CPS North West News
Date
Outline
08/03/2013
Five Jailed For Burnley Robbery
Sally Brennand, John Williams, Rebecca Greenough, Zak Ward and David Steer have been sentenced today at Burnley Crown Court to a total of more than 27 years imprisonment for a robbery which took place at a house in Burnley on October 25.
05/03/2013
Spiritual 'Healer' Jailed For 16 Years For Sex Offences
Michael Ireland, a self-styled spiritual healer, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment at Minshull St Crown Court today for 25 sexual offences against eight victims, six women and two children, committed over more than twenty years. The offences included assaults on women and a young girl that he was supposed to be healing and providing therapy to.
01/03/2013
Nine Men From Cumbria Drugs Gang Sentenced To Sixty Years
Nine men have been sentenced to a total of 60 years and six months in prison, in connection with a conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
27/02/2013
Man Charged Over Death Of PC
The Crown Prosecution has today (27 February) authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Westley Holland with the manslaughter of PC Gareth Francis on 20th January 2013.
26/02/2013
Kendal Conference Raises Awareness Of Racist And Religious Hate Crime In Cumbria
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) teamed up with Cumbria Police and AWAZ Cumbria to host a Racist and Religious Hate Crime community event in Kendal today.
20/02/2013
Crown Prosecution Service and Cumbria Police Launch Campaign To Tackle Disability Hate Crime
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Cumbria Constabulary have joined forces to launch a campaign to raise awareness of disability hate crime in Cumbria.
19/02/2013
Andrew Partington Jailed For Death Of Toddler In Oldham Explosion
Andrew Partington was jailed at Manchester Crown Court today for 10 years for causing an explosion which killed a two year old boy and destroyed nearby houses.
19/02/2013
Justice Of Peace Sentenced for Expenses Fraud
Carlton Janson has been sentenced today at Burnley Crown Court to 8 months imprisonment suspended for two years for fraud and obtaining property by deception.
12/02/2013
Rochdale Nightclub Stabbing - Twelve Men Convicted
Twelve men have been convicted at Manchester Crown Court for their role in a violent brawl at a Rochdale nightclub, which left one man with a fatal injury.
05/02/2013
Conference To Tackle Domestic Violence Amongst Young People In Lancashire
A conference held in Skelmersdale today is aiming to raise awareness about domestic violence amongst young people in Lancashire.
24/01/2013
Lessons In Anti-Racism From Blackpool Pupils
A hard-hitting DVD and educational resource pack developed with young people from the North West will be used in schools across the country to tackle racist and religious hate crime and bullying.
24/01/2013
Lessons In Anti-Racism From Accrington Pupils
A hard-hitting DVD and educational resource pack developed with young people from the North West will be used in schools across the country to tackle racist and religious hate crime and bullying.
24/01/2013
Lessons In Anti-Racism From Manchester Pupils
A hard-hitting DVD and educational resource pack developed with young people from the North West will be used in schools across the country to tackle racist and religious hate crime and bullying.
21/01/2013
CPS Joins Partners to Launch Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Week
Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West marked the start of the Manchester Hate Crime Strategy and Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Week by speaking at an event to launch the campaign at Manchester Town Hall on Monday.
16/01/2013
Five Men Sentenced For Mass Brawl In Manchester Chinatown
Five men have been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court for their role in a mass brawl between rival groups in Manchester city centre’s Chinatown.
11/01/2013
Two Men Sentenced For Brutal Attack In Colne
Two men have been sentenced at Burnley Crown Court for a violent attack which left their victim with serious, life changing injuries.
13/12/2012
Four People Charged With Abuse at Care Home
Four people have today been charged with the abuse of adults at Hillcroft Care Home in Slyne-with-Hest, Lancaster.
13/12/2012
Man Charged With Four Murders
The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised Lancashire Police to charge Dyson Allen, aged 19, from Blackpool, with four charges of murder in relation to a fatal house fire in Freckleton, Lancashire on 7 January 2012.
10/12/2012
Trafford 'Know Your Justice' Day
The Trafford ‘Know Your Justice’ Day takes place on Monday 10th December 2012.
10/12/2012
Crime Group Ringleader Pleads Guilty To Drugs And Firearms Charges
One of the masterminds behind a massive operation to import drugs and firearms to the North West pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court today. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
23/11/2012
North West Pupils Give Chief Prosecutor Advice About Cyberbullying
Today (23 November), children and young people in the North West will be meeting the Chief Crown Prosecutor to discuss cyberbullying.
23/11/2012
Dutch Woman Jailed For Organising Sham Marriages In The UK
A woman has been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to four years in prison for her part in arranging bogus marriages in order to help people gain illegal entry into the UK.
