Round-up of court cases covered in South Cumbria last week

We’ve rounded up those two cases, as well as all of the other court stories we published last week.

Heartbroken mother tells of her grief as she faces daughter’s killer in court

In her victim impact statement read out to the court by prosecutor Stephen Wood KC, the mother said: “I have not been able to sleep, it takes me hours to drift off.

“It is like living a nightmare that I just want to wake up from. No mother should ever have to bury their own child.

READ MORE HERE: Heartbroken mother tells of her grief as she faces daughter’s killer in court

Jason Gowen sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Barrow mum

AN ABUSIVE boyfriend has been jailed for life for a ‘brutal and ultimately deadly attack’ on his partner.

Jason Gowen sought to humiliate 37-year-old Barrow mum-of-two Fiona Robinson and enjoy her suffering by recording his victim after he attacked her, said His Honour Judge Robert Altham when sentencing him to 20 years in prison.

READ MORE HERE: 'Manipulative' boyfriend who murdered Barrow mum jailed for 20 years

William Wilkinson jailed for murder of Edward Forrester

A man has been jailed for life for murdering his neighbour, dismembering his body and then dumping parts in Cumbria.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court today, William Wilkinson, 65, of Seafield Road, Blackpool, was jailed for 19 years and three months.

READ MORE HERE: Killer who murdered neighbour and scattered body parts in Cumbria jailed

Family describe devastation after Eddie Forrester’s murder

THE devastated siblings of a man who was murdered by his neighbour have described their brother’s killer as a ‘monster’.

William Wilkinson was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Edward Forrester, 55, with a wooden stick with a heavy bung at the end of it on September 1 last year.

READ MORE HERE: 'Monster’ – Victim's family describe trauma after 'savage' killer jailed for murder

Other court stories

‘Strong man’ assaulted female police officer outside Barrow nightclub

A MAN dragged a female police officer who was arresting his sister outside a nightclub in Barrow to the floor, a court heard.

Carl Hartley, of Geneva Street in Barrow, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker at a plea and trial preparation hearing on October 23 last year.

READ MORE HERE: Man dragged female police officer who was arresting his sister outside a nightclub

Pensioner jailed for attempted sex comms with four underage girls

A PENSIONER who believed he was sexually communicating with four underage girls has been jailed by a judge.

George Sharpe, of Princess Street, Broughton-in-Furness, was instead talking to undercover police officers who were posing as decoys for girls aged between 12 and 13-years-old, a court heard.

READ MORE HERE:  ‘I should not like younger girls but I do' - Pervert pensioner jailed

Ulverston stalker 'obsessed' with neighbour

A WOMAN who admitted she was 'obsessed' with her neighbour has been convicted of stalking after bombarding her with messages.

Sarah Stables told police she was 'in love' with her neighbour and sent hundreds of messages, letters and gifts to her home, a court was told.

READ MORE HERE: Stalker who was 'obsessed' with neighbour made victim feel she was 'living in hell'

Ulverston man sentenced for drink and drug driving w/ Benzoylecgonine

AN ULVERSTON man has been banned from driving for over three years.

Kamen Alty, of Maple Avenue, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle above the legal alcohol and driving whilst over a specified controlled drug limit on January 11 at South Cumbria Magistrates Court.

READ MORE HERE: Man, 24, banned for over three years after admitting drink and drug driving

Pervert who abused children in Carlisle jailed for over 33 years

AN ELDERLY paedophile responsible for hundreds of child sex offences while he lived in Cumbria is likely to die behind bars after he was jailed for more than 33 years.

A judge told 78-year-old Stephen Mahoney, who pleaded guilty to 12 sample charges which encompassed multiple child rapes and indecent assaults against multiple victims, that he was the most prolific child sex offender he had ever seen.

READ MORE HERE: Cumbrian child abuser 'worst judge has ever seen' jailed for 33 years

Kilos of cocaine shipped into Lakes during 'truly massive' plot

NINE men were involved in a “truly massive” £53 million UK-wide cocaine supply plot which saw multiple 1kg consignments of the drug trafficked into Cumbria and stored in a Lakes lock-up, a jury has heard.

