Despite November being a quieter month than usual in Lancashire's courts, there were still multiple people from the east of the county jailed for a number of offences.
They included a drugs gang sentenced to almost 100 years for supplying cannabis on the streets of East Lancashire, and three different groups of men sentenced for violent, senseless attacks on others.
There was also the more common and regularly occurring assaults, thuggery, theft and driving offences, as well as a burglary which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Here, we bring you a round up of all the East Lancashire criminals jailed in the month of November.
Blackburn and Accrington men sentenced for nightclub attack
Five men launched a "persistent" and "cowardly" attack on two other men following an incident in a nightclub which started over a cigarette.
Thomas Carswell, 37; Sebastian Denwood, 28; Taylor Hawcroft, 24; Reece McMillan, 29; and Luke Turner, 29, all appeared at Preston Crown Court in relation to an incident in Blackpool.
On the evening of October 2, 2021, the victims in this case, Rhys Bourne and William Johnson, were at the Soul Suite nightclub in Blackpool to celebrate Johnson’s father’s birthday.
Full story here: Blackburn and Accrington men sentenced for nightclub attack
Burnley gang jailed for combined total of more than 95 years
Members of an organised crime group who produced cannabis on an industrial scale and ‘taxed’ at least 20 other cannabis grows from rival gangs, tying up and threatening the people looking after the farms, have been jailed for a combined total of more than 95 years.
A total of 31 men were sentenced at Preston Crown Court this week for their part in the conspiracies which saw in excess of 200kg of cannabis produced and sold on the streets of East Lancashire, with 18 of them have receiving lengthy jail terms.
The operation, which spanned a 14-month period between 2020 and the beginning of 2022 included 20 instances of drug burglaries - known as taxing - in which multiple kilograms of cannabis were stolen from properties across Burnley, Padiham and Colne, as well as the production of cannabis inside at least three addresses worth more than £150,000.
Full story here: Burnley gang jailed for combined total of more than 95 years
Man jailed for broom attack on Blackburn shopkeeper
A man assaulted a Blackburn shopkeeper with a broom after he refused to buy a mobile phone from him.
On July 27, Alan Marshall went into a shop in Bank Top and tried to sell a mobile phone to the shopkeeper.
The victim refused to buy the phone from Marshall, believing it might be stolen.
Marshall then threatened the shopkeeper, armed himself with a broom and struck him to the head.
The shopkeeper suffered a two-inch cut to the head, which required five staples to close.
Full story here: Man jailed for broom attack on Blackburn shopkeeper
Darwen 'enforcer' said he would 'blow man's head off'
An “enforcer” warned he would blow a man’s head off and made other chilling threats in a blackmail bid.
Brian Roper from Darwen had been recruited as “an enforcer” to obtain £300,000, which was reportedly owed to the man who had allegedly recruited him.
Judge Stuart Driver, KC, said: “You were recruited as an enforcer, no doubt because of your past history of crime in Bolton.”
Roper accepted that he had gone to the victim’s home in Bolton but denied going to demand money with menaces from him. A jury at Liverpool Crown Court however rejected his account and convicted him of blackmail.
Full story here: Darwen 'enforcer' said he would 'blow man's head off'
Accrington man jailed for two years for sexual assaults
A Baxenden man has been jailed for sexually abusing two children.
Eoin Kelly, now 29, was a juvenile himself when he committed the offences but one of the victims disclosed in 2020 what had happened.
During the investigation, the second victim came forward with a complaint against Kelly.
Kelly, of Alliance Street, was convicted in June of rape, three counts of sexual assault on a child and four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Full story here: Accrington man jailed for two years for sexual assaults
Burglars cause thousands in damage at Witton Business Park
Two men caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at several units in a business park as they attempted to steal goods.
Burnley Crown Court heard Ryan Price, 26, and Carl Thomas, 21, tripped an intruder alarm at Witton Business Park in Blackburn in the early hours of Saturday, August 19.
A worker from one of the units found the back door to be smashed, the office lights on, and they could hear banging coming from within the unit.
Police were told by the worker they had seen a white van outside another unit which had collided with the shutters
Full story here: Burglars cause thousands in damage at Witton Business Park
Padiham man assaulted ex-partner causing cut lip and bruises
A man assaulted his former partner, causing her to suffer “extensive” bruising and a cut lip.
Liam Gill, 39, was at the home of his former partner on May 31 with one of her friends also there when the incident happened.
Preston Crown Court heard how the ex-partner believed Gill would not behave in any adverse way due to the friend being there.