02/11/2012
Man Jailed For Killing 2 Year Old
Daniel Rigby has today been convicted at Manchester Crown Court for the murder of two-year-old Rio Smedley. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and told he would serve at least 17 years. Kirsty Smedley, Rio’s mother, has also been convicted of causing or allowing his death. She will be sentenced at a later date.
20/09/2012
Dale Cregan Charged With Four Murders And Four Attempted Murders
Dale Cregan has been charged with the murders of PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes and with the murders of Mark Short and David Short. He has also been charged with four counts of attempted murder.
13/09/2012
Cumbria Conference Focused On Honour Crime And Domestic Violence In Same Sex Relationships
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) working in partnership with Safer Cumbria hosted a Domestic Violence Conference at Newton Rigg College, Penrith today (13th September).
10/09/2012
Charging Announcement On Oldham Explosion Case
Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West Area, Nazir Afzal, said: "I have today advised Greater Manchester Police to charge Andrew Partington, 26, with the manslaughter of Jamie Heaton, aged two, and causing criminal damage valued at over £1m to houses in Buckley Street, Shaw, Oldham, on 26 June 2012.
07/09/2012
Mosque Teacher Convicted For Ill Treating Pupils
Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor North West Area, said: "Irfan Patel was in a position of trust to the children in his class and his actions went far beyond what was acceptable in disciplining those in his care.
27/07/2012
Kiaran Stapleton To Serve 30 Years For 'Senseless' Murder
Kiaran Stapleton was sentenced to life imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court today for the murder of young Indian student, Anuj Bidve, on Boxing Day last year. The judge ordered that he serve a minimum term of 30 years.
26/07/2012
Kiaran Stapleton Guilty of Murder of Anuj Bidve
Kiaran Stapleton was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court today of the murder of Anuj Bidve, an Indian student studying at Lancaster University, in the early hours of Boxing Day 2011. Anuj was walking with a group of friends along Ordsall Lane in Salford when Kiaran Stapleton approached the group and without warning shot him in the head.
23/07/2012
Cumbria Conference Focuses on Disability Hate Crime
A conference in Carlisle aims to raise awareness of disability hate crime, to find out what can be done to stop it happening in the first place and to improve how it is dealt with when it does happen.
28/06/2012
Sheep Rustlers Become First To Be Convicted In 25 Years
Two men have today become the first in 25 years to be convicted of sheep rustling in Lancashire after the theft of 55 pregnant ewes from a farm in the Ribble Valley.
21/06/2012
Man Convicted of Rochdale Grooming Offences Guilty Of Further Rapes
Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West Area said:
20/06/2012
Minimum of 27 Years Imprisonment For Premeditated Murder
Terrence Armer has today been found guilty at Carlisle Crown Court of the murder of Stacey Mackie. He has been sentenced to life and must serve a minimum term of 27 years in prison.
15/05/2012
Carlisle Man Jailed For Sexual Exploitation Of Young Girls
The owner of a Carlisle takeaway has been jailed for 15 years for inciting child prostitution and for paying two teenagers for sex.
08/05/2012
Guilty verdicts in Liverpool Crown Court child sexual exploitation trial
Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West Area said: "The details of the offences that we have heard in this trial in the last few weeks have shocked and appalled us all. No child should ever be exploited in the way these young victims were.
05/04/2012
Northwest Railway Metal Theft Gang Stopped In Their Tracks
A metal theft gang responsible for large scale metal theft from the rail system in the North West of England have been stopped in their tracks today after they were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to a total of 21 years 2 months imprisonment.
22/03/2012
Five Years Imprisonment For Armed Robber
Matthew Sharkey was sentenced to five years imprisonment today at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to an armed robbery at Smileys One Stop Shop on Watson Road, Blackpool on 9th January 2012.
15/03/2012
Three Plead Guilty To Armed Robbery At Florist’s Shop
Nathan Walters, 26, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court today to robbery and firearms offences in connection with an armed robbery at a florist’s shop in Old Trafford in July 2011.
14/03/2012
Christopher Blackburn sentenced for preventing father’s burial
Christopher Blackburn was sentenced today at Preston Crown Court to 3 years imprisonment for preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body, and for the theft of £1,869 from the Department of Work and Pensions in fraudulently obtained benefit payments. Craig Cleminson, Senior Crown Prosecutor from CPS North West Area said:
14/03/2012
Ian Lowe Charged With Murder of Leanne McNuff
Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, Nazir Afzal said:
02/03/2012
Elderly Victims Compensated After Cowboy Builders Ordered To Pay Back £1.3m
A family of fraudulent builders who conned elderly victims out of thousands of pounds of their savings have now had over £1.3 million confiscated from them.
28/02/2012
Jail For Wigan Drugs Gang Members
Four men involved in plots to sell heroin and cocaine with a street value of up to £740,000 are beginning jail terms that total 48 years after being convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
22/02/2012
Increased Sentence After CPS Refer Attempted Murder Case
The Court of Appeal has today increased the sentence that David Heslop will serve for the attempted murder of his ex-partner Emma Wilson.
