Every month we bring you a round up of the criminals who faced prosecution in East Lancashire's magistrates' courts.
In September, hundreds of people were charged with an array of offences ranging from shoplifting to drink driving, drugs possession to breaches of orders.
Here is a comprehensive list of the cases we covered in the lower courts last month.
Oswaldtwistle sex offender back in court
A sex offender failed to register an online username with police as was required due to him being on the sex offender register.
Blackburn magistrates heard there was no suggestion Andrew Harper had been viewing anything illegal.
Harper, 45, of Cranbrook Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Full story here: Oswaldtwistle sex offender back in court
Accrington motorcyclist evaded police by doing 135mph on the M65
A motorcyclist was pursued by police after being seen doing 100mph on the A56 Accrington bypass.
Blackburn magistrates heard Ike Crawshaw, who was a disqualified driver, gave police the slip when he reached speeds in excess of 135mph on the M65.
Nine days later he was seen by the same officer on the same bike with a false number plate on.
He was eventually stopped when a stinger was deployed.
Full story here: Accrington motorcyclist evaded police by doing 135mph on the M65
Blackburn woman stole from Boots and Home Bargains to buy crack
A drug user's habit had deteriorated to the stage that she was starting to offend to fund it.
Blackburn magistrates heard Katherine Young was stopped by security as she committed her latest offence at Boots.
When she was arrested police discovered another offence caught on CCTV almost 12 months earlier.
Young, 31, of Curzon Place, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting.
Full story here: Blackburn woman stole from Boots and Home Bargains to buy crack
Shoplifter banned from shops in Blackburn town centre
A shoplifter given a chance by magistrates on Saturday blew it almost immediately.
Blackburn magistrates heard Benjamin Wareing had been made subject to a community order when he appeared before magistrates sitting in Preston on Saturday.
He was before Blackburn magistrates on Tuesday for five more shoplifting offences, three of the committed since his appearance in Preston.
"You have effectively walked out of court and committed further offences," said District Judge Alexandra Preston.
Full story here: Shoplifter banned from shops in Blackburn town centre
Blackburn careless driver avoids jail for crash which killed biker
A careless driver has avoided jail after a crash which killed a 56-year-old motorcyclist.
Clifford Shasby died three weeks after being hit by the car driven by Riley Meachem, turning onto a shop car park.
Blackburn magistrates heard the victim, Clifford Shasby, was described as "living life to the full" and that his death had left a giant hole in his family.
"Our lives have been shattered because of the reckless actions of one man," said the deceased's partner Gemma Caine in a victim impact statement. "He has destroyed our lives due to his avoidable actions. This would have been avoidable had he been paying attention."
Full story here: Blackburn careless driver avoids jail for crash which killed biker
Christopher Costello racked up 10 offences in one day
A prolific offender was back in court within a week of his release from his latest prison sentence.
Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Costello racked up 10 offences in one day to add to the 424 offences that were already on his record.
Costello, 59, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to six breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order, three charges of shoplifting and one of criminal damage. He was jailed for 18 weeks and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge on release.
District Judge Alexandra Preston said she had met Costello several times since she started sitting in Blackburn and was getting used to dealing with him.
Full story here: Christopher Costello racked up 10 offences in one day
Great Harwood teen had knuckleduster outside Darwen shop
Police called to a disturbance outside a Darwen shop arrested two men and found one in possession of a knife and the other a set of knuckledusters.
Blackburn magistrates heard Jayden Grundy, who had the knuckledusters, was just 17 at the time of the offence in October 2021.
District Judge Alexandra Preston ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared and also ordered the prosecution to provide a proper explanation for why the matter had taken nearly two years to come to court.
Full story here: Great Harwood teen had knuckleduster outside Darwen shop
Man found with cannabis as police attend Burnley burglary
Police who responded to a report of an ongoing burglary discovered the remnants of a cannabis farm.
Blackburn magistrates heard Levi Antony Broadbent was found at the property in possession of 34 grams of cannabis.
Broadbent, 20, of Keighley Avenue, Colne, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 rehabilitation activity says and 80 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Full story here: Man found with cannabis as police attend Burnley burglary
'Wrong turn' driver found unconscious after crash and boozing in car
A man who had driven his car into a wall at 8.10am was found unconscious in his vehicle.
Blackburn magistrates heard there were numerous bottles of alcohol in the car with Tomy Thomas who claimed he had started drinking after taking a wrong turn.
