Latest news with #CPSNorthWest
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Man charged with murdering 13-month-old baby boy
A man has been charged with the murder of a 13-month-old baby boy in Blackpool. Jamie Varley of Grimsargh in Lancashire, has been charged with killing Preston Davey. The 36-year-old has also been charged with a number of serious sexual and child cruelty offences. Meanwhile, a second man, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, of Grimsargh in Lancashire, has been charged with allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual offences. Suzanne Llewellyn, Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS North West, said: The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with Lancashire Police following a detailed police investigation, to review the available evidence and advise on the appropriate charges. 'We recognise the profoundly distressing nature of the alleged crimes – however we remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active, and they have a right to a fair trial. 'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
ITV News
27-05-2025
- ITV News
Driver who ‘took 20 lines of cocaine' before killing three-year-old girl in Manchester jailed
A driver who took 'at least 20 lines of cocaine' in the hours before he hit a tram and then collided with a three-year-old girl on a pavement has been jailed for 12 years. Louisa Palmisano, known as Lulu, died in hospital from her injuries after she was struck on Booth Street in Manchester, while holding hands with her parents on a family visit on 22 February. Rawal Rehman, who had spent the evening at massage parlours, pleaded guilty to causing her death by dangerous driving in his Mercedes Sprinter van. The 35-year-old, from Manchester, then fled the scene of the collision in a taxi at about 10am where police later traced him using documents found in his van, arresting him two days later. Rehman was sentenced to 12 years in jail at Manchester Crown Court, and disqualified from driving for more than 13 years, by Judge Alan Conrad KC when he appeared on 27 May. Abbie Clarke, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said Rehman's actions "caused absolute devastation". 'Rawal Rehman was in no fit state to drive that morning, yet he recklessly chose to get behind the wheel of his van after a cocaine binge," she said. 'His actions have caused absolute devastation for one family and shocked our entire community. 'Rawal Rehman ignored the stop signs and tram warning signs when he drove straight into the path of an oncoming tram. 'After the collision, Rehman fled the scene in a taxi, not willing to face the consequences of his selfish actions. He now faces a hefty custodial sentence. 'Today our thoughts are with Lulu's family – and we hope the sentence handed down offers them some solace as they mourn the tragic loss of their young daughter.' The court previously heard that Rehman had visited two massage parlours in the city in the early hours of February 22 and had taken 'at least 20 lines of cocaine' in seven hours. CCTV of the incident was played to the court, showing the family walking along the pavement, with Lulu between her parents, holding their hands. Rehman failed to stop at the junction, despite large stop signs and warnings written on the road. The side of his van was then hit by an oncoming tram, forcing his vehicle on to the pavement and into the family, knocking the parents aside. Rehman, who had his hood up, got out of the van and walked around the vehicle before retrieving his phone and leaving the scene. In 2017, Rehman was jailed for three years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after he torched a car involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision which killed a 25-year-old man in Chorlton, Manchester. David Toal, appearing for the defence, said his client had admitted to things the prosecution had no evidence for, which showed he was taking responsibility, and had planned to hand himself in to the police before his arrest. He said: 'An aggravating factor is that he left the scene – there is no excuse for this. 'His explanation is that he panicked and that panic turned into shock when he learned via social media that a young girl had lost her life.' Following the sentencing Lulu's family, from Burnley, Lancashire, said: 'Lulu was our only child and the centre of our world. Her joyful spirit, vivid imagination, and kind heart touched everyone who knew her. "At just three years old, she brought more light and love than we ever thought possible. Her life was full of promise, and her loss is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. No parent should ever have to witness the death of their child. The impact of that single, devastating moment has rippled through every part of our existence, emotionally, physically, and financially.
ITV News
27-05-2025
- ITV News
Four Just Stop Oil protesters jailed over Manchester Airport plot
Four environmental activists from the Just Stop Oil campaign have been jailed for planning to disrupt operations at Manchester Airport. The incident took place during the peak summer travel season on 5 August 2024, with Daniel Knorr, 22, Leonorah Ward, 22, Indigo Rumbelow, 30 and Margaret Reid, 54, attempting to halt flights and cause widespread disruption. Their plot involved them cutting their way through the metal fencing at the southern end of the airport, before glueing themselves to the taxiways. Greater Manchester Police arrested the activists as they made their way to the airport. The group were found with angle grinders, bolt cutters, superglue, sand and banners with slogans including 'oil kills'. Prosecutors said their actions would have seriously disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers. Nicola Wells, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, described the incident as a 'targeted attack' on one of the UK's busiest airports. Ms Wells, prosecuting, said: 'Whenever the right to protest crosses into criminality, whether by causing a public nuisance or distress to members of the public, we will not hesitate to prosecute these cases." All four were found guilty of conspiracy to intentionally cause a public nuisance, before being sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday 27 May. Knorr, 23, from Birmingham, received a 24-month prison sentence, Rumbelow, 31, from London, was given 30 months, Reid, 54, from Kendal, was sentenced to 18 months and Ward, 22, also from Birmingham, received 18 months. Ward began shouting in the dock and holding up signs on an orange card as she was being led down to start her sentence, saying: "Courts are complicit, billions will die without action." A fifth member of the group, Noah Crane, 19, of Second Avenue, Birmingham, was acquitted. He was not with the group on the day of the proposed protest. The group's actions were part of wider climate protests organised by Just Stop Oil, a campaign aimed at pushing the UK government to halt new oil and gas licensing. It was the second day of the sentencing hearing, which began on Friday 23 May when submissions were made on behalf of the defendants. Reid, representing herself, told the court: "I did feel morally compelled to act in the face of death. That remains the case and I stand by my motives for this." Reid went on to say that the action "didn't come from a place of arrogance, more like a place of service". She said: "All I ever wanted to do is to make a positive contribution to society, and this action was an extension of that. I have to find other ways of making change." Laura O'Brien, defending Ward and Rumbelow, told the court: 'These are otherwise law abiding citizens, they are not defendants who have no regard for the public.' She added: "These are good people. These are people who have a deep fundamental care not just for their families, not just for people in this country, but for people around the globe." Ms O'Brien appealed to the judge to pass a sentence short enough to allow for their release, given that the time they had already spent in custody on remand pre-trial counts towards the final sentence. She said: "There's sound basis that the time they've spent on remand is sufficient", adding, "Any further detention would be disproportionate." John Dove, defending Knoor, said: "He gave evidence at trial and he was very open about his actions and his motivations.
