Yahoo News A killer, a keyboard warrior and a filthy hotel: Names and faces of those in the dock this week
When pockets of violence broke out across the UK following the tragic deaths of three girls, who were killed at a holiday club in Southport, Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer promised swift justice.
This week, the first of those involved have been sentenced, less than two weeks after their arrests. Among them are a 53-year-old 'keyboard warrior' who posted hate speech on Facebook, and a man from Blackpool who was seen walking towards the crowd with a metal pole.
Also in court have been a boxer who killed a man with his fist in Blackpool and a hotel which was so dirty, inspectors were left shocked at the condition it was in.
READ MORE: He sang Sweet Caroline and snorted cocaine in pub as girlfriend lay dead on bathroom floor
Each week dozens of defendants pass through the dock in Lancashire's courts and LancsLive reporters are on hand to cover the most serious cases.
Here we take a look back at the week in court.
Thug in England shirt with 'dad' on back led 'angry mob' through the streets of Blackpool
A thug in an England shirt who led an “angry mob” through the streets of Blackpool has been jailed for 30 months.
Roger Haywood, 41, was front and centre of a so-called ‘demonstration’ which saw protestors draped in Union Jacks march through the resort. The march was one of several across the UK in the wake of the tragic killings of three young girls who were stabbed to death at a summer holiday club in Southport.
Wearing a white football shirt with ‘Dad 1’ emblazoned on the back, Haywood marched with his arms in the air.
The father-of-three confronted a line of police officers who were protecting the War Memorial, telling them he wanted to “pay my respects”. When he was refused access to the monument he told officers they were “outnumbered ten to one” in a "clear threat to the police" - before turning to the hundreds of people behind him and beckoning them forwards.
FULL STORY: Thug in England shirt with 'dad' on back led 'angry mob' through the streets of Blackpool
She was screaming and crying in terror, but this 'dangerous rapist' didn't care
A 'dangerous rapist' has been jailed for 17 years with police hailing the 'incredible strength' shown by the victim in bringing her vile attacker to justice.
Daniel Owen Mercer was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court of raping a woman in Clayton-le-Moors. His victim was screaming and crying while 39-year-old Mercer raped her.
The homeless defendant was sentenced yesterday (August 15) to 14 years immediate custody, with a further three years extended licence after the Judge deemed him to be a 'dangerous offender'. Mercer was also ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.
FULL STORY: She was screaming and crying in terror, but this 'dangerous rapist' didn't care
Dad-of-six hurled 'slate' at police because 'everyone was doing it'
A father-of-six who threw 'pieces slate' at police 'because everyone was doing it' has been jailed.
Tony Hazlett was caught on CCTV launching two items, possibly bricks, towards officers during violent clashes in Southport on July 30. A court heard how the 46-year-old was later identified by his clothing, a distinctive blue polo shirt with green piping.
Prosecutor Chris Taylor said police visited his home on August 7 where Hazlett was "very drunk". He violently resisted arrest before clothes matching those seen in the CCTV footage were found.
FULL STORY: Dad-of-six hurled 'slate' at police because 'everyone was doing it'
Baby-faced rioter pelted police officers with bricks as violence flared
A young rioter who hurled bricks and a smoke flare at police during a violent outbreak in Southport has been sentenced to prison.
Tom Neblett was captured on CCTV launching missiles towards law enforcement during the chaotic scenes on July 30. The 20-year-old climbed onto a van and repeatedly threw missiles at police officers after attending a vigil in the town where mourners had gathered to remember Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were tragically stabbed to death the day before.
FULL STORY: Baby-faced rioter pelted police officers with bricks as violence flared
Dangerous driver drove at group of youths and led police on 80mph high-speed chase
A dangerous driver drove towards a group of men in a Blackpool street sending them running to dodge him.
A week later, Niall Kelly led police on a dangerous high speed chase driving at 80mph in a 50mph zone on the wrong side of Preston New Road, near Kirkham.
Kelly, 26, has now been handed a suspended prison sentence after Preston Crown Court heard he acts impulsively during times of stress. In June 2024 he was staying in Blackpool with his new girlfriend when he came upon a group of youths on Central Pier. The youths were arguing and Kelly, who did not know them, got involved.