20/02/2012
Cash Machine Thieves Jailed For 20 Years
David Owens, Kevin Caveney, Shaun Ennis and Robin Vaughan have been sentenced at Preston Crown Court to over 20 years imprisonment in total for their part in a highly organised conspiracy to attack and steal cash machines across England.
20/02/2012
Death of Nellie Geraghty - Man Charged With Manslaughter
The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge a man in connection with the death of Nellie Geraghty in Oldham.
09/02/2012
Gang Jailed For Racist Abuse At Carlisle Takeaway
A gang who hurled racist abuse at staff in a takeaway in Carlisle town centre have been sentenced to nearly 15 years in total at Carlisle Crown Court.
26/01/2012
Rochdale Vicar Jailed for Sham Marriage Scam
A Rochdale vicar has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for conducting over 20 sham marriages and for stealing more than £8,000 of donations and fees for church services.
24/01/2012
Extradited ‘Fake’ Bride Jailed for Wedding Scam
Zunica Sabina and Olukayode Olusanya were jailed at Manchester Crown Court today following their sham marriage at St John's church, Moston, Manchester in September 2008.
13/01/2012
Police Inspector Charged with Fraud
A police inspector from Greater Manchester Police has been charged with a number of offences relating to allegations of fraudulent insurance claims and mortgage fraud.
01/01/2012
Kiaran Stapleton Charged with Murder of Anuj Bidve in Salford
Kiaran Stapleton has been charged with the murder of Indian student Anuj Bidve.
23/12/2011
Arsonists who fled to Spain face justice
A group of people involved in an arson at a car recovery yard have been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.
21/12/2011
Teenager jailed for life after being extradited for murder
A teenager who pleaded guilty to the murder of 16 year old Giuseppe Gregory in a pub car park in Manchester has been jailed for life after being extradited from the Netherlands to face a murder charge.
20/12/2011
Over 60 years in prison for gang supplying drugs in North West
An organised crime group responsible for the supply of class A, class B and class C drugs across the North West have been jailed for a total of 66 years and 7 months.
19/12/2011
Ian Workman found guilty of murder of ex-wife
Ian Workman, a car dealer from Lancashire, has been handed a life sentence after being convicted of the murder of his ex-wife.
02/12/2011
12 years imprisonment for violent rape
A man who raped a teenager after she walked home from a night out in Carlisle has been sentenced to 12 years in prison at Carlisle Crown Court within seven weeks of the offence taking place.
18/11/2011
David Heslop guilty of attempted murder of ex-partner
David Heslop was found guilty of the attempted murder of his ex-partner Emma Wilson by a jury at Carlisle Crown Court today and sentenced to a total of 18 years imprisonment.
11/11/2011
Two jailed for Bacup killing
Two men have been jailed after pleading guilty during their trial in October to the kidnap and manslaughter of Paul Brady in Bacup in August 2009. His body was never found. Daniel Jones and Michael Dunphy were sentenced to 10 years and 11 years respectively.
11/11/2011
Care worker guilty of ill-treatment of elderly people
Kimberley Walker, a care assistant, was today found guilty of the ill-treatment of two vulnerable elderly people whilst working at Amathea Care home in Workington in December 2010. She held a blanket over the head of one woman and a pillow over the face of another, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
07/11/2011
Four men jailed for fraud against elderly
Four members of one family have been jailed for defrauding elderly and vulnerable people out of thousands of pounds.
14/10/2011
Life sentence for Burnley double murder killers
Kenneth Howson and Daniel Waddington were sentenced to life imprisonment at Preston Crown Court today for the murders of James Atkinson and Neil Gilmore in Burnley in October 2010. Howson was ordered to serve a minimum term of 27 years and Waddington a minimum of 24 years.
07/10/2011
Bramhall man will not be charged over intruder death
A man who fatally stabbed an intruder in his home in Bramhall will not be charged with murder, the Crown Prosecution Service announced today.
07/09/2011
Manchester man faces no charges for fatal stabbing in florist's
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has decided that no charges should be brought against 72-year-old Cecil Coley who stabbed to death an intruder who forced his way into his family's florist shop in Old Trafford in July 2011. The CPS has also concluded that he should not face any charges for injuring a second man who was stabbed in the incident.
25/08/2011
Over 200 charged so far for Manchester and Salford disturbances
More than 200 people have now been charged with criminal offences following the disturbances in Salford and Manchester over two weeks ago.
22/07/2011
CPS decides not to charge Salford man over intruder's death
A man who fatally stabbed an intruder who broke into his home in Salford will not face charges, the Crown Prosecution Service announced today.
