Latest news with #GeorgeShelley
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Drunk man exposed himself near Carlisle play park
CHILDREN attending a show and tell session at a Carlisle play area saw a drunk man expose himself nearby. Gordon Lowe, 48, committed the crime at the city's Bitts Park. Carlisle Magistrates' Court was given details of the incident by prosecutor George Shelley. This occurred on May 18 when a male police constable was present in Bitts Park. 'There was a children's show and tell event organised,' said Mr Shelley. 'The officer was approached by a parent of one of the children who informed him the defendant had exposed his genitals next to the children's play area.' Lowe was pointed out to the PC, sat near the play area. A number of cider bottles were around him. 'The area was busy with children and adults,' said Mr Shelley. The parent reported seeing Lowe stagger towards some metal railings, with adults shouting at him as he exposed himself behind fencing which provided no screen. 'The children could see clearly what he was doing,' the prosecutor told magistrates. 'Members of the public shouted at him to stop it.' In court, Lowe admitted committing an act of outraging public decency. He had 11 offences on his criminal record, and was subject both to a court-imposed community order and court bail when the latest crime occurred. Mitigation was provided by defence solicitor Duncan Campbell. 'Mr Lowe apologises for his conduct on this occasion,' said the lawyer. 'It was not his intention to cause embarrassment or offence to anyone who was around, at all. 'He was under the influence of alcohol at the time. Several bottles of cider were found next to him when police arrived. He had been at the park for a while. He was drunk. He needed to use the toilet. 'The toilet was not open. Certainly he could not find a public convenience to use.' Lowe had tried to find the least obvious place to relieve himself, against the fence. 'Perhaps the state he was in at the time didn't allow him to think through things terribly effectively,' said Mr Campbell. 'It equates to urinating in a public place.' The case was adjourned by magistrates. Lowe, of no fixed address, is due to receive his punishment on a future date, and has been remanded in custody in the meantime.
ITV News
25-04-2025
- ITV News
Carlisle teen told black schoolboy 'kiss my shoe or you are getting whacked' in racist attack
A white teenager demanded that a black schoolboy kiss his filthy boot and then punched him after he did so as they walked home from school. Details of the Carlisle incident on 15 March 2024, which was filmed on a mobile phone and went viral on social media, were outlined at the city's youth court on 25 April. Prosecutor George Shelley told how the victim had, on 13 March 2024, declined the offer of a fight, and been called a 'coward'. He was added to a Snapchat group the next day. 'He tried to leave the group chat. He was added back (into the group) several times and he was called racial slurs,' said Mr Shelley, who explained that the abuse took the form of words and emojis. 'He attended school on 15 March. He gets the impression something is going to happen, asked by another boy whether he is walking home or not.' The victim left school as normal and was approached by four boys — one aged 15, who had previously commented in the Snapchat group. '(The 15-year-old) has pushed him and asked him to kiss his shoe. He is aware at that point he is being filmed,' said Mr Shelley of footage captured by a bystander. ''Kiss my shoe or you are getting whacked' is what I've heard being said. Unfortunately, he does kiss the shoe, which was covered in filth. After he kisses the shoe, (the victim) walks away before being chased after and struck (by the 15-year-old).' Video footage showed him making repeated demands and lifting a muddy boot during the initial incident, before landing three blows to the victim's chest during the assault. A member of the public had then intervened. The victim was 'immaculately presented' in his school uniform, said Mr Shelley, who added: 'There is a real element of humiliation here. He showed significant restraint despite no doubt being absolutely petrified by the situation he was confronted with.' Video footage of the incident shared on social media had gone viral and attracted 'nationwide condemnation', said the prosecutor. It was also sent to the victim's mother, who learned of the incident and had since provided a moving impact statement. 'He was scared by the fact more harm would be done to him if he did not kiss the boot,' she said of her son's reluctant response. 'When I viewed the video, I was shocked and upset. 'This has impacted me and my family,' she added. 'We are emotionally drained.' In youth court on 25 April 2025, the 15-year-old culprit, who can't be named because of his age, admitted one charge of racially aggravated common assault/beating. Defence solicitor Duncan Campbell, mitigating, said to magistrates: 'The first thing to inform you of is that the defendant is genuinely remorseful and has shown contrition for what has occurred.' Filming of the incident was not done at the request of the 15-year-old who, said Mr Campbell, was 'goaded' into criminal conduct. 'He did not want to be involved in this,' said the lawyer. 'He had never met the boy. He certainly did not want to cause him any harm. 'The family are very keen to point out that (the defendant) is not — nor is his family — racist in any shape or form. Obviously, they have to accept that this offence is racially motivated.' Since the incident, the boy - of previous good character - had distanced himself from 'rather unfortunate evil influences' with the assistance of relatives. His mother, who attended court, told magistrates: 'He has got a heart of gold. He is a lovely lad. He has just made a stupid mistake. I just feel awful we are at this point.' Her son told the court he had been goaded and felt under pressure. 'I shouldn't have done what I done,' he accepted. The boy was made subject to a referral order. This means he will meet with members of the Youth Justice Service before signing a contract committing to work positively with them for 12 months. He must also pay court costs and £100 compensation to his victim.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- BBC News
Jail for Penrith M6 crash driver four times over drink limit
A driver who crashed by the side of the M6 while more than four times the legal drink-drive limit has been Black was found unconscious inside his Ford Ranger on a grass embankment on the northbound carriageway near Penrith, Cumbria, on 18 August at Carlisle Magistrates' Court, the 47-year-old from Brannock Place in Newarthill, near Motherwell, admitted driving with excess was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and must serve a 34-month driving ban when released. Prosecutor George Shelley told the court: "There were several calls reporting a vehicle all over the road, colliding with traffic cones."On approach [to the scene] police passed three separate collision sites, with debris over three lanes of the carriageway causing danger to road users."Several empty alcohol bottles and cans were found within the vehicle."Black was transported to hospital and gave a blood sample which showed 320 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit is 80mlg. Magistrates heard Black was addressing alcohol issues by regularly attending a clinic since solicitor, Ashley Barnes, said: "He must stop drinking entirely... it is perhaps this offence that has opened his eyes entirely to that." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