Security escorted Kelly back to his car and he drove away but when he encountered the youths again, running towards him near to Blackpool Tower, he drove towards them at around 35mph in his red Renault Clio.
He then reversed backwards and sped off, narrowly avoiding another vehicle.
FULL STORY: Dangerous driver drove at group of youths and led police on 80mph high-speed chase
'Keyboard warrior', 53, jailed over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post after Southport riots
A "keyboard warrior" who lived a “quiet, sheltered life” has been told by a judge that “even people like you need to go prison” after she posted an online message stating: “Blow the mosque up with the adults in it.”
Julie Sweeney, 53, was jailed on Wednesday (August 14) for 15 months after she sent the comment to her local community Facebook group. Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, told the court one of the group’s 5,100 members became “uneasy” at a number of comments posted on the site in the wake of widespread violent disorder following the deaths of three young girls in Southport on June 29.
Following the posting of a photograph which showed a number of white and Asian people involved in the clean-up from the aftermath of the Southport disorder, Sweeney posted: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Don’t protect the mosques. Blow the mosques up with the adults in it.”
FULL STORY: 'Keyboard warrior', 53, jailed over 'blow the mosque up' Facebook post after Southport riots
Thug hurled abuse at 'innocent' bus station worker, now he's in jail
A man who hurled abuse and threats at an 'innocent' bus station worker has been jailed.
LancsLive reported earlier this week how police were called to reports of an incident on Sunday (August 11) at Burnley bus station. Local PCSO's chased and detained a man who had caused damaged to the building.
He was arrested on suspicion of causing damage and using threatening and abusive words and behaviour towards an innocent member of staff at the building. In an update issued today (August 14), officers said Andrew Ashworth, from Blackburn, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for criminal damage and section 4a Public Order.
READ MORE: Thug hurled abuse at 'innocent' bus station worker, now he's in jail
The filthy and greasy Blackpool hotel riddled with contamination risks
The owners of a Blackpool hotel have been fined thousands of pounds after it was found to be in breach of food hygiene and health and safety offences.
Daish’s Blackpool Hotel Limited, the company responsible for Daish’s Hotel on the Promenade, pleaded guilty to five food hygiene offences and two health and safety offences. Inspectors were left 'shocked' after inspecting the kitchen at the hotel in August last year.
Blackpool Council’s Food Control Officers discover a "poor level of cleanliness" in the kitchen, including dirt to the floor, equipment, shelving, and hand contact points such as switches and plugs. Cooking equipment was greasy, food debris was found in the freezer, and pans were being stored on the floor.
READ MORE: The filthy and greasy Blackpool hotel riddled with contamination risks
He should have been caring for his terminally ill dad, instead he hurled bricks at police
A man who hurled bricks at police when he 'should have been looking after his terminally ill dad' has been jailed.
Philip Prescott was seen on CCTV and video footage captured by a police helicopter taking items out of a bin and hurling them towards police officers after violent scenes flared up in Southport on July 30. It followed the the fatal stabbings of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, the previous day.
Police vans were set alight and officers were attacked during protesting on St Luke's Road in the seaside town. Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday (August 13) that Prescott and another man Gareth Metcalfe were involved in the disturbance.
FULL STORY: He should have been caring for his terminally ill dad, instead he hurled bricks at police
Man jailed for carrying metal pole during violent protests in Blackpool
A man has been jailed for having an offensive weapon on the day violence broke out in Blackpool.
On Saturday, August 3, the town was one of many across the country which saw unrest on the streets as protests got underway. Around 1,000 people from both left and right wing groups took to the streets in the seaside resort, Preston Crown Court heard.
Throughout the day, officers from Lancashire Constabulary tried to keep the situation under control and by 6:30pm, around 100 people remained. But as one man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, crossed Blackpool Promenade he was seen hiding a metal bar inside his jacket.
As officers went to arrest him, he put the bar and at least one bottle into a nearby planter. He was walking in the direction of Church Street, where the groups of protestors had gathered, the court heard.