The incident happened on Bolton Road in Blackburn on February 2.
Thomas, 48, of Harbury Close, Bolton, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit. He was fined £246 with £85 costs and £98 victim surcharge and banned from driving for six months.
Full story here: 'Wrong turn' driver found unconscious after crash and boozing in car
Drink driver attended bank holiday golf event and 'couldn't get taxi'
A driver attracted the attention of police by shooting a red light.
Blackburn magistrates heard Alex Boothman was followed onto the M65 where he was weaving between lanes and was pulled onto the hard shoulder.
Boothman, 26, of Key View, Darwen, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £916 with £366 victim surcharge and £85 costs and disqualified for 23 months.
Full story here: Drink driver attended bank holiday golf event and 'couldn't get taxi'
Heavily intoxicated man made 'huge mistake' by driving home
A man who had been out drinking made a "huge mistake" when he decided to drive home.
Blackburn magistrates heard Gareth Carter had already been told by his wife that if he came home in the car she would call the police.
Carter, 43, of Rannoch Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. He was fined £1,153 with £461 victim surcharge and £85 costs and banned for 23 months.
Full story here: Heavily intoxicated man made 'huge mistake' by driving home
Blackburn man involved in benefits scam which exploited loophole
A man "foolishly" let himself be drawn into a benefits scam.
Blackburn magistrates heard Dillon Oram-Farrington allowed his details and bank account be used to make fraudulent claims which exploited a loophole that existed in the system.
The court was told he eventually received an overpayment in excess of £5,000.
Full story here: Blackburn man involved in benefits scam which exploited loophole
Burglar spotted trying car doors at back of Burnley police station
A man was seen by an off-duty police officer trying car doors at the rear of Burnley police station at 7am.
Blackburn magistrates heard CCTV showed Barry Preston behaving in the same way in other parts of the town centre.
When he was arrested for those matters he was identified as being responsible for stealing a charity box from Costa Coffee two months earlier.
Preston, 63, of no fixed address, admitted to burglary at Costa Coffee and vehicle interference. He was jailed for 16 weeks.
Full story here: Burglar spotted trying car doors at back of Burnley police station
Blackburn man jailed again for shoplifting at Boots
A drug user with more than 70 previous convictions went straight back to offending after his release from prison.
Patrick Harris was thrown out of the accommodation provided to him upon his release from jail after committing three shoplifting offences in three days, Blackburn Magistrates’ Court was told.
The theft spree earned him a return to prison.
Harris, 45, of the Homeless Pods, Shadsworth Leisure Centre, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to three charges of shoplifting.
Full story here: Blackburn man jailed again for shoplifting at Boots
Colne shoplifter caught on CCTV carrying out string of offences
A string of shoplifting offences eventually caught up with a woman who was stealing to fund a drug habit.
Blackburn magistrates heard many of the offences committed by Danielle Ruddy were captured on CCTV and she was identified.
Ruddy, 35, of Langroyd Road, Colne, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of shoplifting.
She was given a 12-month community order with 20 rehab activity days and a six-month drug treatment requirement. She was ordered to pay £260 compensation.
Full story here: Colne shoplifter caught on CCTV carrying out string of offences
Blackburn man swung metal pole aggressively around carvery beer garden
A man brandished a metal pole in a pub beer garden after being ordered out of the premises.
Blackburn magistrates heard Ion Florea had entered the Old Mother Redcap pizza and carvery restaurant in the middle of the afternoon and started asking staff and customers for food and money.
Florea, 21, of Winchester Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to affray. He was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
Full story here: Blackburn man swung metal pole aggressively around carvery beer garden
Man 3 times over drink drive limit found in car with keys in ignition
A man was found by police sitting in his car with the keys in the ignition.
Blackburn magistrates heard when he was breathalysed Paul Broadley gave a reading nearly three times the legal limit.
Broadley, 36, of Hollin Bridge Street, Blackburn, admitted to being in charge of a vehicle while over the limit. He was fined £120 with £85 costs and his licence endorsed with 10 penalty points.
Full story here: Man 3 times over drink drive limit found in car with keys in ignition
Church man banned for drink driving home from Accrington pub
A man who had a couple of pints while playing in a pool match was stopped by police on his way home because he didn’t have his lights on.
Blackburn magistrates heard a breathalyser test showed Benjamin Taylor was narrowly over the limit when stopped in Whalley Road, Accrington, while driving his Ford Focus.
He blew 45 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, over the legal limit of 35mcg.
