Blackburn man jailed after more than 60 vehicle-related offences in three months
A man has been jailed for 16 weeks after a spike in vehicle-related crimes.
John James Rice is responsible for more than 60 vehicle-related crimes in the Blackburn North area. In October 2024, the Blackburn Neighbourhood Policing Team noticed an increase in incidents, all in the Brownhill and Ramsgreave areas.
Combined with information from the public and the victims, as well as plain clothed officers, John James Rice, of no fixed address, was identified as the person responsible. On Saturday, November 16, Rice was arrested and charged with 29 interferences with a motor vehicle, four thefts of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to a motor vehicle too.
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For these, Rice was remanded in custody and attended Blackburn Magistrates Court. However, he failed to appear to his next court date and was in breach of his EMS tag conditions.
However, on Friday, December 27, Rice was arrested for numerous interferences and theft of a motor vehicle offences, both in the Lancashire and Greater Manchester area. He was then charged with five interferences, one theft and 16 EMS breaches.
Rice appeared at Preston Magistrates Court on Monday, December 30. Following this on Thursday, January 2, Rice was arrested on new information.
He had committed five interferences and two thefts in the Egerton and Bromley Cross areas of Bolton. The BwD NPT worked closely with the GMP Bolton North NPT and as a result, Rice was remanded in custody.
On Wednesday, January 23, Rice appeared at Preston Magistrates Court where he was imprisoned for 16 weeks.
A police spokesperson stated: "Vehicle related offences have since significantly reduced and are not tolerated by Lancashire Constabulary. The BwD are looking closely at crime patterns in this area, conducting hotspot patrol and targeting of prolific offenders."