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WARD, Brian

Case Reference: 04ZL2110426

Case Details

Reference

04ZL2110426

Court

Preston Magistrates' Court - Courtroom 05

Magistrate

District Judge (MC) Goodwin , Mr McCormack JP , Mrs Sheridan JP , Mr Wray JP

Hearing Date

26 May 2026

Time

2pm

Hearing Type

Sentence

Court Type

Magistrates

Prosecutor

CPS-NW

Case Details

Offence Details: | Send communication threatening death or serious harm Possess an offensive weapon in private place

Next Steps at this Sentencing

The sentencing hearing takes place after a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty at trial. The judge or magistrates review the Sentencing Council guidelines, consider aggravating and mitigating factors, read any pre-sentence reports or victim personal statements, and decide the appropriate penalty.

Court Jurisdiction: Magistrates' Court - Magistrates' Courts handle virtually all summary offences (minor offences) and start the proceedings for serious offences. They are presided over by three volunteer Magistrates (advised by a legal advisor) or a single qualified District Judge. They do not have a jury.

General Case Information

This listing represents public court record proceedings for WARD, Brian. The legal proceedings will occur at Preston Magistrates' Court - Courtroom 05. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: HMCTS Public Court Lists.
Disclaimer: The legal definitions and sentencing guidelines above are for general educational purposes under English Law and do not constitute formal legal representation or advice. If you are facing criminal prosecution, consult a qualified criminal defense solicitor immediately.

Case FAQs & Procedure Guide

The court considers the severity of the offence, the defendant's level of culpability (blameworthiness), the harm caused, any previous criminal record (aggravating factors), and positive character references or early guilty pleas (mitigating factors).

Sentences can include discharges (absolute or conditional), fines, community orders (unpaid work, rehabilitation), suspended prison sentences, or immediate custodial sentences (imprisonment).

Yes. The defense can appeal against the severity of the sentence, and the prosecution can appeal (in some serious Crown Court cases) if they believe the sentence was unduly lenient.

For a single summary/either-way offence, magistrates can sentence a defendant to a maximum of 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months for multiple either-way offences), alongside unlimited fines and community orders.

Magistrates are trained volunteers from the local community who sit in panels of three. A District Judge is a qualified legal professional who sits alone. Both have the same sentencing powers.

Interested in the outcome of this case? You can request more information by emailing the court directly using the Email Court button at the top of the page.

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