Court: Weekly round-up of south Cumbria criminals sentenced and jailed

Former Barrow AFC defender Francis Ventre jailed for drug dealing A FORMER Barrow AFC defender has been jailed for nine years after he made kilogram drug deals worth nearly half a million pounds. Francis Ventre used his club's name as the password for an encrypted phone which helped investigators prove he was a leading figure in a conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine worth ?479,500.

Barrow AFC fan banned after abusing autistic children at match A BARROW AFC fan has been slapped with a banning order after he hurled abuse towards autistic children while drunk at a match. Stephen Monk attended Barrow AFC's fixture against Barnet FC in Sky Bet League Two at the Holker Street Stadium on October 25 last year, South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard.

Barrow man pleads guilty to supplying ketamine A 20-year-old man has confessed to pedalling Class B drugs. Ashton Cleece, of Laurence Avenue, Barrow, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply ketamine when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on February 2.

BAE apprentice Cameron Currie 'could have killed' biker in crash A RECENTLY retired motorcyclist made a 'miraculous recovery' after he suffered serious injuries in a crash, a court heard. His Honour Judge (HHJ) Richard Archer said the 'consequences could have been catastrophic' to the biker after 26-year-old BAE apprentice Cameron Currie failed to notice him on the road.

A590: Teenager crashed into tree causing serious injury to passenger A PASSENGER sustained a fractured eye socket and nose after a teenage driver crashed into a tree, a court heard. Leon Simmons, of Winder Lane, Flookburgh, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless / inconsiderate driving when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

Five men jailed for Class A drugs supply in Barrow Five men have been jailed for Class A drug supply offences in South Cumbria. Four of the men were sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Immigrants to be deported after jail for supplying cocaine in Barrow TWO immigrants will be deported after serving jail time for supplying Class A drugs to users in Barrow, a judge has ruled. Sokratis Lleshaj, 21 and Perlat Hamza, 36, were sentenced at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Barrow man dozed in car while drunk on Ulverston night out - sentence A BARROW man has been slapped with a fine after he 'dozed off' in his car with the engine running following a night out in Ulverston. Darren Grieg, of Priory Road, Ulverston, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of his Mercedes C180 vehicle when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on February 2.

Two men jailed over London-to-Barrow cocaine supply network TWO Albanian men have been jailed for supplying drugs to Barrow users after large quantities of cocaine and nearly ?20,000 in cash was discovered at a property in London. Erald Sulaj and Ergys Elezi were sentenced at Preston Crown Court after both pleaded guilty to one offence of being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug.

Barrow dad caught with 'large amount' of cocaine on 30th birthday A DAD-of-four was found with 'a large amount' of Class A drugs on his 30th birthday, a court heard. Ricky Brown was caught with 20.6 grams worth of cocaine on April 27, 2025, South Cumbria Magistrates' Court was told.

M6: Dangerous drug driver evades police between Cumbria and Lancashire A DRUG driving motorist had a 'disregard for the safety of other road users on the motorway' after attempting to evade police for approximately 15 miles. Daniel Lucas pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with a proportion of a controlled drug above a specified limit and driving without third party insurance.

A590: Parish councillor 'flattened' by delivery driver at services A PARISH councillor sustained significant bruising to her body after a delivery driver in her path pushed her over, a court heard. Marcus Kerr came into contact with the woman after he had entered the wrong entrance of the Newby Bridge services on the A590 on August 6 last year, prosecutor Peter Kelly told South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

Walney man tried to dump cocaine in pub toilets on A590 after crash A PASSENGER involved in a crash on the A590 near Ulverston attempted to dispose of Class A drugs in a nearby pub on behalf of the driver, a court heard. John Fogharty, of Central Drive on Walney, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on February 4.

Barrow woman with lifetime animal ban fined after police find dog A WOMAN banned from owning animals for life has been sentenced for being in possession of a dog. Tracy Walker, of Glasgow Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to the offence at the first opportunity at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on February 4.

Millom dad jailed for crowbar attack on hero man protecting woman A DAD has been jailed after he hit a have-a-go hero over the head with a crowbar when he stepped in to protect an innocent woman. A court heard the assault took place when the victim witnessed Dean Edgeler, of Holborn Hill, Millom, throwing a woman against a wall on the night of February 13, 2023, in Millom.

References

1. ^ Ex-Barrow AFC player turned drug dealer used club's name as encrypted phone password (www.nwemail.co.uk)
2. ^ Barrow AFC fan receives banning order after abusing autistic children at match (www.nwemail.co.uk)
3. ^ 20-year-old pleads guilty to possession with intent to supply ketamine (www.nwemail.co.uk)
4. ^ BAE apprentice and rugby club captain 'could have killed' retired biker in crash (www.nwemail.co.uk)
5. ^ Passenger left with fractured eye socket after teen crashed car into tree on A590 (www.nwemail.co.uk)
6. ^ Five men jailed after what eagle-eyed officers saw on the street in Barrow (www.nwemail.co.uk)
7. ^ Immigrants to be deported after serving jail time for supplying drugs in Barrow (www.nwemail.co.uk)
8. ^ 'Foolish' Barrow man on a bar crawl slept in his car with keys in the ignition (www.nwemail.co.uk)
9. ^ Pair jailed after ?20,000 and cocaine seized in London to Barrow drugs operation (www.nwemail.co.uk)
10. ^ 'Moment of madness': Dad caught with 'large amount' of cocaine on 30th birthday (www.nwemail.co.uk)
11. ^ 'Prolonged piece of bad driving' - Dangerous drug-driver flees crash on motorway (www.nwemail.co.uk)
12. ^ Parish councillor 'flattened' by delivery driver after row at A590 service station (www.nwemail.co.uk)
13. ^ Passenger in crash caught disposing of driver's cocaine in pub toilets - sentence (www.nwemail.co.uk)
14. ^ Woman banned for life from owning animals sentenced after police find dog in house (www.nwemail.co.uk)
15. ^ Dad hit have-a-go-hero with a crowbar after he stepped in to protect a woman (www.nwemail.co.uk)