The cases heard by magistrates this week as justice is served in East Lancashire

This week, across the region, cases heard include a sex offender jetting off on holiday to Romania without informing the authorities, a burglar who ransacked a hairdressers to the tune of £3.5k, and a drug driver with 'darting eyes' pulled over by police

Here is a round-up of some of the cases heard at Blackburn and Burnley Magistrates over the last seven days.

‘Prolific’ criminal issued with order to stop him entering town centre

Robin Connolly, 30, was issued with a criminal behaviour order designed to stop him entering any shop in Accrington town centre, The Spar on Burnley Road, One Stop on Blackburn Road or Matalan on Hyndburn Road.

Connolly, of Corporation Street, Accrington, appeared before Burnley Magistrates this week to be dealt with for a series of shoplifting offences.

Full story here

Controlling partner spat on his partner and child during outbreak

Patrick James Gavin appeared before magistrates who were told the first assault on his partner came on October 2 when he was verbally abusive.

Prosecutor, Andy Robinson said: “She had hold of the child when he spat at her and it landed on her and the child.

"He grabbed her by the hair and threw her onto the bed before putting his teeth around her nose and starting to bite. He only stopped when the child started shouting mummy.”

Less than a week later Gavin grabbed his partner by the hair and pulled her over violently.

He then got a knife and threatened to kill himself.

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Burglar ransacked Bliss hair and beauty salon in Burnley

Ryan Jason Ashe escaped with products worth £3,500 from Bliss in Parker Lane, Burnley, after throwing a brick through the window and ransacking the property.

He was committed in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced after the court was told he was already awaiting sentence on two burglaries, four shoplifting offences and an assault.

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Sex offender travelled to Romania with his neighbours and didn't tell police

It'll be a trip to the Crown Court for Sajid Waseem Hassan, who flew to Romania with his neighbours on 'the spur of the moment' and failed to notify the police of his intentions.

"He clearly knew the requirements and the Crown say this is a deliberate failure to comply," said Stacey Morrow, prosecuting.

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Woman smashed window because 'God told her to'

This is probably one of the least believable excuses we've heard in a courtroom.

Peter Bardsley, prosecuting, said Cheryl Diane Cheetham told police her intention was to get drunk, buy some cigarettes and chill out.

She went to a friend’s house but she wasn’t in and she carried on with her plans in the street.

She told police: “God told me to smash the window.”

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had no explanation for what was an act of vandalism.

Full explanation and story here

Rishton banned driver was over limit when caught behind wheel

Alex Betts, who was only half way through a two-year ban, was pulled over at 3am and found to be more than three times the legal drink drive limit.

Betts, 32, of Thornhill Avenue, Rishton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, while disqualified and without insurance.

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Drunken brother took baseball bat to sister and partner's cars

A man who got the wrong end of the stick and thought something had happened between his sister and her partner, went round to their address and caused significant damage to their cars and he was armed with a baseball bat.

All the details here

Driver with darting eyes was over cocaine limit

After being stopped by police, a subsequent blood test revealed that Yasar Mahmood had a level of cocaine more than six times the legal limit.

The officers who stopped Mahmood noted that his eyes were glazed and darting from side to side and he was extremely agitated.

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Alcoholics checked out of rehab, downed five bottles of wine then crashed car

A member of the public removed the keys from the car, which belonged to the female passenger but was driven by Daniel Brearley, after it crashed in Showley Lane.

Brearley and his companion left the scene but police received another call to say they were hiding in a back garden.

When he was interviewed by police Brearley admitted leaving a rehabilitation centre earlier in the day with a woman he had met there.

He drove her car and during the day they consumed five or six bottles of wine

All the details here

Assault victim told police girlfriend had killed his dog

Katie Walter, 18, pleaded guilty to assaulting Christopher Thompson and was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

One other charge of assaulting Mr Thompson and a charge of damaging a PS4, a flat screen TV, a kitchen window, a garden table and a bedroom door together worth £1,914 belonging to Mr Thompson were withdrawn.

However, Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said on the night of the incident the police were asked to investigate an assault by Mr Thompson on Walter.

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