All the criminals before the magistrates court in May 2024

Hundreds of people attend the magistrates' courts every month, and May was no different, with district judges dishing out punishments which included community orders, fines, and in some cases, jail time.

Here's our round up of all the cases we covered at the magistrates in May 2024: 

Teacher appears over sexual activity charges

A Padiham secondary school teacher appeared before Blackburn magistrates on charges involving sexual activity with a 15-year-old pupil.

Amir Makda, 30, of Briar Road, Blackburn, faced three charges of sexual touching of the girl which was a breach of trust and engaging in sexual communication with a child by sending her messages of a sexual nature.

All the charges relate to the period between February 1 2022 and April 1 2022.

Full story: Padiham school teacher facing charges of sexual activity with girl, 15

 

Man threatens former partner and unborn child

A man made threats to his former partner and her unborn child after learning she was pregnant by another man.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim was so scared of Oliver Taylor she wouldn’t leave her own home unless there was someone with her and gave up her college course for fear of bumping into him.

Taylor, 20, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to harassment putting the victim in fear of violence. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Full story: Haslingden man threatened his pregnant former partner and unborn child

 

Car thief caught by off-duty officer at pub

A man trying car doors in Colne town centre was spotted by an off-duty police officer enjoying a pint in a nearby pub.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the officer detained Aymen Saouli until uniformed colleagues arrived and arrested him.

Saouli, 25, of Hartley Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to vehicle interference.

He was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work.

Full story: Car thief caught in Colne by off-duty police officer at pub

 

Man grabbed child’s bottom at police station

A 13-year-old girl was indecently assaulted while she was in the custody suite at Greenbank police station, Blackburn.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Daniel Binkowski grabbed the girl's behind as he walked past where she was standing at the station in Whitebirk Drive, Blackburn, on October 9.

Binkowski, 25, of The Hamptons, Gough Lane, Bamber Bridge, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

He was made subject to a community order for nine months on the condition he resides at Hampton House, a mental health unit, for the next three months.

Full story: Man grabbed child's bottom at Blackburn police station

 

Blackburn man told probation officers he was in Taliban

An Afghan asylum seeker told probation officers and monitoring staff he was Isis and Taliban and they had better watch out.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard that after his arrest, Farhad Sarvary spat in the face of a custody detention officer.

In his mitigation, the court was told his words were a misunderstanding and had been saying life under the Taliban was easier than life in the UK.

Sarvary, 26, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for 18 weeks.

Full story: Blackburn man told probation officers he was in Taliban

 

Drink-driver trapped in car on snowy road

A driver who tried to overtake on snow covered roads ended up rolling her car.

Blackburn magistrates heard when police arrived Leah Bateman was trapped.

She was released and as she was being taken to hospital in an ambulance a police officer noticed the “overwhelming” smell of alcohol.

Bateman, 42, of Wyre Crescent, Darwen, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was fined £120 with £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 20 months.

Full story: Darwen drink driver trapped in her car after it flipped on snowy road

 

Police called to drunken rampage

Police were called to deal with a drunken man rampaging up and down outside his mother’s house.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ricardo Robinson, who had a bottle of beer in his hand, told police he had not committed an offence and they couldn’t touch him.

Robinson, 36, of Scott Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly. He was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £26 victim surcharge.

Full story: Police called to drunken Burnley man rampaging outside his mum's house

 

Burnley man attacked BMW

A man attacked a car that was parked outside his ex-partner’s house.

Blackburn magistrates heard the car owner was sitting in the kitchen while his girlfriend received a massage from the householder.

Owen Whitehead, 22, of Swallow Drive, Burnley, pleaded guilty to causing £1,500 worth of damage to a BMW belonging to Dale Johnson. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation, fined £48 with a £32 victim surcharge.

Full story: Burnley 22-year-old attacked man's BMW car parked outside ex's home

 

Shoplifter attacked mum in front of her 7-year-old child

A man who went on a month long shoplifting spree twice assaulted female members of staff who tried to stop him.

Blackburn magistrates heard that in the middle of the spree Lyndon King also assaulted another woman in front of her seven-year-old child, who ran upstairs in fear.

King, 30, of Park Lee Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to 14 offences of shoplifting, three charges of assault and one of using threatening behaviour.

The district judge jailed him for 26 weeks.

 

Nelson man attacked car with ‘to let’ sign

A drunken man woke neighbours ranting and raving in his native Polish, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard Damien Matisik picked up an estate agent’s ‘to let’ sign and attacked a car with it.

Matisik, 37, of Whitehall Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a car and possession of a knife in a public place.

He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and nine months alcohol treatment requirement.

Full story: Nelson: Ranting and raving drunk man attacked car with 'to let' sign

 

Reckless driver drove at 100mph to avoid police

A reckless driver who had never taken a test drove at 100mph in an attempt to get away from police.

Blackburn magistrates heard Musa Sultan went the wrong way around a roundabout, shot several red lights and travelled on the wrong side of the road during the pursuit which started in Brockholes Brow, Preston, and ended when a stinger was deployed in Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn.

Sultan, 20, of St George's Road, Preston, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months with 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 160 hours of unpaid work.

Full story: Blackburn: Reckless driver drove at 100mph to try to evade police

 

Man subjected police officer to homophobic and transphobic abuse

A man subjected a female police officer to a barrage of homophobic and transphobic abuse as she was transporting him to a Blackburn police station.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ali Awsaf repeatedly called the officer a "ladyboy", said her testosterone level was too high and said she would never be a woman.

He told her to keep getting the surgery and mess up her body and then started calling her names like "Steve" and "John".

Awsaf, 29, of Clegg Street, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 10 hours of unpaid work.

Full story: Man subjected police officer to homophobic and transphobic abuse

 

Shoplifter attacked worker when caught stealing wine

A shoplifter attacked a shop worker after being caught stealing wine.

Blackburn magistrates heard Amy Barnes was found to be stealing wine, and when she was challenged by a store assistant, she assaulted her.

Barnes, 27, of Newfield Drive, Nelson, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting and one of assault.

She was jailed for 20 weeks.

Full story: Nelson shoplifter attacked worker after being caught stealing wine

 

Lorry driver was seven times drink-drive limit

A man driving a lorry gave an initial roadside breathalyser reading nearly seven times the legal limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officer was "shocked" by the level of the reading provided by Gavin Ellidge.

Ellidge, 47, of Hyacinth Close, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 120 hours unpaid work. He was banned for 26 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge.

Full story: Haslingden lorry driver SEVEN times the drink drive limit

 

Hit and run victim’s car sent hurtling into front of pub

A car which had been hit by a van pulling out of a side street collided with the front of a pub.

Blackburn magistrates the driver of the van left the scene and in court Kenneth Marsden claimed he didn’t know he had hit the other vehicle.

Marsden, 65, of Bishopdale Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 160 hours unpaid work.

Full story: Hit and run victim's car sent hurtling into front of Blackburn pub

 

Accrington drug dealer tackled by police in park in court

A man caught dealing drugs in an Accrington park who was rugby tackled to the ground by police is thought to have had an £11,000 stash.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard David Pye had been forced into street dealing to pay off a drug debt when he was caught by police.

Pye, 46, of Honeysuckle Court, Huncoat, pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply and possession of criminal property, namely £756 in cash.

He was sent in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced.

Full story: Accrington drug dealer tackled by police in park in court

 

Man admits threatening to assault Jake Berry MP and staff

A worker at the office of Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry was left in fear for his safety after being threatened by a caller at the Kay Street premises.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Benjamin Nuttall told the 20-year-old caseworker: “I will smack the s*** out of you and Jake Berry.”

Nuttall, 39, of Fairfield Avenue, Waterfoot, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour towards John Greenwood.