ITV News
19-05-2025
- ITV News
Convicted murderer found guilty of stabbing his great-uncle to death in Manchester
A convicted murderer who stabbed his great-uncle more than 70 times as he slept has been found guilty of his "brutal" murder. Direece Roche, 30, wore a balaclava as he attacked Fintan McDwyer with a knife after entering his house in Manchester through an upstairs window in the early hours of Sunday, 30 June 2024. The dad-of-three, described by family as a " gentle giant", was stabbed 71 times as he lay in bed. Emergency services attended the 64-year-old's property on Platt Lane, Fallowfield, at 8:50am on Monday, 1 July 2024, where they discovered his body. Roche was arrested five days later. Footage from a camera used to monitor Mr McDwyer's dog in his front room captured audio which led investigators to believe the attack lasted around 90 seconds in total. Police gathered CCTV from the area showing Roche jumping over garden fences as he fled the scene and traces of Mr Dwyer's blood and Roche's DNA were found in a neighbour's garden. The knife used by Roche, his trainers and his balaclava were never recovered. Nicola Carter, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: 'Direece Roche planned carried out the brutal murder of his own relative as he lay in bed. 'Roche attempted to conceal his identity by wearing a balaclava as he walked the streets of Manchester before and after murdering his great uncle. 'Roche failed to take full responsibility for his actions, pleading not guilty to murder, claiming self-defence and loss of control." The Crown Prosecution Service applied for Roche's previous convictions to be put before the jury to "show his prior bad character". He was jailed in 2011 after stabbing a 23-year-old care worker to death in Salford after a New Year's Eve party when he was 16 years old. Nicola Carter added: 'While nothing can bring Mr McDwyer back, I hope his family, and in particular his three sons who have had to sit through this trial, can begin to move forward knowing Roche will face the consequences of his actions.' Roche, from Manchester, will be will be sentenced at a later date.
The Sun
23-04-2025
- The Sun
Driver who killed girl, 3, in tram crash after taking 20 lines of cocaine is convicted gang leader FREED from jail early
A DRUG-driver who killed a three-year-old girl just hours after taking 'at least 20 lines of cocaine' is a convicted gang leader released early on appeal. Louisa Palmisano, known as Lulu, had been walking along the pavement with her parents when she was knocked down by a van in Manchester city centre. 9 9 9 Driver Rawal Rehman, 35, who fled the scene, had been on an all-night drugs binge while visiting two massage parlours. He left after 6am, just four hours before he smashed into a tram and then mounted the pavement, mowing down Lulu on February 22 in his Mercedes Sprinter. Rehman, of Chorlton, Gtr Manchester, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Manchester crown court on Tuesday and will be sentenced next month. He's previously served two stints in jail - the first in 2017 for his involvement in a fatal hit-and-run, and the second just a year later for heading up a criminal gang in south Manchester. Armed with machine guns, the criminal network dealt cocaine and cannabis across the region. Rehman was jailed for 11 years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. He told his gang members to make sure they 'carried a piece' when transporting drugs. court. It's understood he served half of his sentence before being released. While caged for that offence, Rehman was already serving a jail term for his role in a horror hit-and-run. Craig Rodger, 25, died after he was knocked down in Chorlton by Porsche driver Mohammed Chaudry, 26. As Mr Rodger lay dying in the road, Chaudhry arranged for Rehman to torch the dumped motor, destroying vital forensic evidence. Rehman was jailed for 45 months at Manchester crown court in January 2017 after he admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. But he had nine months shaved off his sentence when his jail term was cut to three years at the Court of Appeal after his lawyers argued his punishment was too severe. 9 9 9 In a statement following Lulu's tragic death, her heartbroken parents described her as the 'sweetest, kindest, and most generous little girl', adding: 'Her absence has left a devastating void in our family. 'She was our only child, our whole world. 'We were simply enjoying a happy family day out in Manchester when this unimaginable tragedy struck. In an instant, our lives were shattered beyond repair. 'The pain of losing her is unbearable, and we miss her more than words can ever express.' A GoFundMe page for Lulu's family has raised over £6,000 within hours of being launched. Following Rehman's guilty plea, Abbie Clarke, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "Rawal Rehman ignored the stop signs and tram warning signs when he drove straight into the path of an oncoming tram. "He fled the scene in a taxi and denied that he drove dangerously in interview, only accepting responsibility on his third hearing before the court. "He must now face the consequences for his role in this wholly avoidable tragedy." 9 9 9
