From axe-wielding pub goers to convicted sex offenders, drink drivers and arsonists - January in East Lancashire's magistrates' courts have been very, very busy.
Some offenders have been jailed, some have been fined, and some have been told their cases are too severe to be dealt with in the lower courts and have been sent to the Crown.
Here, we bring you a round up of all the magistrates cases we covered last month.
Arson charge after reports of 'explosion' at Padiham home
A man appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with arson following a fire at a house in Cardwell Street, Padiham.
The court was told neighbours heard at least one explosion from the house at around 8am on January 3.
Sameena Chaudhry, prosecuting, said one witness went to Cardwell Street to check on the safety of his mother who was a neighbour.
He saw a fire inside the house but withdrew when he heard an explosion.
Michael McGough, 49, of Cardwell Street, Padiham, was charged with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and arson with intent to endanger life.
Full story here: Arson charge after reports of 'explosion' at Padiham home
Blackburn boy beaten by parents and brother after coming out
A 16-year-old boy was beaten by his parents and his elder brother after coming out as gay, a court has heard.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told how his parents told him he "could be changed" and enlisted the help of his older brother.
In a victim impact statement the boy, who is of South Asian heritage and cannot be identified for legal reasons, but is from Blackburn, said he was scared for his life at the time of the incidents.
He feared his family would continue to use violence towards him if he hadn’t moved away from the area, the court was told.
Full story here: Blackburn boy beaten by parents and brother after coming out
Mother found to be drink driving with children in the car
A mother of three was found to be drink driving with her children in the car, six weeks after passing her test, a court has heard.
Jamie-Lee Thompson, 27, blew a reading of 84 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath when she was pulled over by police, more than two times the legal limit of 35mcg.
Burnley Magistrates Court heard how on December 17, Thompson, of Eastern Avenue, Burnley, had been ill and was at a children’s party earlier in the day where she had three drinks and did not eat.
Full story here: Mother found to be drink driving with children in the car
Assault on mum then girlfriend by Pendle man
A man who assaulted his new girlfriend while they were away on the Isle of Man was subject to a suspended prison sentence for an assault on his mother.
Blackburn magistrates heard the latest victim of violence at the hands of John Marsh said the incident had been a "living nightmare" for her.
In a victim personal statement she said the events in Douglas had caused her a great deal of fear, distress and unhappiness.
She said it would be difficult to trust again and she would have to deal with the problems in the future.
Full story here: Assault on mum then girlfriend by Pendle man
Mystery £5k found in designer bag at Costa Coffee
A person who found nearly £5,000 cash in a designer bag told the police - more than 12 hours later, a court has heard.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told how the bag had been found under a table in a Costa Coffee shop and the finder had handed in the bag but not the cash.
An unknown male later claimed the bag but had not made any effort to recover the cash.
The police applied to the magistrates for permission to detain the cash on the basis they had reasonable grounds to suspect it was recoverable property having been obtained through unlawful conduct or was intended for use in unlawful conduct.
Full story here: Mystery £5k found in designer bag at Costa Coffee
Longridge woman stole £13k from grandad’s savings
A woman who was asked to help her grandad with his banking and bill payments stole more than £13,000 from his account.
Blackburn magistrates heard Kerry Robinson also took more than £5,000 from her mother’s account during the same period.
Robinson, 35, of Wellbrow Drive, Longridge, pleaded guilty to theft of £13,430 from NatWest Bank and £5,460 from Lloyds Bank. She was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.
Sameena Chaudhry, prosecuting, said the offences represented breaches of a high degree of trust and responsibility. She said Robinson had been asked by her grandfather to assist him with his banking.
Full story here: Longridge woman stole £13k from grandad’s savings
Blackburn girl bitten by out of control pocket bully dog
A 14 year old girl walking home from school with her younger sister was attacked by a dog, a court has heard.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told how the girl suffered two bite wounds to her chest which required hospital treatment from the pocket bully dog called Hugo.
Jordan Greaves, 22, of Ballantrae Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control.
Full story here: Blackburn girl bitten by out of control pocket bully dog
Woman kicked Royal Blackburn paramedic and security guard
A drunk woman who assaulted a paramedic as she was being taken to hospital has appeared in court.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how the emergency worker was so concerned by the behaviour of Suzanne Pollard she asked her colleague to take over in the rear of the ambulance.
The court was told when they arrived at Royal Blackburn Hospital a security guard who intervened was subjected to racial abuse.
Pollard, 41, of Holmsley Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and the security officer and, on a separate occasion, using racially aggravated threatening behaviour.
Full story here: Woman kicked Royal Blackburn paramedic and security guard
Burglar stole booze and charity boxes from pub
A man has been jailed after committing two burglaries on the same night.