When relaying this, though, Recorder Philip Grundy next said: “Sadly, you just couldn’t help yourself.”
Full story here: Padiham man assaulted ex-partner causing cut lip and bruises
Barnoldswick man bit person’s ear off and spat it out
A Barnoldswick man bit part of a person’s ear off and spat it out in a “sickening” attack on a train.
Two other men, including one from Colne, have also been sentenced for their part in the assault, following a British Transport Police investigation.
Marley Hollings, of Skipton Road, Barnoldswick, Kyle Smith, of Rowling Hollins, Colne, and Thomas Scott, of Meadow Lea, Keighley, have now all been sentenced after the incident.
Marley Hollings has been sentenced after a vicious attack on a train (Image: BTP)
Leeds Crown Court heard how, on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, the victim, then 29, was travelling on a service from Leeds to Skipton when he shouted at three men.
Full story here: Barnoldswick man bit person’s ear off and spat it out
Blackburn man threw phone at pregnant partner's head
A drunk Blackburn man threw a mobile phone at his pregnant partner’s head during an argument, causing her to bleed.
Darren Cooper, 38, followed his partner into the bathroom at around 6am on September 20, after he had returned from a night out drinking.
He told her he ‘needed help’ but was told she was not interested, as she could tell he was drunk.
Cooper continued to shout that he needed help and his partner sad she would call the police if he did not calm down.
Full story here: Blackburn man threw phone at pregnant partner's head
Blackburn drug addict stole alcohol and chocolates
A drug addict attempted to steal alcohol and chocolates and spat at a supermarket manager during thefts from shops across Blackburn.
Shaun Clark, 32, was subject to a criminal behaviour order for previous offending, which banned him from entering certain retailers in the town.
Preston Crown Court heard how on October 9 at around 6.30pm, Clark entered the Lidl store in Whalley Banks, a store not covered by his order.
Prosecuting, Bernice Campbell said he tried to take alcohol out of the store but was recognised by the store manager and a security guard.
Full story here: Blackburn drug addict stole alcohol and chocolates
Blackburn men involved in scenes comparable to 'Wild West'
Six men were involved in an altercation a judge said was “comparable to scenes from the Wild West” involving weapons and imitation firearms.
Danny Stafford, 33, David Stafford, 28, Paul Stafford, 30, Adrian Preston, 39, and Ashley Steele, 30, all appeared at Preston Crown Court relating to an incident on May 31, 2021.
A sixth man involved in the incident, Adam Pilkington, has since died from circumstances not involved with this case.
Prosecuting, Claire Brocklebank said there was a “violent confrontation” between two groups on the date in question in Rothesay Road, Blackburn.
Full story here: Blackburn men involved in scenes comparable to 'Wild West'
Great Harwood drug driver caused friend brain injuries
A man had to be resuscitated at the side of the road after sustaining serious brain injuries when his drugged up friend crashed their car.
Sam Baron, 24, had been driving in Hyndburn Road, Great Harwood, in the early hours of October 30, 2022, when he lost control of the red Vauxhall Corsa.
Preston Crown Court heard how he lost control of the vehicle, with it spinning 180 degrees and crashing into a tree.
Victim, Connor Reagan, was in the passenger seat and while Baron escaped relatively unscathed, Mr Reagan sustained serious injuries in the smash at 4.45am.
Full story here: Great Harwood drug driver caused friend brain injuries
Brierfield man sentenced for assaults against ex partner
A repeat woman-beater who "rained blows" upon his former partner in assaults spanning a month has been sentenced.
The offending started between May 7 and 21 when Keith Culkin, 42, slapped and punched his partner, who had been with for five-and-a-half years at the time.
Between May 28 and 31 the assaults continued when he punched her to the forehead which left her bleeding.
On June 4, Culkin hit her, spat in her hair, and, as Judge Sara Dodd put in, “rained blows to her head,” which left her face down in their living room.
Full story here: Brierfield man sentenced for assaults against ex partner
Man punched housemate and said he stole his money
A man who accused his housemate of stealing his money punched him in the face and left him with a swollen lip.
Shan Swara, 23 accused his victim of inflicting the injuries upon himself when he was interviewed by police.
Preston Crown Court heard that Swara and the victim, Hussain Abdullah, were living together at a property in Rishton.
On July 30, between midnight and 1am, Swara knocked on Abdullah’s door and asked for a cigarette before leaving.
Full story here: Man punched housemate and said he stole his money
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel