All the cases before the magistrates' court in the month of May

Jun 27, 2023

May in the Magistrates' Courts has been an eventful month.

From dangerous dog attacks to drug drivers, domestic abusers to benefit cheats - the list is endless.

We try and attend as many cases as we can in the lower courts, and each month strive to bring you a round up of the ones heard at Blackburn and Burnley magistrates.

Here's the lowdown for May, where at least 28 people from East Lancashire were convicted and/or sentenced for their crimes.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ)

Man punched victim for staring at his girlfriend at car meet

A banger racer who assaulted a drunken man who he claimed had been staring at his girlfriend has been described by a judge as a 'Neanderthal'.

Blackburn magistrates heard the single punch thrown by Garrie Mirza left the victim with a broken nose and chipped teeth.

He subsequently contacted Mirza and said if he paid him £3,750 to cover his dental work he would not make a statement to the police.

Mirza, 32, of Parlick Avenue, Longridge, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

Full story here: Man punched victim for staring at his girlfriend at car meet

David Wilson (Image: NQ)

Blackburn dog owner's compensation order over neighbour horror attack

A 76-year-old woman was savaged by a neighbour's dog when she went round to pay him for some cat litter must be paid £500 in compensation, a judge has ruled.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how the victim, Jacqueline McGrew, suffered horrendous cuts and bruises to her head and face during the frenzied attack by the bull terrier type dog.

She spent two weeks in hospital and in a victim personal statement said the incident had affected her mentally and physically.

Full story here: Blackburn dog owner's compensation order over neighbour horror attack

Blackburn man jailed for racially abusing police officer

A man who racially abused a police officer who was taking him to hospital has been jailed.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how Ian Gibbons had suffered injuries after his daughter hit him over the head with a vodka bottle.

Gibbons, 56, of Dunoon Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of racially aggravated threatening behaviour and breach of a restraining order.

Full story here: Blackburn man jailed for racially abusing police officer

Hammerton Street, Burnley (Image: Google)

Darwen cocaine driver in mercy mission ban

A man stopped because of his erratic driving displayed signs of being under the influence of drugs, a court has heard.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told how a subsequent blood test showed Bradley Couzins was above the limit for cocaine and cannabis.

Couzins, 31, of Gillibrand Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit for cocaine and BZE and cannabis, driving without insurance and other than in accordance with a licence.

Full story here: Darwen cocaine driver in mercy mission ban

Blackburn woman tried to throttle partner with towel during row

A woman tried to throttle her partner with a towel during a row over work being done on their bathroom.

Blackburn magistrates heard the row started over the phone and in texts before a physical confrontation at their home.

Shazia Hussain, 31, of Meins Road, Blackburn, admitted to assaulting Paul Loftus. She was given a 12-month community order with a 25-day rehab activity requirement.

Full story here: Blackburn woman tried to throttle partner with towel during row

He was sat on a bench in Burnley town centre (Image: Google)

Burnley man attacked longstanding friend with 'hammer blows to head'

A man attacked a "longstanding friend" as he sat on a bench in Burnley town centre.

Blackburn magistrates heard Daniel Taylor followed up with what witnesses say were a series of ‘hammer blows" to the other man's head.

Taylor, 47, of Reed Street, Burnley, admitted to assaulting Gary Cochrane and was bailed for a pre-sentence report.

Antonia Walters, prosecuting, said there had been an argument between Taylor and the homeless victim, in Burnley town centre.

Full story here: Burnley man attacked longstanding friend with 'hammer blows to head'

Burnley man told cops ‘you’ll have your work cut out’

A man verbally abused police who attended on his street following reports of an ongoing fight.

Blackburn magistrates heard Craig McCulloch was ordered to go back inside his home and after complying he then started to shout abuse and swear out of the window.

McCulloch, 44, of Sandon Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a suspended sentence order. He was fined £80 for each offence.

Full story here: Burnley man told cops ‘you’ll have your work cut out’

District Judge Preston (Image: Agency)

Serial Colne thief is given a chance by judge

A district Judge gave a habitual offender "a chance" despite him having what she described as one of the worst records she had seen in her 25 year involvement with criminal law.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Christopher Costello had 200 convictions for 416 offences.

The court was told the latest offence of criminal damage had been committed the same day Costello had been released from his latest prison sentence.

Full story here: Serial Colne thief is given a chance by judge

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ)

Burnley man went on crime spree after prison release

A man went on an overnight crime spree just weeks after being released from prison.

Blackburn magistrates heard Robert Wallace and another man were caught on CCTV breaking into various businesses in Burnley.

Wallace was identified from the security footage but the other man was unknown and had not been arrested.

Wallace, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary at Townley Street Chippy, The Swan and Goose at Reedley Marina and Queen Victoria Restaurant, Queen Victoria Road, and attempted Burglary at Paradise Working Mens Club on Martin Street.

Full story here: Burnley man went on crime spree after prison release

Messages ordeal for Accrington ex-partner after relationship ends

A man bombarded his wife with messages and calls after she ended their relationship.

Blackburn magistrates heard Haroon Anjum eventually turned up at her place of work leaving her feeling upset and embarrassed.

Anjum, 20, of Florida Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to harassment.

Full story here: Messages ordeal for Accrington ex-partner after relationship ends

Benefits fraud man's 'shame' over loophole

A man who fell for a pop-up advert offering easy money ended up in court.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ryan Creighton provided his bank details to an unknown person who made fraudulent benefit claims on his behalf.

Nearly £3,500 was paid into his account but Creighton only retained a quarter of the money.

Creighton, 28, of Brambling Drive, Bacup, pleaded guilty to four charges of retaining a wrongful credit.

Full story here: Benefits fraud man's 'shame' over loophole

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ)

Blackburn man spotted in road carrying lump hammer

Police responded to a report of a man walking along the road carrying a lump hammer.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officers found Rocky Michael Young at a petrol station on Higher Audley and when he saw them he dropped the weapon.

Young, 33, of Ewood Caravan Park, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Full story here: Blackburn man spotted in road carrying lump hammer

Danger driver crashed into tree during Colne police chase

A motorist made desperate attempts to evade a pursuing police officer.

Blackburn magistrates heard one vehicle was forced to mount the pavement to avoid a collision with the car driven by Imran Hussain.

On another road a taxi was coming the other way and Hussain hit a tree as he squeezed past the cab.

The chase ended when Hussain crashed into a parked car.

Hussain, 40, of Edge End Avenue, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Full story here: Danger driver crashed into tree during Colne police chase

Burnley driver crashed car on way home from social gathering

A man who crashed his car on the way home from a social gathering failed a roadside breath test.

Blackburn magistrates heard Krasimir Petrov Mihaylov then failed to provide an evidential sample.

Mihaylov, 32, of Bar Street, Burnley, admitted to failing to provide a sample for analysis. He was given a 12-month community order with 10 hours unpaid work and 10 days of rehab activities. He was banned for 22 months with £85 costs.

Full story here: Burnley driver crashed car on way home from social gathering

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ Staff)

‘Chance meeting’ sparks off molestation dispute

A chance meeting put a man in breach of a non-molestation order just two days after it had been imposed.

Blackburn magistrates heard Zion Schofield saw his former partner in a Nando's restaurant and spoke to her.

The court was told there was a dispute about what was said and hearing would have to be heard at a special hearing to establish the facts.

Schofield, 28, of Burnley Road, Padiham, pleaded guilty to beaching the order. The case was adjourned for a hearing to establish the facts.

Full story here: ‘Chance meeting’ sparks off molestation dispute

Underground (Image: Web)

Blackburn Underground phone snatch man is rapped by JPs

A Blackburn man snatched a £1,200 mobile phone off a fellow passenger on the London Underground.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim chased Mahmood Ghani Sahir but fell during the pursuit, dislocating his shoulder and fracturing his left humerus.

Sahir, 26, of Pringle Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a mobile phone on the London Underground at Hammersmith Broadway in July 2021. He was given a conditional discharge for 18 months.

Full story here: Blackburn Underground phone snatch man is rapped by JPs

The M65 (Image: Google)

M65 driver ‘stumbled’ from car three times drink drive limit

Police who had received reports of a possible drink driver spotted the car being driven erratically as it left the M65.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when Ciprian Romanescu got out of the car at junction 12 he was clearly drunk and "stumbling."

He later gave a breathalyser reading more than three times the legal limit.

Romanescu, 31, of Leeds Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Full story here: M65 driver ‘stumbled’ from car three times drink drive limit

Blackburn man came out of house with knife after affair accusation

A man involved in a neighbour dispute came out of his house with a knife in his hand.

Blackburn magistrates heard police saw John Andrew Outlaw throw the weapon under a parked car before he was arrested.

Outlaw, 47, of Hurstwood Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and assaulting an emergency worker. He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months with an alcohol monitoring requirement.

Full story here: Blackburn man came out of house with knife after affair accusation

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ)

Colne man pinned partner against wall by throat while slapping her

A man pinned his partner against a wall by the throat while slapping her across the face.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim was struggling to breathe during the attack by Oscar Hope.

And they agreed with prosecutor James Hudson who cited a recent Court of Appeal ruling which suggested the matter should go to the crown court.

Hope, 26, of Cleveland Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and criminal damage to a curtain pole. He was committed on bail to be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court.

Full story here: Colne man pinned partner against wall by throat while slapping her

Rawtenstall woman stopped by police failed to give breath samples

A woman driver who was stopped by police failed to give breath samples at the road side and at the police station.

Blackburn magistrates heard that despite being given numerous opportunities Waraporn Kulcharo failed to complete any of the tests.

Kulcharo, 40, of Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

She was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 100 hours unpaid work. She was banned from driving for 19 months and ordered to pay £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Full story here: Rawtenstall woman stopped by police failed to give breath samples

Burnley woman left threatening voicemails

A woman sent threatening voicemails to another female who had the benefit of a court order which involved the caller's children.

Blackburn magistrates heard Alexandra Gregson sent a message calling the other woman a grass and saying she would "sort her out."

She also told her: "Play out with the big girls and I will chew you up and spit you out."

The court was told the victim felt scared and intimidated for herself and her family.

Full story here: Burnley woman left threatening voicemails

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ)

Colne: Serial thief re-offended less than 12 hours after leaving court

A man who was given a chance by a District Judge re-offended less than 12 hours later.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher Costello left court on Monday and on the same day returned to the scene of his previous offence where he assaulted a member of staff and threatened to smash up the shop.

When he appeared back before the same court on Wednesday the magistrates said they had no option but to send him to prison.

Costello, 59, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of staff at the Admiral Casino on Market Street, Colne and making threats to damage the shop.

Full story here: Colne: Serial thief re-offended less than 12 hours after leaving court

Darwen: Man attacked burglar who struck at sister's house years before

A man meted out his own rough justice after a chance meeting with a man who had burgled his sister's house five years earlier.

Blackburn magistrates heard Macauley Seddon punched the victim "multiple" times, causing a fractured eye socket and a fractured cheek bone.

Seddon, 26, of Plodder Lane, Farnworth, pleaded guilty to assaulting Nathan Chadwick causing him actual bodily harm. He was remanded on bail until June 23 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Antonia Walters, prosecuting, said the offence was committed at the Darwen home of a mutual friend.

Full story here: Darwen: Man attacked burglar who struck at sister's house years before

Blackburn Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ Staff)

Persistent pest jailed for Blackburn partner harassment

A man who repeatedly breached a non-molestation order has been jailed for 24 weeks.

Blackburn magistrates heard that following the first breach Mohammed Akram had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

But his behaviour, some of it bizarre, continued seven months later and he was arrested.

Akram, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching a non-molestation order and criminal damage to a ringdoor bell.

Full story here: Persistent pest jailed for Blackburn partner harassment

Accrington man threatened to 'slit neighbour in two' in loud music row

A man threatened to slit his neighbour in two during a dispute over loud music.

Blackburn magistrates heard when police eventually arrested Dale Douglas they discovered a machete in his property.

Douglas, 34, of Stanley Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to affray, possession of a machete and possession of a locking baton.

Full story here: Accrington man threatened to 'slit neighbour in two' in loud music row

Man breaking into house (Image: Agency)

Accrington man jailed for attempted burglary after trying door handles

A man who pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted burglary has been jailed.

Chris Follet, 48, appeared at Magistrates Court yesterday (May 3) after police received reports of men acting suspiciously and trying house door handles in Great Harwood.

Follett, of Ashley Court, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted burglary and was jailed for 42 weeks.

Full story here: Accrington man jailed for attempted burglary after trying door handles

Elderly woman thought Burnley burglar was her carer

A drug addict carried out a sneak burglary at the home of an elderly, disabled woman who had left her door open because she was expecting a visit from her carer.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim, who was in bed, was aware someone had entered her home and was terrified when she realised it was not the carer.

Michaela Frances Glover, 35, of Wycoller Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of two pictures and three charges of shoplifting.

Full story here: Elderly woman thought Burnley burglar was her carer

Tommy Johnson (Image: Facebook)

Former Colne soldier attacked two boys in campervan row

A former soldier attacked two boys when something was thrown at his camper van.

Blackburn magistrates heard Tommy Johnson grabbed the first boy, who was just 12, by the neck and pinned him against a wall.

The boy said Johnson had a key in his hand as he punched him and then threw him to the floor, all the time shouting racist abuse.

The second boy, aged 13, told police he initially ran off because he was scared but then heard his cousin screaming and went back.

Full story here: Former Colne soldier attacked two boys in campervan row

Ashiya Hussain (Image: NQ)

Blackburn woman guilty over horrific Bully Kutta dog attack

A woman has been found guilty of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control after it caused serious injuries to another dog walker.

Ashiya Hussain, 32, pleaded not guilty to the charge at a previous hearing and maintained that plea ahead of the hearing at Burnley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, May 31.

The victim, 60-year-old Donna Ormerod, was savagely attacked by the dog, a Bully Kutta, when she was out walking her own pets in Preston Old Road, Feniscowles.

Full story here: Blackburn woman guilty over horrific Bully Kutta dog attack

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.