Latest news with #CarlisleCrownCourt
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Upper Eden man fined for aggressive dog's attack on gardener
A man whose German Shepherd repeatedly bit a gardener working at his home has been Holroyd thought his pet Rebel was locked in his house, but it managed to push up a door latch and attack Jilly Sandams on 23 June 2024. Appearing at Carlisle Crown Court, the 60-year-old of Upper Eden, near Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, admitted having a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of Michael Fanning fined Holroyd £150 and made a contingent destruction order, meaning the dog must be kept under strict control including being locked away from visitors and wearing a muzzle in public. Holroyd was also ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to his victim. The court heard Ms Sandams had decided to accept the landscape work even though she knew the dog was aggressive, because she knew it was kept inside. However, the court heard that while she was working, the dog would throw itself against a patio Tim Evans said Ms Sandams became so concerned she texted the dog's owner saying it was "going to take the door out" with its "intense thrusting against it". 'Going to die' On the day of the attack, she let herself into the garden and could hear the dog "barking and being aggressive", but thought it was locked the dog escaped and attacked her as she lay on the ground, leaving her with six bite marks and 12 puncture wounds to her arm. Ms Sandams eventually managed to get up and escape through a gate. In an impact statement, she said she thought she was "going to die". 'Integral part of family' The court heard that Holroyd, a former highways worker, was left paralysed and a co-worker killed in 2016 when they were struck by a dangerous driver on the M6 near Smith, defending, said there had been no further incidents and a dog expert had concluded Rebel did not pose a threat if kept under control."The dog is an integral part of their family, notwithstanding what has happened," Mr Smith said. The judge told Holroyd: "You were badly injured in the course of your employment, helping the public. "The last thing you would want to do is cause harm to anybody else." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH: Danger driver led police on 16-minute night-time chase
A DANGER driver 'gurned' at police, dropped his speed to 10mph and even tried to flee with burst car tyres during a night time west Cumbria pursuit. Without permission on January 11, Jack Lowrey, 21, took a Ford Focus courtesy vehicle which had been provided to his father by garage staff while his own was being mended. Carlisle Crown Court heard Lowrey was initially seen driving in an erratic manner. 'It was clear to those who witnessed him that he was under the influence of something,' said prosecutor Tariq Khawam. A police constable saw the Focus on Moorclose Road in Workington, and tried to stop it. The Focus came to a halt and the driver appeared to be struggling to start the engine. Jack Lowrey of Workington (Image: Cumbria Police) But as the officer got out of his own vehicle, the Focus started and drove away. 'Although not at any great speed,' said Mr Khawam. 'The PC provided a running commentary that the driver was not capable of driving. 'He describes him as 'gurning' (pulling a face) as if under the influence of drugs or drink.' A member of the public reported seeing the Focus in the Lillyhall area towards Whitehaven. A second police officer tried to stop it, activating blue lights and the siren of their patrol vehicle with Lowrey's speed dropping to only 10mph at one stage. Lowrey clipped a kerb and yet, even after the tyres were then burst with a stinging device, he continued to try and get away until the Focus was forced by police into a wall. This ended a 16-minute chase. Lowrey, previously of Distington, was arrested and taken to a police station where he refused to provided an evidential sample, and shouted abuse. When brought to court he admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, failing to provide a specimen, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. The court heard that in late February this year, Lowrey had been jailed for 16 months by a judge for offending which included making a threat to kill a man while holding scissors to his throat. Lowrey's barrister, Marion Weir, told how he went 'out of control' after his father was handed a lengthy jail term in 2023. 'That is something that weighed heavily on this young man,' said Miss Weir. 'He took that badly. He used alcohol as a coping mechanism.' Lowrey had been given his first taste of prison this year. 'He is keen to be released as soon as possible, accepting that this court will pass a sentence which may result in him being in there a little bit longer,' added the barrister. Judge Nicholas Barker said he had 'little hesitation' in finding that Lowrey was 'heavily intoxicated' during the police pursuit. 'This was a determined attempt, by you, to evade the police over what was in fact a lengthy pursuit,' concluded the judge. He imposed a 10-month prison sentence. Lowrey must serve a 30-month driving ban when released and must pass an extended test before being able to drive on public roads.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist who led police on inner-city pursuit can't be sentenced in Carlisle
A MOTORING menace badly hurt during a police chase will be sentenced by a Lancashire judge because Carlisle court staff cannot deal with his limited mobility if he is jailed. Lee Irwin, aged 50, admits riding a powerful Suzuki GSX 1300 motorbike dangerously and while over the drink-drive limit during a pursuit in Carlisle on November 3. Magistrates heard last month that a police officer initially spotted Irwin riding at high speed on Botchergate, heading towards London Road. That officer performed a U-turn and followed Irwin as he travelled on to Blackwell Road. Irwin exceeded the speed limit, clipped a kerb and failed to stop when required to do so. He also travelled at high speeds around a housing estate with 20mph and 30mph zones and rode through a number of red lights. A 3km journey ended as his Suzuki tyres were punctured, using a police stinger, on London Road. As he lost control, Irwin suffered serious lower limb injuries. In court last month, Irwin admitted six