A former Lancashire Police officer has been handed a lengthy jail sentence for an attempted murder in Manchester city centre.
James Riley, from Preston in Lancashire, was sentenced to 16 years behind bars at Manchester Crown Court last Friday (12 January) after pleading guilty to the offence.
The sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) initially responded to a call of concern for the welfare of a woman in her 20s, who was found unresponsive at a hotel on Brook Street in Manchester city centre on the night of Thursday 10 November 2022.
She was found by emergency services in a life-threatening condition, and was later transferred to hospital in an induced coma, but thankfully, she regained consciousness the following day – although she has suffered some long-lasting injuries as a result.
28 year-old Riley – who was not on duty at the time of the incident – made a roughly 10-minute call to his family, before anonymously calling for an ambulance and then proceeding to flee the scene, leaving the victim behind.
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He tried to evade capture using several different types of transport to hide his tracks and direction of travel, according to GMP.
#JAILED | These are the movements of James Riley, a former Lancashire Police officer, who has been sentenced to 16 years for an attempt murder.
He was off duty at the time of the incident which took place in the city centre in November 2022.
This was initially done by Riley exiting the hotel in his car, before crashing it nearby, and then running from the scene and attempting to get on a bus, taxi, and hitchhike back home to Lancashire – but a CCTV trawl, which was described as “painstaking”, saw police manage to track Riley’s movements in the aftermath of the incident.
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It also went on to further highlight Riley’s instincts and intention on evading capture by retrieving two £250 cash transactions from different ATMs, and then discarding his mobile phone to make sure he couldn’t be digitally tracked.
A “wide-ranging search” for Riley using a number of resources – including specialist operations across three police forces in the North West – followed this, all before he was found and arrested in the early hours of the morning in West Yorkshire.
Lancashire Police then immediately suspended Riley, and launched an internal investigation into his conduct, alongside the criminal enquiries by GMP – which led to an accelerated misconduct hearing, where he was dismissed from the force without notice.
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Riley has also been added to the College of Policing barred list, GMP has confirmed.
Featured Image – GMP
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Man pleads guilty to ‘preparing for acts of terrorism’ in relation to Manchester synagogue attack
Emily Sergeant
A man with links to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attacker has pleaded guilty to preparation for acts of terrorism.
Mohammad Asim Bashir, of Shaftesbury Road in Cheetham Hill, appeared at the Central Criminal Court last week (Friday 5 June 2026) and pleaded guilty to one count of preparation for acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2006.
The prosecution will consider the basis of the guilty plea, and now a two-day sentencing hearing has been set for 22-23 July 2026 at Manchester Crown Court.
In case you need a reminder, the shocking knife and car attack took place on 2 October 2025 on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar – at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
During the incident, two men sadly lost their lives during the attack – Adrian Daulby, 53, who was shot dead by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) while trying to stop the attacker from entering the synagogue, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, a worshipper who also helped stop the attacker.
A man with links to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attacker has pleaded guilty to preparation for acts of terrorism / Credit: Google Maps | GMP
The attacker was named as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie – a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who lived in Prestwich – who at the time was on bail for an alleged rape, before being shot dead by police.
Following the terrorist attack, enquiries conducted by detectives identified Bashir as an associate of Jihad Al-Shamie, and established that the two of them had conducted ;hostile reconnaissance of a UK defence facility’ on 14 August 2025.
The pair were seen on CCTV prior to the trip discussing criteria for potential targets to attack.
They were then seen on ANPR cameras making the journey to the site – with Bashir acting as the driver for most of the journey.
He is due to be sentenced next month / Credit: GMP
Speaking following Bashir’s guilty plea, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts – who holds operational responsibility for Counter Terrorism Policing North West – commented: “Our comprehensive enquiries led to the offending of Mohammed Bashir coming to light.
“Although not directly linked to the synagogue attack, the fact he conducted hostile reconnaissance alongside a man who would later commit a terrorist attack show the seriousness of his actions.
“We welcome today’s guilty plea and look ahead to the sentencing which is due to take place in July.
“This case will understandably prompt public commentary about the terrorist attack that took place last October. My thoughts today are with all those affected, particularly the loved ones of those whose lives were taken and those who were seriously injured.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Pat Regan at the Fairfield Social Club – a brilliantly unhinged evening of standup comedy
Clementine Hall
There’s a particular kind of chaos that only Pat Regan can deliver, and the recently re-recognised Fairfield Social Club got the full force of it last night.
Making his Manchester debut as part of the ‘A Lovely Time’ series at the equally as lovely Fairfield Social Club, the New York comic, writer, and podcast host arrived with the energy of someone who had already lived through three emotional breakdowns before breakfast and somehow still had the worst to come.
Known for his work on HBO’s Hacks and the cult-favourite podcast Seek Treatment with fellow comic Catherine Cohen, Regan’s stand-up feels less like your traditional comedy set and more like being trapped in the world’s funniest group chat.
The perfectly intimate room beneath Fairfield’s railway arches was packed with adoring fans who were immediately on side as Regan launched into stories about traumatic trips to Paris, Grindr dates, massage tables and having crushes at the gym.
The audience was in the palm of his slightly sweaty hands (don’t worry, he’ll be fine with me saying so), laughing at every awkward punchline and self-deprecating anecdote.
The material is nothing groundbreaking, but this is what makes it so deeply hilarious; never before has shopping for the perfect pair of jeans been so serious and unserious at the same time.
There was laughter rolling through the venue for virtually the entire set, and after an hour of never-ending quips and jokes, we were left wanting more.
And the best part is, it won’t be long until we get more from this place, and it’s no wonder they’re starting to get the hosting plaudits they deserve.
It’s safe to say Fairfield Social Club has become one of Manchester’s most exciting homes for alternative comedy, and this felt like exactly the sort of booking that justifies its growing reputation.
By the time Regan left the stage, the audience looked equal parts exhausted and delighted. An absolutely classy evening indeed.
Find out about what else is on at the Fairfield Social Club HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
15th January 2024 