27/06/2011
Desmond Young sentenced for stabbing a man to death
Desmond Young Snr, from Carlisle, was sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence at Preston Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Joseph 'Downie' Howard in January 2011. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 8.5 years before he is eligible for parole. His son, Desmond Young Jnr was sentenced to 12 months for assisting an offender.
25/03/2011
Man imprisoned for country house burglaries
A 58 year old man from Wakefield was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today to nine years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to offences connected to the theft of valuable items from country houses in Sussex, Cumbria and Shropshire.
16/03/2011
Paul Brady case: kidnap and murder guilty verdict
Paul Devalda was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of the kidnap and murder of Paul Brady, whose body has never been found. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years.
28/01/2011
Life for brutal Blackburn killing
Naeem Butt was sentenced to life imprisonment at Preston Crown Court today for the murder of Saheel Ahmed in June 2010.
15/12/2010
Martin Smith found guilty of serious sexual abuse of a child
Martin Smith was found guilty of abusing a young girl over a ten year period after a trial at Manchester Crown Court. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict - he was found guilty of three counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child.
27/10/2010
No further prosecution in cockle picking case
The Crown Prosecution Service has today informed Lancashire Constabulary that a prosecution will not be required after a human skull was discovered in Morecambe Bay in July.
14/10/2010
Life imprisonment for premeditated murder
Jonathan Vass was sentenced to life imprisonment at Preston Crown Court today for the murder of his ex-partner Jane Clough on 25th July at Blackpool Victoria Hospital where she worked as a nurse. His Honour Judge Russell ordered that he serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before being eligible for parole.
07/09/2010
Man sentenced for 'one punch' manslaughter
A 22-year-old man was today sentenced for what prosecutors called a 'mindless and unprovoked' fatal attack on an innocent bystander in Oldham town centre.
13/08/2010
Woman guilty of murdering her child
A Stockport woman was today found guilty of the murder of her three-year-old daughter in an act described by prosecutors as "vindictive" and "spiteful".
30/07/2010
Seven Men Sentenced For Merseyside Police Fraud
Stephen Kell and Kevin Mighall, employed by the Metropolitan Police Authority in its estates department, have been sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court for corruption after accepting gifts and hospitality from local businessmen in return for lucrative contracts from the police authority.
28/07/2010
Jonathan Vass Charged With Murder Of Jane Clough
The Crown Prosecution Service in Lancashire has today authorised that Jonathan Vass should be charged with the murder of Jane Clough, his former partner.
05/07/2010
Preston Martial Arts Teacher Sentenced For Sex Abuse
Nicholas Tuley, a 43 year old martial arts instructor from Broadgate in Preston, was sentenced as a dangerous offender to an indefinite term of imprisonment for public protection at Preston Crown Court today.
28/06/2010
Sir Ranulph Fiennes charged with driving without due care and attention
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today announced that the explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is to be summonsed to face a charge of driving without due care and attention following a Stockport car crash on 6 March this year.
22/06/2010
North West Group Statement re: Brownhill and Brownhill
Alan Richardson, reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "The evidence given in court by the sole witness in this case differed from the account he originally gave to the police.
18/06/2010
Teacher pleads guilty to sex offences
A teacher from Salford today admitted a number of sexual offences involving two underage girls.
18/06/2010
North West Group Statment re: Jonathan Rayfern
Rob Pett, spokesperson for Greater Manchester Crown Prosecution Service, said:
17/06/2010
Jail Sentence For Cumbria Woman Guilty Of Perverting Course Of Justice
Leyla Ibrahim was sentenced to three years imprisonment today at Carlisle Crown Court for perverting the course of justice.
17/06/2010
North West Group Statement Re: Immigration Scam
Adrian Dugdale, reviewing lawyer from the Complex Casework Unit at Greater Manchester Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said:
11/06/2010
North West Group Statement re: Alan Walker
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: "In deciding whether to offer a caution we take into account the public interest factors set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and will only consent to the issuing of a caution if the offender has clearly admitted his or her guilt.
09/06/2010
CPS Charge Blackpool Tram Driver With Causing Death By Driving Without Due Care And Attention
The Crown Prosecution Service has today notified the police of its decision that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge Paul Edensor, a 36 year old tram driver, with causing death by driving without due care and attention.
02/06/2010
Prosecutors advise murder charge over death in Burnage
Heather Alsop, reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
27/05/2010
North West Group Statement re Frank Stenfeld
Re: Frank Steenfeld (DoB: 02/11/1942). Yvonne Tunnicliffe, reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said:
26/05/2010
Chorley Couple's Criminal Assets Returned To Victims
A couple from Chorley who ran a fraudulent debt recovery business were ordered to pay back over £303,000 of their criminal assets at Preston Crown Court today.
13/05/2010
17 Year Minimum Sentence For Skelmersdale Murder
Michal Kalinowski, a Polish national, was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years in prison after he was found guilty at Preston CC of the murder of his landlord, Peter Berkley.
