Former Co-Op Bank chairman who stole from vulnerable friend ordered to pay back £184,000 to victims

Paul Flowers, former Co-Operative Bank Chairman, Labour councillor in Rochdale and Bradford, and Methodist minister stole from his friend Margaret Jarvis whilst she battled Alzheimer’s.  On her death he continued to steal from her estate, abusing his position as executor of her will. Over several years Paul Flowers, 75, wrote himself cheques, withdrew cash and […]

Continue Reading

Paedophile ex-school teacher jailed for multiple child sexual abuse offences

A former maths teacher has been sentenced for the sexual abuse of numerous girls and multiple child sexual abuses of young girls. Syed Shahreear Ahmed, 36, has been found guilty of 21 criminal charges including, grooming, sexual activity with a child, taking and making indecent images of a child, rape, and inciting a child to […]

Continue Reading

Counterfeit clothing boss ordered to pay back more than £90m of criminal proceeds

The designer of a fake luxury clothes scam has been ordered to pay back £90,503,211 or face more time in prison.  Arif Patel The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) secured a Confiscation Order against Arif Patel, 57, at Chester Crown Court on 28 August 2025. Clothing manufacturer Arif Patel, of Preston, and his criminal gang stole […]

Continue Reading

Statement by CPS Mersey-Cheshire Crown Advocate and specially trained Rape and Serious Sexual Offences lawyer Sarah Egan on the sentencing of prolific paedophile William Woods

  Crown Advocate Sarah Egan does media statement on the sentencing of William Woods on 15 August 2025 at Chester Crown Court “Today (15 August 2025) marks the day that William Woods, one of the most prolific paedophiles that the Crown Prosecution Service in Merseyside and Cheshire has ever dealt with, has been brought to […]

Continue Reading

Woman jailed for causing death of long-term partner

A woman has been jailed for causing the death of her terminally ill partner of 37 years after attacking him on New Year’s Eve. Gillian Shaw, 62, of Rothwell Street, Liverpool was originally charged with murder following the death of house-bound Steven Cox, 64 whom she cared for. Gillian Shaw He had significant medical conditions, […]

Continue Reading

Thomas Kavanagh and criminal associate ordered to pay back criminal funds

Thomas Kavanagh, a senior figure in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group (OCG) and his associate Gary Vickery, who were jailed for their part in a drug smuggling operation, which involved importing drugs inside tarmac removal machinery, have been ordered to pay back over £1 million or face more time in jail.  Daniel Canning’s confiscation hearing […]

Continue Reading

Family drugs gang sentenced for £5 million cocaine smuggling operation at Birmingham Airport

A woman from Bradford who enlisted her own children into a sophisticated £5 million pound cocaine smuggling operation was jailed for more than 13 years today at Birmingham Crown Court. Farzana Kauser, 54, headed up the Bradford-based gang, five of which were her own children, including two who were teenagers at the time of the […]

Continue Reading