Carlisle Crown Court was told how vast quantities of the illicit substance — generally shipped into the country from overseas into ports and then transported to the Greater Manchester and Liverpool areas — were distributed by criminal couriers to many towns and cities across the British mainland.

READ MORE HERE: Kilos of cocaine shipped into Lakes during 'truly massive' UK-wide £53m plot

Linda Murray receives suspended prison sentence for fraud

A CUMBRIAN director of a lettings company in Wigan has received a suspended prison sentence. 

40-year-old Linda Murray, of Ellerthwaite Road, Windermere, was the director of Let Me Lettings based at Hewitt House, Winstanley Road, Orrell.

READ MORE HERE: Letting agent who admitted fraud banned from running a company for seven years

Kendal man sentenced for driving offences after near head-on collision

A DRUG driver who left a woman ‘bed bound and bruised from head-to-toe’ after a near head-on collision has been sentenced.

Sam James Sheppard was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £1,500 compensation as a result.

READ MORE HERE: Drug driver, 23, sentenced for causing woman 'immense pain' in crash

Kendal man sentenced for trying to hide adult porn sites from friends

A CLEANER has been spared an immediate prison sentence for a ‘prolonged and deliberate' breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Paul Ward, of Stramongate in Kendal, activated incognito mode on two devices to hide what adult pornography he had been watching, South Cumbria Magistrates Court heard.

READ MORE HERE: Man sentenced for activating incognito mode in attempt to hide porn sites

Drunk Barrow man sentenced for possessing knife outside Tesco store

A BARROW man has been sentenced for having a DIY knife while drunk outside a Tesco Express store.

Darren Brennan was arrested on September 9 last year on Rawlinson Street in Barrow.

READ MORE HERE: Man, 51, given chance by judge after carrying knife for second time

Barrow man assaulted bar workers after 'punch-up' broke out

A MAN assaulted two female bar workers after a 'mass punch-up' broke out in a venue, a court heard.

Magistrates were told Ben Dixon was trying to escape a skirmish at The Knights bar in Barrow town centre when he jumped over the bar.

READ MORE HERE: Man assaulted bar workers after 'punch-up' broke out

Barrow thief carried out spate of shop thefts at Aldi, Tesco and Boots

A THIEF who stole from three shops needed money to buy food, a court has heard.

Stephen Anderson landed himself in court after he stole the items in incidents spanning four months.

READ MORE HERE: Thief carried out spate of shop thefts to 'pay for food'

Barrow woman 'apologised' after assault on mental health unit worker

A WOMAN who assaulted a mental health unit worker has been sentenced by a court.

Abigal Stewart admitted assaulting an emergency worker when she appeared before South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

READ MORE HERE: Woman 'apologised' after assault on mental health unit worker

Darren Merritt charged with offences in Cumbria

A MAN has appeared in court accused of stalking, assaulting and strangling his now ex-partner in Grasmere.

Darren Merritt, 49, faces six charges which allege that he committed a number of offences against the woman during a period of several months.

READ MORE HERE: Man appears in court accused of stalking, assaulting and strangling ex-partner

Barrow man accused of fraud cleared of wrongdoing

A MAN accused of using his ex-wife's name to apply for a loan has been cleared of wrongdoing.

James Dowds faced two charges of fraud by false representation after he was alleged to have applied for a loan through a finance company using the name of his former spouse.

READ MORE HERE: Man accused of fraud cleared of wrongdoing

Barrow man ordered to pay compensation to victim after sexual assault

A MAN has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman by touching when she did not consent.

Matthew Monaghan, of James Street in Barrow, pleaded guilty to the charge at the first opportunity at South Cumbria Magistrates Court on January 15.

READ MORE HERE: Man, 50, ordered to pay £250 compensation after sexually assaulting woman