Latest news with #BurnleyCrownCourt
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Woman jailed over Snapchat video of dogs killing cat in Burnley
A woman who filmed herself causing her dogs to kill a neighbour's elderly cat has been jailed after posting a video of the attack on Snapchat. Alexandra Gregson was heard shouting "get that little cat" on the footage, which showed two dogs pouncing on the 15-year-old black and white female called Poppy. Gregson was identified after the cat's body was found in a bin near her home in Padiham, Burnley, on 30 April 2024, the RSPCA said. The 36-year-old, who was already in prison for unrelated offences, was jailed on 15 August for 10 months after pleading guilty to animal welfare offences at Burnley Crown Court. The RSPCA said the video showed the cat, which appeared "frozen with fear" being set upon by two dogs in a garden. A laughing Gregson could be heard shouting "get it Zola, get that little cat. Go on get it." A report from a vet, who saw the footage, stated: "The dogs do not appear to readily want to attack the cat but following the repeated commands from the owner they do."The woman laughs during the attack thus appearing to find the attack amusing and entertaining."Insp Miranda Albinson, who investigated for the RSPCA, said the video was "incredibly distressing to watch"."This must have been a terrifying experience for Poppy and would have caused her considerable suffering to be attacked and killed like this," she said. 'Sadistic' A post mortem of Poppy's body found she had suffered from a torn liver, there was blood within her abdominal cavity and bleeding lesions to her left kidney and stomach which the RSPCA said was consistent with "blunt force trauma".After Gregson was jailed, Judge Sara Dodd said: "It is perhaps hard to put into words how sadistic and persistent that episode was."Your dogs took a significant amount of encouragement before they began, let alone continued their attack on Poppy."They had absolutely no interest in that cat before you goaded them into attacking her." 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.
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Headteacher, 65, who sexually abused girls over a nine-year period is jailed
A disgraced headteacher who sexually assaulted three teenage girls while at school has been jailed. Mark Bocker, 65, assaulted the school girls over a nine-year period between 2007 and 2016 at a school in the Oswaldtwistle area. Bocker, of Gores Lane, Formby was convicted of three counts of sexual assault contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 following a trial last month. He was sentenced today at Burnley Crown Court to just 42 months behind bars. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life. Police Investigating Officer Amanda Gallery said: 'First and foremost I would like to praise these girls for having the courage to come forward and report to us what happened to them. 'I hope the guilty verdicts and sentence give them some sense that justice has been done. 'I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual offending, no matter how long ago, to come and speak to us confident that we will investigate sensitively and professionally and will aim to put offenders before the courts.' Disgraced headteacher Mark Bocker, 65, who sexually assaulted three teenage girls while at school has been jailed Bocker also appeared before the courts in March 2022 after he admitted possession of indecent images. Police found the child abuse images on one of Smith's phones and said these included images of girls as young as eight being abused. As many as 13 images fell into Category A, the most serious, while 23 were in Category B and 46 were in Category C. Bocker was handed a six month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and was also ordered to complete rehabilitation courses.
BBC News
07-08-2025
- BBC News
Lancashire man raped two girls and sexually attacked two boys
A predatory paedophile raped two teenage girls and sexually assaulted two nine-year-old boys in a Police said the attacks by Joseph Turner, 22, from Rawtenstall, had a "long-lasting impact" on his victims - one of whom he had given a ring to as his "wife" - and their was jailed for 26 years after being convicted at Burnley Crown Court for a string of sexual offences and violent assaults, and must serve at least 18 was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order which limits his access to children. Police said Turner was 20 when he groomed a 14-year-old girl into thinking they were in a this time, he raped her while she was unconscious, sexually and physically assaulted her, strangled the girl with a belt, threatened her with knives, and was verbally second girl was 16 when he lured her to his flat in Rawtenstall to rape took the two young boys to the woods before sexually assaulting them. Mother's heartbreak Some of the victims did not feel able to make impact statements but the mother of one of the girls wrote: "At first I was worried sick, then it went into numbness. It was horrible. I can't put into words how I felt."She felt "powerless and frustrated, feeling that I had not been able to protect her". Her daughter was self-harming and felt suicidal when Turner had "his hold and control over her". The mother added she was relieved at the outcome and that everyone knew "he is an abuser and a predator". She added she was "heartbroken" by what happened to her daughter, but also said that "to finally see her happy again and looking forward to the future is amazing".Lancashire Police Det Sgt Sarah Hargreaves said: "His offending has had a clear and long-lasting impact on his victims."Turner was convicted at Burnley Crown Court of two counts of sexual assault on a child; two counts of sexual activity with a child; four counts of raping an under age girl, one rape of a female over 16, two counts of intentional strangulation, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm. 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.
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Moment gutted lag is arrested at prison gates as he LEAVES jail – after dealing drugs from his cell
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment a gobsmacked criminal was arrested at the prison gates - just seconds after leaving jail. Samuel Watts had been released HMP Kirkham following a three-year sentence for a drug dealing plot. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Samuel Watts was arrested just seconds after leaving jail 4 He has now been locked up again But the 34-year-old only managed to taste freedom for a few moments before he was pounced on by police. Officers had discovered Watts was still dealing drugs from his prison cell. In bodycam footage, he can be heard moaning "you don't know what I've gone through". Despite his pleas, officers can then be seen placing the criminal in handcuffs at the prison gates. He has now been jailed for four years and four months after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine) while serving a prison sentence. Burnley Crown Court was told Watts was originally locked up in September 2023 for dealing cocaine and cannabis. In July last year, officers at Northwich Proactive CID discovered intelligence suggesting Watts was in possession of a mobile. They believed he was using the contraband to sell drugs from his cell at the Preston nick. Following the discovery, Watts was searched and prison officers discovered an Apple iPhone strapped to his waist. A search of the phone revealed a catalogue of messages that proved he was selling illegal drugs. Police Constable Dan Lee, Of Northwich Proactive CID, said: 'Watts saw his initial prison sentence as an inconvenience rather than a punishment. "After smuggling a mobile phone into the prison, he thought that he could simply continue to run his criminal enterprise from behind bars, directing people lower down the chain to deliver drugs on his behalf. 'However, he clearly underestimated the dedication and determination of the team here at Northwich Proactive CID. "As soon as we became aware of his latest activities we brought them to a swift conclusion and were ready to arrest him as he was released from prison. 'I welcome the latest sentence handed to Watts and hopefully this time he'll use his time behind bars to reflect upon his actions rather than trying to set up another business venture, otherwise we'll be waiting for him again next time he's released.' 4 Watts looked stunned to find police waiting for him
