As the New Year approaches, read on to reflect on some of the news stories of the year:
![A mother and her two children were rescued from their home following a fire in Coronation Crescent at around 8pm on Friday (April 8).
The children – named locally as Louis, five, and Desiré, three – were taken to hospital where their condition was described as critical.
Police later confirmed both children had sadly died after medical intervention was withdrawn on Tuesday (April 12).
Enquiries were launched into the cause of the fire, but police later said there was no evidence to suggest the cause of the fire was suspicious.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUxZjU2ZDc1LTA1OTUtNDUzZS1iYThlLTcyNTRmN2U1YzNhOTozODE4ZWNmMS0zNTQyLTQwNzgtODcyYS04M2JlMGM2NzRmYTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Two children killed in tragic Preston house fire
A mother and her two children were rescued from their home following a fire in Coronation Crescent at around 8pm on Friday (April 8). The children – named locally as Louis, five, and Desiré, three – were taken to hospital where their condition was described as critical. Police later confirmed both children had sadly died after medical intervention was withdrawn on Tuesday (April 12). Enquiries were launched into the cause of the fire, but police later said there was no evidence to suggest the cause of the fire was suspicious. Photo: National World
![Emergency services were called to reports a man had been stabbed in Jutland Street at around 3am on Friday (June 17).
The victim, later named as 42-year-old Lee Dawson, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with "serious chest injuries" but later died.
Four people were later charged with murder, while one person was charged with assisting an offender.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjMyMGIyOGJjLWVhYWMtNDk2NC05NGEwLWU1ODU0ZDMyMDc0Nzo1YWU3MGU1NC04OTgzLTQ5MmEtYWZjMC0yYTczY2Y3YTExODk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Man fatally stabbed in Preston
Emergency services were called to reports a man had been stabbed in Jutland Street at around 3am on Friday (June 17). The victim, later named as 42-year-old Lee Dawson, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with "serious chest injuries" but later died. Four people were later charged with murder, while one person was charged with assisting an offender. Photo: Lancashire Police
![Alex Tyson was tragically killed when his Ford Fiesta left the carriageway and collided with a lamppost on the slip road at junction 31.
Emergency services were called when the vehicle was located around an hour later.
Alex, from Preston, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute, Alex’s family said: “Alex was a precious son, brother, grandchild, nephew, uncle, cousin and a friend to all.
“Alex loved people and people loved Alex. Age was no limit; he was a priceless gift to all that knew him."](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmExYWZhYzdlLWZiZjctNGIyZi1iYTlmLWIyMDg5ZjYxNDZhZDo0NzM4M2Q1ZC00N2Y4LTRiZDAtYTZhYS0wMzFiNDVkOTIzMDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=320)
7. Teenager, 19, killed in M6 crash
Alex Tyson was tragically killed when his Ford Fiesta left the carriageway and collided with a lamppost on the slip road at junction 31. Emergency services were called when the vehicle was located around an hour later. Alex, from Preston, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. In a tribute, Alex’s family said: “Alex was a precious son, brother, grandchild, nephew, uncle, cousin and a friend to all. “Alex loved people and people loved Alex. Age was no limit; he was a priceless gift to all that knew him." Photo: Lancashire Police
![Phillip Carey, 48, pleaded guilty to raping the woman, who suffered from dementia, when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the woman’s family became concerned after they noticed that her behaviour had changed.
The family became so concerned that they installed a covert camera in her room to try and discover what was causing her so much distress.
Soon after installing the camera, they were looking at the live feed when they saw Carey enter her room.
It was then that they saw, to their horror, Carey rape and sexually assault their beloved relative.
The CPS produced forensic evidence, which along with the camera footage, meant he had no option but to accept his guilt.
Carey was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE0NTVkY2FmLWRiYmUtNDE0My1hODQ5LWZjMjJjNGJiYTA4MzozMDVlMzZkNy05NWU0LTRkMGUtYThiYS03Yzc2MDFkNjdkYTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=225)
8. Blackpool care worker raped elderly woman as family watched in horror on spycam
Phillip Carey, 48, pleaded guilty to raping the woman, who suffered from dementia, when he appeared at Preston Crown Court. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the woman’s family became concerned after they noticed that her behaviour had changed. The family became so concerned that they installed a covert camera in her room to try and discover what was causing her so much distress. Soon after installing the camera, they were looking at the live feed when they saw Carey enter her room. It was then that they saw, to their horror, Carey rape and sexually assault their beloved relative. The CPS produced forensic evidence, which along with the camera footage, meant he had no option but to accept his guilt. Carey was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years. Photo: Lancashire Police