Three teenagers from Burnley have been banned from keeping pets after filming hundreds of animal cruelty videos and sharing them to social media.
Marcus Leverett, 19, Ryan Hancock, 18, and another teenager – who cannot be named due to his age – were exposed for the disgusting actions after Lancashire Police launched ‘Operation Rachet’ last year, and found horrifying footage showing dogs being used to kill badgers, deer, rabbits, and birds.
Police began investigating the group after reports that two teenagers were filmed in Burnley encouraging their dog to attack a cat – which died of its injuries on the way to the vet.
After seizing mobile phones, police uncovered the extent of the abuse and 182 TikTok videos.
Marcus Leverett pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, and was sentenced to 12 weeks custody suspended for 18 months, as well as being ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and being disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years, while Ryan Hancock was jailed for 18 weeks and also disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
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The third teenager was given a 12-month referral order and was too disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
His family was also ordered to pay £500 costs, plus a £22 victim surcharge.
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Speaking on the tragic incident, PC Matt Hartup, of the Lancashire Police Rural Task Force in the East of the county, said: “The glamorisation of this type of violence is barbaric and serves no purpose in the countryside as it promotes horrendous suffering and abuse of animals, including the lack of concern for the welfare of the dogs used for these crimes.
“We hope the court results over the last two days sends a strong message to those looking to commit crime in Lancashire, that it will not be tolerated and it will be acted upon.
“We would like to thank the community for bringing it to our attention so promptly.”
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PC Hartup also crucially confirmed the good news that the dogs in the video have all been “safely rehomed”.
Jason Bowles – the RSPCA officer who led the investigation, – added: “This group of lads was targeting animals on the council estate they lived on as well as wildlife in the surrounding area [and] we found awful footage on their mobile phones that showed extreme cruelty to animals.
“Many of the photos and videos had been set to music and edited for sharing online.
“Not only did the animals they attacked and killed suffer, but their own dogs also suffered from injuries in the confrontations and fights.”
Featured Image – RSPCA
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Drama Call opening first-ever flagship shop in Manchester
Danny Jones
Streetwear superstars Drama Call are opening their new flagship store and first-ever permanent site in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Expect massive queues and lots turning up wearing the increasingly recognisable starry logo.
Already a much-loved brand not just here in 0161 but across the nation at large, the native independent business turned street-style favourites and UK fashion phenomenon are no strangers to HUGE pop-ups in their hometown.
However, they’ve never had a mainstay location anywhere in the country, let alone Greater Manchester – well, until now, that is…
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Debuting in the Northern Quarter this Sunday, the venue located on Tib Street will effectively serve as Drama Call‘s new HQ.
The local label has done everything from popping up vans with Manc rapper Aitch to collaborating with Man United for multiple limited edition collections, so it only felt like a matter of time before they’d make a big brick-and-mortar splash in our fair city.
Most notably, they’re also taking over the same unit as the Sheep Shop, a former skate shop and legendary urban clothing tastemaker of the 90s; they were one of the first places in Britain to stock famous names like Stüssy, Supreme, Carhartt, The North Face and many more.
With that in mind, it feels only fitting that they carry on the trendsetting tradition from the same premises, and just spitting distance from the likes of Note, as well.
And that’s not all, either: before the full launch, they’ll also be holding an exclusive cash-only shirt swap event, where a limited number of certain collector’s items will be sold for as little as £10.
Other things to note are the additions of signed vinyls by homegrown artists such as the aforementioned Aitch and even The Smiths.
In fact, the store will also feature strictly Mancunian exclusives, too.
Everything from polo shirts and tees to branded mugs, matchboxes and other accessories will be available in-store only.
NQ is bound to be buzzing across launch weekend, with doors officially opening to the public on Sunday, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you see people camping outside the front well ahead of time.
What a moment the Manc shopping scene is having right now.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Pear)
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Andy Burnham explains why Number 10 North is so important as it officially ‘opens for business’
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has explained his key reasons for launching Number 10 North as it officially ‘opens for business’ this week.
You may remember that earlier last month, Andy Burnham revealed he had intentions to create a Number 10 North if he was to become Prime Minister, with the new base expected to be a ‘dominant driver of the UK’s economy’ once it was officially up and running… and now, fast forward to today, Number 10 North is officially ‘open for business’.
Operating from Heron House in Manchester city centre, as previously reported on, Number 10 North will be the Government’s new ‘situation room for growth’.
It also brings the ‘levers’ of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time ever.
Number 10 North has officially ‘opened for business’ / Credit: gov.uk (via Wikimedia Commons)
With the Prime Minister expected to work from Number 10 North each week, so that decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster, and with other ministers also working from there on a regular basis, the Government says the move underlines its determination to ‘do things differently’.
Now that Number 10 North has officially opened, Andy Burnham and his fellow ministers have explained why this move is so important for not just Manchester, but the north as a whole.
“For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve,” explained Andy Burnham.
“Number 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country. It will be the situation room for making Britain better, the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.
“The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good.”
First Secretary Louise Haigh added: “Today marks a fundamental re-balancing of where power sits in our country. Number 10 North has been set up to drive economic growth in every postcode and put power in the hands of every community.
Emily Sergeant -
25th February 2022 
