paedophiles - these are just some of the East Lancashire criminals who graced the county's crown courts last month.
While many other offenders appeared in front of Lancashire's judges to be sentenced for breaking the law, only a handful were put behind bars.
Here, we've brought you a round up of all the criminals now doing time after they were jailed in July.
Lancashire Telegraph: Michael McGough
Michael McGough (Image: Lancs Police)
Michael McGough has been jailed for setting fire to a house
A man has been jailed for setting fire to a house causing a huge explosion.
Michael McGough appeared at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
The court was told how neighbours had heard at least one explosion from a house in Cardwell Street, Padiham, around 8am on January 3.
Full story here: Michael McGough has been jailed for setting fire to a house[1]
Lancashire Telegraph: Qasim Afzal
Qasim Afzal (Image: Lancs Police)
Qasim Afzal shook the tot leaving her needing glasses
An unremorseful man shook a five-month-old baby so hard that it caused bleeds on her retinas and damaged her left eye, leaving her needing glasses for the rest of her life.
Qasim Afzal was caring for the tiny tot on October 13 2020, when the terrifying incident unfolded.
Preston Crown Court heard how while the baby, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was in her bouncer, Afzal shook her, leaving her limp, with her eyes rolling back in her head and sick coming from her mouth.
Full story here: Qasim Afzal shook the tot leaving her needing glasses[2]
Lancashire Telegraph: Craig Lewis
Craig Lewis (Image: Lancs Police)
Padiham man who robbed Burnley[3] shop jailed for more than four years
A robber who threatened a shopkeeper with a knife before stealing a large sum of money from the till has been jailed for more than four years.
Craig Lewis, 35, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article at a hearing on April 19 following the incident at the Parliament Street News shop in Burnley on March 12.
Story continues
Burnley Crown Court heard how on that date, Lewis went into the shop at around 8.35pm, acting as a regular customer and putting some items on the counter before telling the shopkeeper he had forgotten his bank card and would go and get it.
Full story here: Padiham man who robbed Burnley shop jailed for more than four years[4]
Lancashire Telegraph: Donna Fortune
Donna Fortune (Image: Lancs Police)
Helmshore couple jailed for over £1.3m drugs importation
A couple who imported £1.3 million worth of ecstasy, methylamphetamine, LSD, ketamine, and mephedrone into the UK from Germany have been jailed for a combined total of 18 years.
Paul Mellors, 52, and Donna Fortune, 42, from Helmshore, were involved in the operation which was orchestrated from an Accrington[5] industrial unit between February and August 2019.
Border Force officers intercepted two DHL packages on June 25 and 27, addressed to a Saul Mettows at 53 Raven Park, Helmshore, which had been sent from Dusseldorf in Germany.
Full story here: Helmshore couple jailed for over £1.3m drugs importation[6]
Lancashire Telegraph: Dylan Tattersall
Dylan Tattersall (Image: Lancs Police)
Accrington man jailed for over 11 years for attempted rape
An Accrington man has been jailed for more than 11 years for attempted rape.
Preston Crown Court heard how on May 20, at around 11.30am the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, saw Dylan Tattersall, 29, driving past her house slowly, looking directly at her and waving his hand.
“She saw him outside later that day and told him to leave.”
Full story here: Accrington man jailed for over 11 years for attempted rape[7]
Lancashire Telegraph: Peter Cumberland
Peter Cumberland (Image: Lancs Police)
Peter Cumberland thought he was talking to a 14-year-old boy
A pervert who thought he was talking to a 14-year-old boy via Facebook Messenger arranged to meet him at Blackburn[8] train station so he could have sex with him and ‘make him a man’.
Peter Cumberland, of Bonsall Street, Blackburn, created a profile on Facebook in July 2021 and struck up a conversation with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy, when in reality it was a decoy.
Full story here: Peter Cumberland thought he was talking to a 14-year-old boy[9]
Lancashire Telegraph: Burnley Crown Court
Burnley Crown Court (Image: NQ)
Danger driver Imran Hussain jailed over Colne pursuit
A dangerous drug driver who hit a tree as he made desperate attempts to evade a pursuing police officer while high on cocaine and cannabis has been jailed.
On May 21, Imran Hussain was pursued by police through the streets of Colne.
Burnley Crown Court heard how one vehicle was forced to mount the pavement to avoid a crash with his car, while on another road, a taxi was coming the other way and Hussain's vehicle hit a tree as he attempted to squeeze past the cab.
Full story here: Danger driver Imran Hussain jailed over Colne pursuit[10]
Lancashire Telegraph: Anthony Brocklesby
Anthony Brocklesby (Image: Lancs Police)
Drunk grabbed woman and pinned her down on the settee
A drunk undressed himself and sexually assaulted a woman after he’d been drinking with her and her sister.