Full story here: Church man banned for drink driving home from Accrington pub
Accrington man reporting burglary ends up in jail himself
A man who went into Accrington police station to report a burglary ended up being arrested.
Blackburn magistrates heard Matthew Weller became frustrated and spat on the glass shield.
Weller, 42, of Wordsworth Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a glass shield.
Full story here: Accrington man reporting burglary ends up in jail himself
Man attacked doorman and manager of bar
A man attacked a doorman and the manager of a Clitheroe bar in a grief-fuelled drunken rage.
Blackburn magistrates heard Daniel Kirk Harwood also assaulted two police officers by spitting in their faces.
While he was on bail for those offences he was caught driving while disqualified.
Harwood, 32, of Hope Street, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker and two charges of assault arising from the incident at Rumours bar in Clitheroe.
He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, without insurance, obstructing a police officer and failing to provide a specimen for analysis from the second incident.
Full story here: Man attacked doorman and manager of bar
Driver sat child on car's chassis after seat removed
A drug driver had a three-year-old child in the back of his car who was not properly strapped in.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the child was sitting on the metal chassis of the car because the rear seat had been removed to be used as a bed on an ill-equipped camping trip.
Tyler Hey, 23, of Cartmel Avenue, Accrington, pleaded guilty to drug driving and a seat belt violation.
Full story here: Driver sat child on car's chassis after seat removed
Driving ban for Blackburn woman who stunk of alcohol
A woman who crashed her car at 10.20am became aggressive and abusive towards police officers who tried to breathalyse her.
Blackburn magistrates heard Danielle Sewell eventually had to be taken to the floor and handcuffed, but still refused to provide a specimen for analysis.
Sewell, 43, of Windsor Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen.
Full story here: Driving ban for Blackburn woman who stunk of alcohol
Accrington man spat in woman's face and racially abused her
A man assaulted a female during a verbal altercation as she went to get a lift home from work.
Blackburn magistrates heard when the woman's friend, who was picking her up, intervened she was racially abused and spat on.
Brandon Coulthard, 20, of Barnes Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 hours Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 150 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation to each of the victims.
Full story here: Accrington man spat in woman's face and racially abused her
Banned Blackburn driver caught on motorbike with cannabis
Police attention was drawn to a motorbike on the pavement with the engine running and no rider.
Blackburn magistrates heard, as the police approached the rider appeared and tried to drive off but stopped when officers indicated.
Adam Krzysztof Wahala, 34, of Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance, possession of cannabis and possession of amphetamine.
Full story here: Banned Blackburn driver caught on motorbike with cannabis
Accrington man banged on door of ex-partner at 5.30am
A woman was woken at 5.30 am by her ex-partner banging on her front door.
Blackburn magistrates heard Louis Lockett was shouting that he knew there was someone in the house and tried to open the front door with a key.
Lockett, 33, of Water Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to harassment. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation and £85 costs. He was made subject to a restraining order for six months which prohibits any contact with the aggrieved.
Full story here: Accrington man banged on door of ex-partner at 5.30am
Disqualified driver caught speeding with child in car
A woman driving at nearly double the speed limit told police she had suffered a nose bleed and was distracted.
Blackburn magistrates heard there was a one- year-old child in the back of the car at the time.
Jemma Louise Riley, 42, of Coal Hey Street, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without due care and attention. She was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement. She was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.
Full story here: Disqualified driver caught speeding with child in car
'Loutish' Darwen man punched community support officer
An off-duty police community support officer (PCSO) was assaulted when he went to assist his mum who was trying to calm a group of young men fighting in the street in the middle of the day.
Blackburn magistrates heard Andrew O'Brien, who was the driver of the car which turned up on Everton Street, Darwen, at 12.20 pm, was not directly involved in the initial fighting.
He was the one who punched the PCSO who was on his phone to the police at the time.
Full story here: 'Loutish' Darwen man punched community support officer
Blackburn cannabis smoker had history of drug driving
Police officers in a patrol car could smell cannabis coming from another vehicle as they drove along Barbara Castle Way in Blackburn.
The town's magistrates heard Shamas Liaqaat later admitted to police that he drove to work every day and that he smoked two or three "joints" of cannabis every day. He also said he didn't know possession of the drug was illegal.
Liaqaat, 33, of Lois Place, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to drug driving and possession of cannabis. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £230 with a £92 victim surcharge and £85 costs and banned from driving for three years.
Full story here: Blackburn cannabis smoker had history of drug driving
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