Rishton man beaten up for making remarks about convicted paedophile

Imran Qayum and his step-son Tyler Hodgson used a cannabis dealer to lure Declan McGranaghan to the back yard of a property in Rishton, after he called Qayum’s other step-son, a ‘nonce’ on social media, following his 2016 conviction for sexually abusing underage girls.

Preston Crown Court heard Mr McGranaghan had fallen out with Qayum and Tyler Hodgson over his other step-son's offending, and threats were passed between them, with the defendants wanting to meet the victim for a fight.

Imran Qayum (Image: Lancs Police)

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, told the court things went quiet, but then on January 13, 2021, in wanting to score some cannabis, Mr McGranaghan’s dealer told him to come and meet him in the alley of Albert Street.

She said: “The victim met the dealer, Danny, at the back gate and when he stepped through it was banged shut behind him, and there were the defendants.

“They started punching him square in the face and shouted over and over, ‘who’s the nonce now you ginger c**t?’

“Mr McGranaghan put his hands up to protect himself but didn’t fight back as he thought they might be carrying weapons.

“They carried on punching him and stamping on him. He tried to crawl away but they pulled him back and continued punching and kicking him.

“Danny then told the defendants to stop and Qayum grabbed him by the collar and said ‘if you go to the police I will f***ing stab you up’, with Hodgson saying ‘I will f***ing kill you’.”

The police were called and the defendants were eventually arrested and interviewed in April 2021, where they made no comment.

Mr McGranaghan suffered from costochondritis as a result of his injuries and feared leaving his house following the attack.

Qayum, 41, of Noble Street Rishton, and Hodgson, 21, also of Noble Street, were initially charged with robbery but pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Qayum has 27 convictions for 72 offences and Hodgson two convictions for three offences.

In sentencing, Judge Guy Mathieson said: “There seems to be a fundamental problem in your family, in that anyone who crosses one or all of you will face retribution.

“I don’t know the wrongs and rights of the court case against your other step-son but you threatened someone who was passing comment about your family, and he wasn’t going to get away with that.

“You sorted it out, you planned it, and he went round there and you gave him what for. He now knows you don’t mess with you two.

“This is a cynical approach to life. You, Qayum, have a vast array of offences and a mean approach to anyone who crosses you.

"You, Hodgson, go along with whatever your step-dad asks you to do – no-one messes with you either, but I don’t think you would have done this if it wasn’t for him.”

Qayum was sentenced to two years in prison.

Hodgson received an 18 month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.