Anthony Brocklesby told the woman, “all she needed was the right man” and when her sister fell asleep in the front room he grabbed her and pinned her down on the settee.
Burnley Crown Court heard how Brocklesby began groping the woman, and Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said she described a struggle, before the defendant grabbed her by the neck.
Full story here: Drunk grabbed woman and pinned her down on the settee[11]
Lancashire Telegraph: Mohammed Hussain
Mohammed Hussain (Image: Lancs Police)
Mohammed Hussain was arrested following a raid at his house
A drug dealer who has spent the best part of his adult life in prison has been jailed again for supplying cannabis.
Mohammed Hussain was arrested following a raid at his house in Providence Street, Blackburn, on January 12.
Alistair Reid, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court said police attended his address around 6.30am and found snap bags containing cannabis, £5,000 in cash, more cannabis and weighing scales.
He said: “The total value of the cannabis was around £1,670.”
Full story here: Mohammed Hussain was arrested following a raid at his house[12]
Lancashire Telegraph: Bryan Rothwell
Bryan Rothwell (Image: Lancs Police)
Bryan Rothwell jailed over Haslingden motorcyclist crash
A dangerous driver who was high on drink and drugs has been jailed after he caused a serious crash which injured a motorcyclist.
Bryan Rothwell, who also had no driving licence and no insurance, failed to stop following the crash in January 2022, which left victim Luke Taylor with a fractured left leg, broken left arm and shattered knee.
Preston Crown Court heard how Rothwell, who has a lengthy criminal record and was addicted to alcohol and cannabis at the time, had been drinking all day at his cousin’s house in Pilling Street, Haslingden.
Full story here: Bryan Rothwell jailed over Haslingden motorcyclist crash[13]
Lancashire Telegraph: Noah Mulligan; Jordan Whittam; Samuel Walmsley; and Kevin Docherty
Noah Mulligan; Jordan Whittam; Samuel Walmsley; and Kevin Docherty (Image: Lancs Police)
Four men jailed for almost 10 years over car thieving spree
Four men who went on a spree of car thefts and burglaries and then boasted about it on Snapchat while joyriding in the vehicles, have been jailed for a combined total of almost 10 years.
Noah Mulligan, 21; Jordan Whittam, 20; Samuel Walmsley, 20; and Kevin Docherty, 27, appeared at Preston Crown Court earlier this week charged with conspiracy to commit theft of a motor vehicle.
Walmsley, Whittam and Mulligan were also charged with conspiracy to burgle, and Docherty theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of handling stolen goods.
Full story here: Four men jailed for almost 10 years over car thieving spree[14]
Lancashire Telegraph: Jason Bancroft
Jason Bancroft (Image: Lancs Police)
Jason Bancroft jailed for seven years for vicious attack
A thug who donned a balaclava and jumped out on a man 20 years his senior, kicking and punching him in a vicious revenge attack following an altercation in a pub, has been jailed.
Jason Bancroft, 43, has spent the majority of his adult life in prison for violent offences, and today (Wednesday July 12), appeared before Preston Crown Court charged with grievous bodily harm with intent against innocent victim, John Brindle.
Bancroft, of Norfolk Close, Accrington, was found guilty at a trial earlier this year of the unprovoked attack, which took place on January 21.
Full story here: Jason Bancroft jailed for seven years for vicious attack[15]
Lancashire Telegraph: Bobby Harris
Bobby Harris (Image: Lancs Police)
Padiham man Bobby Harris given 12-year extended sentence
A man who sexually assaulted a woman on three separate occasions has been given an extended sentence of 12 years.
Bobby Harris, 44, initially pleaded not guilty to the offences at the lower court, but on his first appearance at Preston Crown Court changed his plea to guilty.
Harris also pleaded guilty to drink driving at the first opportunity.
Two of the offences took place on March 21 this year, the first of which was when following an argument, Harris put his hands down the back of the woman’s leggings and sexually assaulted her.
Full story here: Padiham man Bobby Harris given 12-year extended sentence[16]
Lancashire Telegraph: Irfan Patel
Irfan Patel (Image: Lancs Police)
Blind pharmacist stole drugs from his employer to sell on
A pharmaceutical dispenser who received a suspended sentence for stealing diazepam and pregabalin tablets from his employer before selling them to other people has been jailed for repeating the same crime some 10 years later.
Irfan Patel, 38, worked for the Euro Garages Beehive Pharmacy, in Blackburn, and in June last year began ordering boxes of Tramadol and Dihydrocodeine, when he was not authorised to do so, and took them home without permission.
Full story here: Blind pharmacist stole drugs from his employer to sell on[17]
Lancashire Telegraph: John Johnson
John Johnson (Image: Lancs Police)
John Johnson has been jailed for stealing jewellery
A man with links to Blackburn who stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery after being released from prison and falling back into drug addiction has been jailed.
