Latest news with #BBCRadioLancashire
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lancashire: 'Despicable' sex offender tried to blame 'fake twin'
A "despicable" paedophile who tried to cover up his crimes against young boys by blaming an imaginary twin brother has been Sullivan, 32, of no fixed abode, told the lie after he was confronted in Lancashire last year by the children's discovered Sullivan did not have a twin, and further found out that he had an existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order following a previous conviction. Lancashire Police said Sullivan, formerly of Blackpool, was jailed for 12 years for rape, several sexual offences against children, and possessing indecent images. Sullivan was also sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 23 May for raping a child aged under 13 and sexually assaulting a child in the Kent area in Constable Sam Schofield said: "Sullivan is a despicable individual who committed abhorrent crimes against children."Sullivan believed he was being "cunning" but "thanks to the inquisitive nature of the parents, his lies were uncovered and began to unravel".The 32-year-old paedophile has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for will also be banned indefinitely from having unsupervised contact with children, and have his internet access limited. 'Began to unravel' Parents of Sullivan's victims confronted him with concerns about his previous offending, Lancashire Police told them those crimes had been committed by his twin brother, who had since killed the parents looked into Sullivan's claim and discovered it to be bogus, they reported him to police. Detectives found Sullivan had sexually assaulted a young also discovered more than 1,300 indecent images of children on his were videos, with more than 700 classified as being of the most severe category. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I use trauma of my dad's death to help children'
A woman whose father died when she was 10 said it inspired her to help children who found themselves in foster care. Sheena, from Lancashire, lost her husband in a crash when her children were aged 10 and 12. Foster carer Sheena said enduring personal tragedies means she has been able to help others though trauma. Lancashire County Council said despite being a foster care for only a year she has transformed the life of a young girl. The 57-year-old said: "We have come through some tough times as a family and this is why l wanted to foster to give hope, love and happiness to another child." Sheena added: "It was hard for my children, but l was able to help them through it by talking about it and not keeping feelings inside. "We have photos up all over the house of both my dad and my husband. "We have come through some tough times as a family and this is why l wanted to foster to give hope, love and happiness to another child. "l have had enough trauma to help children through theirs." The county council she has made a "huge difference" to an eight-year-old in her care. Emily - not the girl's real name - had lived in several different homes before living with Sheena. She has now settled in school and has gone from being unable to read or write to enjoying reading books and practising her spellings. Sheena said: "What Emily really needed was stability and a family to be there for her. "She has needed one-on-one time and support to help her at school and it's made a world of difference. "Her behaviour has also improved, and I think having rules, boundaries and a structure has been the making of her." Sheena added: "What she's really craved is love and affection, which we've showered her with. "Emily tells us she loves being part of a family of her own, and as a tomboy she enjoys playing football with my son. "This older-brother relationship is a great benefit." She said her daughter and her daughter's partner would look after Emily to give Sheena a break so she could see her friends. Her daughter also does extra tutoring with Emily. Last year, Lancashire became one of nine regions across the UK to open the Foster With Us Hub, with the aim of local authorities working together to help recruit, share resources and provide more support for foster carers. In turn, it is hoped more people will be willing and able to foster. According to the latest government data, there was a 4% drop in foster carers in north-west England in the last year. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. 'We thought we were too young to be foster carers' Council to increase fostering cash incentive 'My foster kids had never celebrated Christmas' Super foster mum says she will never stop 'Becoming a foster parent made me a better person' Lancashire County Council
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Car 'deliberately reversed' into house many times
A car has been deliberately reversed into a house many times, causing "substantial damage" to the living room. No-one was inside the property in Reed Avenue, Great Harwood, when a grey Nissan Juke was driven into it at about 01:00 BST, Lancashire Police said. Officers found the car had been "driven a significant way into the living room". No-one has been arrested but police are appealing for anyone with information or footage to contact them. A police spokesperson said work was "ongoing to understand the motivation for this attack", which was being treated as an isolated incident. Det Insp Heather Martin added: "I understand that neighbours will be shocked and concerned by this incident and I want to reassure the Great Harwood community that we have a dedicated team of officers assigned to this case who are determined to identify those involved and bring them to justice." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Lancashire Police
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man jailed over Blackpool hotelier's 'brutal' murder
A man who stabbed a hotelier in a "frenzied attack" before stealing from him has been jailed. Jurors found 51-year-old Blackpool man Adam Saunders guilty of murdering Kevin Price, who was supposedly his friend, at his hotel in the seaside town on Springfield Road on 7 November. Saunders had messaged him earlier that day asking if he fancied some company before the 59-year-old's body was found with 56 stab wounds, Lancashire Police said. Saunders, of no fixed address, was handed a life sentence and told he must serve at least 31 years in jail at Preston Crown Court. Mr Price was last seen alive on the evening of 7 November, returning to the Garfield Hotel. A police spokesman said Mr Price had responded to Saunders' offer of company by asking him return a bag he had stolen containing one of the hotelier's bank cards. The court heard Saunders had gone to the hotel that night and brutally killed him. Saunders left then returned to hotel and stole items including a television, and used Mr Price's bank card to buy mobile phones and withdraw cash, the police spokesman said, Whilst doing this, Saunders even wore his victim's clothes. Two days after murdering him, Saunders booked a stay at a local hotel, where he boasted about having access to money from a friend's credit card. A friend of Mr Price's reported him missing on 10 November after not having heard from him for a few days. Officers found the hotelier's body in his property with extensive injuries. A post-mortem found Mr Price had been stabbed 56 times and had significant injuries to his neck, chest and back, along with other stab injuries across his body. Saunders, who denied murder but admitted theft, was sentenced to one month in prison to run concurrently. In a victim impact statement, Mr Price's sister, Diane, said: "Kevin was the most thoughtful, kind, warm and loving person anybody could wish to meet. "I loved him so dearly and still do. I hold him in my heart, and I always will. He was always in my thoughts when he was alive as he is in death." She said listening to Saunders at the trial she was "sickened hearing all his lies knowing full well what disgusting and inhumane things he did to our Kevin". "I am truly devastated by what's happened, and I will always love my brother dearly. "He will never be forgotten by all those that loved him. RIP Kevin." Det Ch Insp Simon Pritchard said after sentencing he hope Mr Price' family and friends could now get some form of closure after his "horrific and inhumane death". He said Saunders abused their friendship and stole his belongings while Kevin "lay lifeless in the home". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Man found guilty of Blackpool hotelier's murder Two charged with murder after hotel stabbing HM Courts & Tribunal Service
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Jay Slater's friends 'cannot be located', inquest hears
Friends and witnesses who were in Tenerife with Jay Slater when he disappeared "could not be located" to take part in his inquest despite months-long police efforts to find them. Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, went missing in the early hours of 17 June 2024 after attending a music festival in Playa de las Americas on the Spanish island. The apprentice bricklayer's body was found by Spanish police at the bottom of a ravine in a remote national park on 15 July, an inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard. Senior coroner Dr James Adley said a number of witnesses, including friends who travelled with him, were still being searched for by police. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Why did it take 29 days to find Jay Slater?