He was remanded on bail until June 25 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Full story: Man admits threatening to assault Jake Berry MP and staff

 

Man in court accused of calling council hopeful criminal

A former candidate for a seat on Hyndburn Council has appeared in court accused of claiming a fellow council hopeful was a criminal.

The man, who gave his name as Reverend Paul Graeme Knighton, 48, of Masefield Close, Great Harwood, is charged under the Representation of the People Act.

The charge is that between March 12 and April 1, 2023, he made or published a false statement of fact, namely that Wayne Fitzharris was a criminal, before or during the May 2023 Hyndburn Council elections.

Knighton, who previously called himself Doctor Knighton, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded on bail until the trial date of May 6, 2025.

Full story: Man in court accused of calling council hopeful criminal

 

Homeless man spat in woman's face in Burnley town centre

A woman who was trying to play peacemaker ended up being assaulted by a man.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the victim was pushed to the floor by Luke Gorton before he spat in her eye.

Gorton, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault and to possession of a cut-throat razor in Reed Street, Burnley, on a separate occasion, on October 4.

He was jailed for 26 weeks, and District Judge Alexandra Preston said the assault had been a nasty and very unpleasant incident.

Full story: Homeless man spat in woman's face in Burnley town centre

 

Oswaldtwistle woman went on shoplifting spree to get drugs

A woman who was using ketamine went on a mini-shoplifting spree to fund her habit.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Neve Turner had since sought help with her problem and was now clean of the drug.

Turner, 21, of Heron Way, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to theft of cosmetics worth £131 from Superdrug, beauty gift sets worth £230 from Boots, groceries worth £276 from Asda, and two suitcases from Primark.

The thefts from Boots took place in Blackburn on November 27, while the shoplifting at Asda in Blackburn occurred on January 2.

Full story: Oswaldtwistle woman went on shoplifting spree to get drugs

 

Prolific Blackburn shoplifter admits raft of offences

A prolific shoplifter who stole to feed his drug habit was given a chance to change his life.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard when Scott Chinnery first came before the court he pleaded not guilty to eight offences and guilty to one.

After being remanded in custody for five days he changed all his pleas to guilty.

Chinnery, 35, of Abraham Street, Blackburn, admitted to nine thefts.

These included thefts of chocolate from the One Stop in Blackburn and Michael Kors gift sets from TK Maxx.

Full story: Prolific Blackburn shoplifter admits raft of offences

 

Burnley father tells son relationship is over after assaults

A man who twice assaulted his father has been banned from having contact with his dad for 12 months.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told how following the latest offences James Shaw’s dad said the relationship with his son was over.

Shaw, 34, of Brent Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting Steven Shaw and criminal damage to a door belonging to him.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Full story: Burnley father tells son relationship is over after assaults

 

Accrington man exposed genitals and bum during argument

A man who exposed his genitals during a row with a vulnerable individual 'thought it was funny.’

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the victim, who lived in supported accommodation, was also shown Darren Cain’s backside on April 26.

The court was told the incident was witnessed by the social worker of the aggrieved, who said Cain was 'laughing all the time' and 'thought it was funny'.

Cain, 52, of Frederick Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure.

Full story: Accrington man exposed genitals and bum during argument

 

Accrington man drove while high on cocaine and cannabis

A driver who was seen by police to run two red lights was later found to be over the drug driving limit.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Michael Gardiner had previous convictions for drug driving but had been out of trouble for five years.

Gardiner, 45, of Wellington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to driving his Fiat Doblo while over the limit for cocaine, its derivative benzoylecgonine, and cannabis.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks in custody suspended for two years with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours unpaid work.

Full story: Accrington man drove while high on cocaine and cannabis

 

Burnley man's 'careless' car crash left mother paralysed

A momentary lapse in concentration by a driver resulted in his mum being paralysed in both arms and legs.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the victim, Nasreem Akram, was still in hospital 16 months after the life-changing incident, which occurred on February 13, 2023.

Sabar Akram, 42, of New Hall Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Full story: Burnley man's 'careless' car crash left mother paralysed