offences: dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, no insurance, fail to stop, driving with excess alcohol and possession of a class A controlled drug. Magistrates heard he was banned from driving for four years, in 2016, but remained disqualified as he had yet to pass a mandatory extended re-test. They sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court, where Irwin, of Rydal Street in the city was due to have been sentenced yesterday (Tuesday). As his case was called on, Irwin walked into court using crutches and with a protective metal cage around his right leg. He had, said defence lawyer, Jeff Smith, sustained 'life-changing injuries'. Judge Nicholas Barker said an immediate prison sentence was possible, so serious were the offences. But he pondered the logistics of Irwin leaving the dock and using a staircase leading to court cells for transfer to custody. Mr Smith said: 'My instructions are that he will find it virtually impossible to walk down the stairs.' There is a lift for court users linking public areas of the Earl Street building's ground and higher floors, but no such facility in custody. 'Those that designed these courts in the late 1990s clearly didn't know that people with mobility issues would have to go into custody,' reflected Judge Barker, 'otherwise they might have built a lift.' The judge observed that immediate custody was a possible punishment. But he told Irwin the case would be transferred to Preston Crown Court — which has better facilities — because Carlisle was 'not well equipped to deal with your sentence with your mobility issues'. Irwin is due to be punished by a Preston judge on a future date, and remains on bail in the meantime.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Woman sentenced for inciting racial hate online
A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence for inciting racial hatred in a social media post during last summer's riots. Megan Morrison, 27, from Workington, Cumbria, shared an image on Facebook of violent disorder at a Holiday Inn in Rotherham housing asylum seekers and suggested the same should be done outside the Cumberland Hotel. Prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court there were no asylum seekers being housed at the hotel, nor had there ever been. Morrison admitted inciting racial hatred and was given a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also given an electronically monitored night time curfew for two months. The court heard that Morrison shared the image with the caption: "They should do this to the Cumberland Hotel. It's full of them." Mr Evans said a follower of the defendant commented on the post "You can't incite riots" and Morrison responded with a laughing emoji. "This is of course the terrible danger of these criminally, ill-advised postings," Mr Evans said. "Entirely innocent people or properties can be dragged into situations by this sort of invitation if people accept." Morrison's post was on 6 August, eight days after three children were murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. The murders resulted in violent disorder across the country. She was one of a number of people prosecuted in Cumbria for racially offensive online posts. Morrison's barrister said her phone had been seized by police and she had not replaced it having withdrawn from social media as part of what she called her "self rehabilitation". She told a probation officer who prepared a pre-sentence report that her offending was "stupid". After hearing details of Morrison's family circumstances, Judge Nicholas Barker said he accepted she felt genuine remorse. Referring to her sharing the image from the Rotherham riot, the judge said: "What you did was to demonstrate an implied assertion that you supported the actions that these mindless thugs were taking. "No one considering this case can themselves disconnect it from the wave of civil disorder and appalling conduct that swept this country in August last year. "You were part of that." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
07-03-2025
- BBC News
Workington woman given suspended jail term for inciting hatred
A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence for inciting racial hatred in a social media post during last summer's Morrison, 27, from Workington, Cumbria, shared an image on Facebook of violent disorder at a Holiday Inn in Rotherham housing asylum seekers and suggested the same should be done outside the Cumberland Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court there were no asylum seekers being housed at the hotel, nor had there ever been. Morrison admitted inciting racial hatred and was given a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also given an electronically monitored night time curfew for two months. The court heard that Morrison shared the image with the caption: "They should do this to the Cumberland Hotel. It's full of them."Mr Evans said a follower of the defendant commented on the post "You can't incite riots" and Morrison responded with a laughing emoji. 'Self rehabilitation' "This is of course the terrible danger of these criminally, ill-advised postings," Mr Evans said."Entirely innocent people or properties can be dragged into situations by this sort of invitation if people accept."Morrison's post was on 6 August, eight days after three children were murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in murders resulted in violent disorder across the was one of a number of people prosecuted in Cumbria for racially offensive online barrister said her phone had been seized by police and she had not replaced it having withdrawn from social media as part of what she called her "self rehabilitation".She told a probation officer who prepared a pre-sentence report that her offending was "stupid". 'Civil disorder' After hearing details of Morrison's family circumstances, Judge Nicholas Barker said he accepted she felt genuine remorse. Referring to her sharing the image from the Rotherham riot, the judge said: "What you did was to demonstrate an implied assertion that you supported the actions that these mindless thugs were taking."No one considering this case can themselves disconnect it from the wave of civil disorder and appalling conduct that swept this country in August last year."You were part of that." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