John Johnson, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary, after stealing jewellery worth around £5,000 from addresses in Walton-le-Dale.
Johnson, of no fixed abode, went on the run after committing the crimes earlier this year and was eventually apprehended in June following a police appeal and remanded into custody.
Full story here: John Johnson has been jailed for stealing jewellery[18]
Lancashire Telegraph: Judd Jagger
Judd Jagger (Image: Lancs Police)
Cannabis producer caught in Rossendale[19] jailed for 28 months
A man who produced cannabis plants with a street value of around £86,000 has been jailed for 28 months.
Judd Jagger, 29, accepted the cannabis was his in a police interview following his arrest on March 24, 2021, and he pleaded guilty to the charge of producing cannabis on January 30, 2023.
Prosecuting at Burnley Crown Court, Peter Barr said footage played at a previous hearing show an employee of an electrical service attending the disused factory of Moor Footwear in Bacup Road, Rossendale.
Full story here: Cannabis producer caught in Rossendale jailed for 28 months[20]
Lancashire Telegraph: Ryan Pickering
Ryan Pickering (Image: Lancs Police)
Ryan Pickering went to her house armed with an axe
A wheelchair user with a terrible criminal record went to his partner’s house armed with an axe before trying to smash it into her head.
Ryan Pickering, 30, who sometimes needs to use a wheelchair following a car crash which damaged his leg, had been in a relationship with Mercedes McLaughlin for around five months.
Preston Crown Court heard how on March 24, Ms McLaughlin had been due to go on a night out with her friend, but instead they decided to stay in and watch TV.
Full story here: Ryan Pickering went to her house armed with an axe[21]
Lancashire Telegraph: Richard Mason
Richard Mason (Image: Lancs Police)
Darwen man breached order by working at Witton Park funfair
A man who breached a sexual harm prevention order by assisting families with young children at a fairground ride has been jailed for nine months.
Richard Mason, 35, pleaded guilty to the breach and to obstructing a police officer at a hearing on May 9.
Mason, of Church Terrace, Darwen[22], was not to have any contact with children under the age of 18 per the terms of his order, which was amended to include that restriction in 2019.
This was the sixth time Mason had breached the order, originally imposed following a conviction for sexual offences in 2005.
Full story here: Darwen man breached order by working at Witton Park funfair[23]
Lancashire Telegraph: Donald Hunt
Donald Hunt (Image: Lancs Police)
Former Rhyddings High School teacher sexually assaulted boy
A “predatory” former religious education teacher sexually assaulted a teenage boy in the 1980s after keeping him back after school.
Donald Hunt was an RE teacher who worked at Rhyddings High School in Oswaldtwistle between 1983 and 1989.
Preston Crown Court heard that between 1987 and 1989 he sexually assaulted a 15 or 16-year-old boy on three occasions after keeping him back to “discuss his work”.
Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said: “The defendant would keep him back after lessons to ‘discuss his work’ and on one occasion, when in close proximity to his victim, he rubbed himself up against him.
Full story here: Former Rhyddings High School teacher sexually assaulted boy[24]
Lancashire Telegraph: Kladio Veliaj
Kladio Veliaj (Image: Lancs Police)
Albanian man paid £10k to tend Accrington cannabis farm
A man who looked after cannabis plants in exchange for payment towards an operation for his mother has been jailed.
Kladio Veliaj, 24, was to be paid £10,000 to care for the plants for four months at a house in Edmund Street, Accrington, with the money to be sent back to his mother in Albania who needed an operation.
Veliaj was convicted of producing a controlled drug of class B at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on June 6.
Full story here: Albanian man paid £10k to tend Accrington cannabis farm[25]
Lancashire Telegraph: Akhlaq Muhammad
Akhlaq Muhammad (Image: Lancs Police)
Almost £1.5m of heroin sent to Blackburn inside balloons
A man allowed heroin with a street value of almost £1.5 million to be shipped from Pakistan to his home address hidden inside Minion balloons, gardening gloves and other items.
Akhlaq Muhammad was complicit in the major drugs importation network but claims he was exploited by others, despite being paid £2,000 for his trouble.
The 43-year-old said he had no awareness of the scale of the operation, and only agreed to receive the parcels as threats had been made to his family.
Full story here: Almost £1.5m of heroin sent to Blackburn inside balloons[26]
Lancashire Telegraph: Marselo Hatija
Marselo Hatija (Image: Lancs Police)
Marselo Hatija was put in charge of Accrington cannabis farm
An illegal immigrant was looking after a major cannabis farm which posed ‘a massive potential for fire risk’ and ‘could have caused a fatality’ had it not been made safe.
Marselo Hatija, an Albanian national, had been brought into the country illegally, and to repay a transportation debt to the traffickers who transported him from the Balkan state, had been put in charge of a cannabis farm containing 217 plants in Cliffe House, an abandoned property in Accrington.