Blackburn magistrates heard in the first, Ryan Williams and another man used a concrete block to smash a window at the Park View pub before stealing spirits and charity boxes.
Williams, 21, of HM Prison, Hindley, pleaded guilty to burglary at the Burnley pub and burglary at Bargain Mobiles. He was jailed for nine months and ordered to pay £187 victim surcharge on release.
Full story here: Burglar stole booze and charity boxes from pub
Banned Blackburn driver had cannabis and cocaine in system
A driver who had been using cannabis for pain relief was unaware that it stayed in the system longer than alcohol, a court has heard.
Blackburn Magistrates’ Court was told how Abid Mahmood was aware he was a disqualified driver when he was caught behind the wheel of his brother's van.
Police stopped him in Blackburn Road, Accrington, on September 5 while driving the Ford Transit van.
Full story here: Banned Blackburn driver had cannabis and cocaine in system
Nelson drunkard arrested after being abusive to family
Police who responded to an ongoing incident at a Nelson address found a man lying on his back in the living room surrounded by members of his family, a court has been told.
Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard how Mark Bell was so drunk he was unable to stand or even sit up unaided on December 11
Bell, 49, of Hollins Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in court on January 26.
He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £32 victim surcharge.
Full story here: Nelson drunkard arrested after being abusive to family
Blackburn thief locked in Darwen One Stop after being caught
A woman who twice stole laundry products from a corner shop was locked in by the shopkeeper when she tried her luck for a third time.
Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard how the owner of the store had viewed CCTV from the first two incidents and recognised Kayley Marie Gray when she came in the third time.
Gray, 31, of Pendle Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft of laundry products from the One Stop Shop, Church Street, Darwen.
Lee Woodyatt, prosecuting, said how on the first two occasions Gray had entered the store and after a few minutes shouted out to a man in a black car that “they didn't have it”. She then left the store.
Full story here: Blackburn thief locked in Darwen One Stop after being caught
Man attacked pub landlady then returned with axe
A man who assaulted a landlady during an incident outside the pub left the scene but returned shortly after brandishing an axe.
Blackburn magistrates heard a member of the public confronted James Fry and managed to disarm him.
Fry, 22, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to affray, possession of an offensive weapon in Berry Lane, Longridge and assaulting Sally Sergeant and Bradley Darlington.
Full story here: Man attacked pub landlady then returned with axe
Girls petrified by Clayton-le-Moors man's disturbing threats
Two teenage girls were left "petrified" when a man burst into the house where they were staying and started shouting threats about what he was going to do to the father of one of them.
Blackburn magistrates heard drunken Christopher Lee Read believed the owner of the house was making approaches towards his girlfriend and his intention had been to confront him.
Full story here: Girls petrified by Clayton-le-Moors man's disturbing threats
Accrington drink-driver had been celebrating getting cancer all-clear
A man who went out to celebrate being given a cancer all clear failed a breathalyser after driving home.
Blackburn magistrates heard a member of the public reported Charles Kenyon after seeing his van clipping the wing mirrors of several parked cars.
Kenyon, 56, of Laburnum Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and other than in accordance with a licence.
Full story here: Accrington drink-driver had been celebrating getting cancer all-clear
Sex offender jailed after deleting internet browsing history
Police who carried out an unannounced visit on a convicted sex offender found a gap in his internet history.
Blackburn magistrates heard Kamran Abdul Rashid's use of internet enabled devices was governed by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Rashid, 39, of Johnston Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was jailed for 26 weeks and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge on release.
The court heard Rashid was being recalled on prison licence until November.
Full story here: Sex offender jailed after deleting internet browsing history
Sex offender broke rules by staying with old army buddy
A sex offender breached notification requirements by staying at an address for more than seven days without telling the police.
Blackburn magistrates heard Brooklyn Adam Cross had gone to Merseyside to stay with an old Army buddy.
Sameena Chaudhry, prosecuting, said Cross had stayed at the property in Huyton between November 19 and 27. Under the terms of his registration he was required to tell the police of any address where he stayed for more than seven days. She said Cross had a previous breach of the requirements
Full story here: Sex offender broke rules by staying with old army buddy
Blackburn family's terror as axeman turns up at house
A man who went to remonstrate with another man armed himself with an axe in case he needed to "de-escalate" the situation.
Blackburn magistrates heard the victim ended up grappling with Awais Mahmood before getting the axe off him.
The unsavoury incident was witnessed by one of his children who was upset by the incident.
The victim said he thought he was going to be hit with the axe and had never been as frightened in his life.
Full story here: Blackburn family's terror as axeman turns up at house
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