FULL STORY: Man jailed for carrying metal pole during violent protests in Blackpool
He went to lay flowers and light a candle with pregnant partner but will now miss birth of his child for his 'unexpected' actions
A “hardworking family man” will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence which broke out after a vigil in Southport.
Dylan Carey’s pregnant girlfriend burst into tears in the public gallery as he was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he earlier admitted violent disorder. Carey, 26, travelled to the seaside town on July 30 with his girlfriend, Natasha Keenan, to lay flowers and light a candle a day after three girls were fatally stabbed at a dance class.
Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people started after the vigil ended with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Chants of “who the f*** is Allah?” and “this is our f****** country” were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.
He stalked woman for months and left her 'destroyed' and 'living a sheltered life'
An obsessed stalker who forced a woman to make changes to her daily routine to keep herself safe has been jailed.
Darren Mitchell embarked on a stalking campaign against the terrified victim for months and threatened to turn up at her place of work. The 23-year-old also began to follow her partner and left her feeling 'destroyed' and 'living a sheltered life'.
The Lancaster man, of no fixed address, was jailed for two-and-a-half years when he appeared before Preston Crown Court last Thursday (August 7). He had pleaded guilty to stalking and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour and was also made subject of a six-year restraining order.
FULL STORY: He stalked woman for months and left her 'destroyed' and 'living a sheltered life'
BMW driver sped away leaving woman and dog injured on a pedestrian crossing
A BMW driver collided with a woman and her dog as they crossed the road in Lancaster, then sped off "without a care".
Joel Parrington, 27, said he was playing with his car stereo and did not notice Lynne Hempton and her dog Maya crossing at the junction of King Street, Lancaster. Traffic in the opposite direction had stopped to allow the pair to cross and the pedestrian signal was on green.
However as Lynne and Maya reached the second half of the crossing, Parrington's car hit Maya, launching her into the air. The vehicle also drove over Ms Hempton's foot, breaking three of her toes.
FULL STORY: BMW driver sped away leaving woman and dog injured on a pedestrian crossing
'What you think you saw, you didn't': Jail for man who took knife with him to A&E department
A man who took a knife into the A&E department at Royal Preston Hospital has been jailed for eight months.
Patrick Doran, 28, accompanied two women to the department on June 24, 2024, after an unrelated incident. On the way to the hospital he stopped at home to collect a flick knife as he feared for his safety, Preston Crown Court heard.
Sarah Gryffyd, prosecuting, told the court a triage nurse noticed Doran was holding an item, which appeared to be made of metal, inside a glove. Doran told her; "What you think you've seen, you haven't. I've just got out of prison."
FULL STORY: 'What you think you saw, you didn't': Jail for man who took knife with him to A&E department
Boxer found guilty of killing man found slumped in the door of Blackpool McDonalds
A boxer has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Daniel Allsop, who was found slumped in a doorway of McDonalds in Blackpool.
The jury at Preston Crown Court cleared Mali Wright of murder but unanimously found him guilty of the lesser charge. Daniel, 38, was was assaulted on Bethesda Road at around 4:30pm on Monday October 2, 2023.
Wright punched Daniel so hard that he broke several of his ribs and ruptured his spleen. Daniel walked away but collapsed in Bank Hey Road a short time later. He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but died from his injuries on October 4.
Wright, 29, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged in connection with killing Daniel. Following a two week trial the jury cleared him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.
FULL STORY: Boxer found guilty of killing man found slumped in the door of Blackpool McDonalds
Preston thug jailed for 'headlock' role in railway station disorder
A Preston man has been jailed for his role in a violent outbreak at Preston railway station.
Declan Carroll, 26, was one of a number of men involved in the fight on January 23, 2021. Preston Crown Court heard how two men had travelled from Chorley to spend the day with friends and were waiting for a train home when trouble began.
As they stood in the smoking area, near the entrance to the Fishergate Centre, a group of men wearing dark clothes and face coverings approached them. They were walking in a threatening manner and fiddling with their pockets giving the impression they may be carrying weapons, the court heard
FULL STORY: Preston thug jailed for 'headlock' role in railway station disorder
