CPS News Brief

Youth charged with attempted murder of Bradford teacher

A 14 year old youth has been charged with attempted murder, the CPS announced today. 

The charge arises following an incident on 11 June at Dixons Kings Academy, Bradford, in which a teacher was stabbed. 

Martin Goldman, Chief Crown Prosecutor CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said:

"The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely with West Yorkshire Police in connection with this case.

"Having carefully considered all of the evidence presented to us, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge a 14-year-old youth with attempted murder.

"Accordingly I have today authorised West Yorkshire Police to charge the youth with this offence and he will first appear at Bradford Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

"This defendant has now been charged with a serious criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

Former Lancashire County cricketer jailed for fraud and money laundering

Former county cricket player, Andrew Hayhurst has yesterday (11th June) been jailed for two years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for stealing £107,548 from Lancashire Cricket Board and Lancashire Youth Cricket Charitable Trust between 2006 and 2013. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to fraud, theft, false accounting, and money laundering offences.

Charlotte Crangle, Senior Crown Advocate, CPS North West said:

“Andrew Hayhurst, who was held in great esteem as an ex-professional cricketer, abused his position of trust within the Lancashire Cricket Board and Lancashire Youth Cricket Charitable Trust over a seven year period to steal a significant amount of money from organisations which help young people in schools and cricket clubs.

“He did not act in the interests of those starting out in the sporting world, which he used to be part of, but instead served to line his own pocket by diverting funds intended to be distributed to local clubs and councils. He paid the cheques into his own bank account for his own personal benefit.

“We worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case against Hayhurst which resulted in him pleading guilty to the offences he faced. We will now do all we can to strip Hayhurst of the criminal assets he has obtained.

“This case also sends a clear message to those involved in this kind of criminality that we will robustly prosecute them to ensure that justice is done, and that they will pay not only financially, but with their liberty too.”

34 year old man sentenced to 16 years following UK's first forced marriage conviction

A 34 year old man has today been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for what is understood to be the first conviction under the new offence of forced marriage which came into effect in June 2014.

The man, from South Wales, also pleaded guilty to four counts of rape, one count of bigamy and one count of voyeurism. The court heard that the man was particularly possessive and controlling of his victim during the time they knew one another.  Between March and September 2014, he repeatedly raped and threatened his victim before forcing her to marry him against her will in an act of bigamy on his behalf.

Forced marriage was criminalised under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. This came into force on 16 June 2014.  

Iwan Jenkins, Head of CPS Wales Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said:

“Forced marriage wrecks lives and destroys families. We hope that today’s sentence sends a strong message that forced marriage will not be tolerated in today’s Britain.

“It is a testament to the strength of the case which we constructed with the police that we secured a guilty plea for the offences in this case.

“The victim has shown great courage and bravery in reporting these matters. This conviction illustrates the seriousness in which these crimes are treated and investigated by the Crown Prosecution Service and South Wales Police. 

“I hope today’s sentence brings some closure for those who have suffered as a result of these particularly nasty and invasive crimes.”