Rapist jailed

A RAPIST who attacked a teenage schoolgirl has been jailed.

James Eastwood, who was 16 at the time, raped the teenager after meeting her in an alleyway near a supermarket in Bamber Bridge in June 2019.

While on bail he then went on to sexually assault two other teenage girls in May last year.

Eastwood, now 20, formerly of Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, was jailed for eight years with an extended licence of eight years. He was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a lifetime restraining order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. He was classed as a dangerous offender.

He was also sentenced for possession of indecent images of children found on his phone.

The judge, who praised the quality of the police investigation, had to sentence Eastwood as if he were a juvenile given the delay in the case reaching court because of the Covid pandemic.

2012 Games.

The historic role of High Sheriff dates back over 1,000 years and is personally appointed annually by the reigning monarch. Their role is to be HM The King's representative in the county, overseeing all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.

The office of High Sheriff is held for one year. It is purely voluntary and does not receive any salary or expenses.

Mr Taylor will take over from Martin Ainscough DL of Parbold Hall.

Detectives investigating robbery in Blackburn make arrest

Detectives investigating a robbery in Blackburn have made an arrest.

Police were called to Beardwood Fold to reports a car had collided with a white van, before the male occupants of the car had assaulted and robbed the driver of the van.

Det Con Laura Thornley, of the south rape team, said: “Eastwood is a dangerous sexual predator and I welcome the sentence. I would like to praise the victims in this case for having the courage to go through the court process and to see their attacker imprisoned.

“I hope that this sentence gives others the confidence to come forward and report rape and sexual abuse offences to us confident in the knowledge that we will investigate with sensitivity, tenacity and professionalism and that we will do all we can to get justice for victims and put offenders behind bars.”

The suspects, who were wearing masks, are reported to have been carrying weapons.

A man from Burnley has been arrested as part of our enquiries and remains in custody at this time.

DI Charles Stewart, of Blackburn CID, said: “I know incidents of this nature cause the community some concern and I am also aware there is a video of the latter part of this incident circulating on social media.

“I just want to reassure the public that this is very much being treated as an isolated incident. Although we have made an arrest our enquiries are ongoing, and we have a dedicated team of officers assigned to this case. With that in mind, I would ask for any witnesses or anybody with CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage which could assist our investigation to contact the police as soon as possible. We would be particularly keen to hear from anybody who captured a white Vauxhall Vivaro or a white Audi A4 in and around the Beardwood area before and after the incident took place.”