Preston Crown Court heard how in January last year, a number of residents living in Willows Lane, Accrington, had contacted the electricity board to report they were not getting any electricity to their homes.
Full story here: Marselo Hatija was put in charge of Accrington cannabis farm[27]
Lancashire Telegraph: Adam Hargreaves
Adam Hargreaves (Image: Lancs Police)
Burnley man breached restraining order then burgled shop
A man breached the terms of a restraining order by entering a woman’s house and then assaulting her before going on to commit a burglary a few weeks later.
Adam Hargreaves, 35, was convicted of burglary, breach of a restraining order, and harassment on June 21.
On May 27 at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, he was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months for battery, criminal damage, and section 4 public order, which he breached with these new offences.
Full story here: Burnley man breached restraining order then burgled shop[28]
Lancashire Telegraph: Madani Arshad
Madani Arshad (Image: Lancs Police)
Madani Arshad was caught in Burnley with class A drugs
A man who was found in Burnley with a large amount of heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed.
Madani Arshad, 22, appeared at Bradford Crown Court earlier this month after he was caught in possession of the class A drugs in Burnley on October 10 2021.
Arshad, of Denby Street, Bradford, was convicted of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply heroin.
Full story here: Madani Arshad was caught in Burnley with class A drugs[29]
Lancashire Telegraph: Preston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court (Image: NQ Staff)
Burnley man jailed for possession with intent to supply cocaine
A man who worked for a “reputable” aerospace firm and was a community football coach has been jailed for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Ashley Barnes, 36, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A and possession of criminal property at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on June 13.
Cocaine with a street value of almost £2,000 and more than £17,000 in cash was recovered from Barnes’ home when searched by police.
Officers also found cocaine in small and large bags, further empty snap bags, and two sets of scales.
Full story here: Burnley man jailed for possession with intent to supply cocaine[30]
Lancashire Telegraph: Adil Iqbal
Adil Iqbal (Image: SWNS)
Man sentenced for killing pregnant mum in M66 crash
A man who caused a crash on the M66 that killed a pregnant mum-of-two and left two young boys seriously injured has been sentenced.
Adil Iqbal, 22, of Hope Street, Accrington, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 14 years at Manchester Minshull Steet Crown Court today (Wednesday) after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury.
Frankie Hough, from Chadderton in Oldham, was in the car with her two sons, Tommy and Rocky, and her nephew, Tobias, on Saturday, May 13 when she was crashed into.
Full story here: Man sentenced for killing pregnant mum in M66 crash[31]
Lancashire Telegraph: David Nightingale
David Nightingale (Image: Lancs Police)
Pervert exposed himself in Burnley pub and performed sex act
A pervert who exposed himself in a pub and performed a sex act in front of customers has been jailed.
David Nightingale, 75, who has previous convictions for exposure, entered the pub in Parker Lane, Burnley, around 5.30pm on June 30.
Around an hour later the female victim noticed he had unzipped his trousers and was performing a lewd act.
When the shocked victim told her partner what he was doing, Nightingale covered himself up and left.
Full story here: Pervert exposed himself in Burnley pub and performed sex act[32]
References
- ^ Full story here: Michael McGough has been jailed for setting fire to a house (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Qasim Afzal shook the tot leaving her needing glasses (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Burnley (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Padiham man who robbed Burnley shop jailed for more than four years (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Accrington (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Helmshore couple jailed for over £1.3m drugs importation (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Accrington man jailed for over 11 years for attempted rape (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Blackburn (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Peter Cumberland thought he was talking to a 14-year-old boy (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Danger driver Imran Hussain jailed over Colne pursuit (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Drunk grabbed woman and pinned her down on the settee (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Mohammed Hussain was arrested following a raid at his house (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Bryan Rothwell jailed over Haslingden motorcyclist crash (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Four men jailed for almost 10 years over car thieving spree (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Jason Bancroft jailed for seven years for vicious attack (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Padiham man Bobby Harris given 12-year extended sentence (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Blind pharmacist stole drugs from his employer to sell on (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: John Johnson has been jailed for stealing jewellery (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Rossendale (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Cannabis producer caught in Rossendale jailed for 28 months (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Ryan Pickering went to her house armed with an axe (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Darwen (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Darwen man breached order by working at Witton Park funfair (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Former Rhyddings High School teacher sexually assaulted boy (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Albanian man paid £10k to tend Accrington cannabis farm (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Almost £1.5m of heroin sent to Blackburn inside balloons (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Marselo Hatija was put in charge of Accrington cannabis farm (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Burnley man breached restraining order then burgled shop (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Madani Arshad was caught in Burnley with class A drugs (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Burnley man jailed for possession with intent to supply cocaine (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Man sentenced for killing pregnant mum in M66 crash (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Full story here: Pervert exposed himself in Burnley pub and performed sex act (www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk)