Andrew Bellard

Lee Scott, 35, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates' Court to taking a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving and assault, following an incident in which a delivery vehicle owner was struck and two parked cars were hit. He also admitted stealing an Audi A4 and driving dangerously through several Burnley streets during a police pursuit in which police vehicles were damaged. The case was sent to Burnley Crown Court for sentencing because the magistrate considered the offences too serious for her sentencing powers.

Gareth Haworth, 39, of Accrington, pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court to breaching a restraining order by visiting an address in Clayton-le-Moors where his mother’s ashes were laid to rest. He was found asleep on a garden bench at the property and also admitted seven shoplifting charges from Home Bargains. Haworth was released on bail until September 1 while a pre-sentence report is prepared.

Zoe Syme, 39, of Burnley, was jailed for three weeks after pleading guilty to seven shoplifting offences committed over five weeks and breaching a suspended prison sentence by missing probation appointments. She was also ordered to pay compensation to Home Bargains, Spar and Kitchens Garage. Her solicitor said she had struggled with heroin and crack cocaine addiction; methadone had helped control her heroin use, but she continued to misuse crack cocaine.

Liam Bryan, 26, of Accrington, pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates' Court to making eight indecent images of a 15-year-old girl who was known to him as a family friend. The victim said the discovery severely affected her mental health, education and willingness to leave home. Bryan blamed the offences on alcohol and claimed the images were deleted the next day. He received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, rehabilitation and alcohol-treatment requirements, a lifetime restraining order, 10 years on the sex offender register and a five-year sexual harm prevention order.