As the New Year approaches, read on to reflect on some of the news stories of the year:
![The victim, aged in his teens, was working as an apprentice at a garage off Weeton Road on June 1, 2021.
During his shift, the teenager – who has autism – was chased into the garage by several men armed with an accelerant.
The men then ignited the accelerant with a blow torch that was aimed at the victim’s legs.
Adam Lavelle (pictured, top left), Michael Jeffrey (top right), Soldon Legdani (bottom left) and Simon Hickinbottom (bottom right) were subsequently jailed.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU5YTI4N2JhLTA1OTAtNGNkMi04MzRiLTMyNzI4ZWMxYWI3Zjo2MmEyYzg5MC05Mjc0LTQ3MjktOTM0NC03OGJiNjJhMjM5M2E=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=384)
17. Four men jailed after ‘vulnerable colleague’ set on fire with blow torch
The victim, aged in his teens, was working as an apprentice at a garage off Weeton Road on June 1, 2021. During his shift, the teenager – who has autism – was chased into the garage by several men armed with an accelerant. The men then ignited the accelerant with a blow torch that was aimed at the victim’s legs. Adam Lavelle (pictured, top left), Michael Jeffrey (top right), Soldon Legdani (bottom left) and Simon Hickinbottom (bottom right) were subsequently jailed. Photo: Lancashire Police
![Rebecca Downes, 44, died in the early hours of Wednesday, July 6, after a devastating fire ripped through the top floor of her home in Hill Street, South Shore, at 12.50am.
She had managed to escape from the top floor of the building, but died of her injuries at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
A man in his 50s and three of her children, aged 13, 16 and 26, were also hospitalised.
On July 26, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and taken into custody for questioning.
He was later released under investigation.](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmExODNkOWU4LTYyNzItNGQ5OS04MWJmLWZiYzFhMDQ4NWM2Yjo1NmY2ZjNiMy1mNmJjLTRkN2QtYjlkNC1kY2MyNmMxNDg0ZjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
18. Mum-of four killed in fire
Rebecca Downes, 44, died in the early hours of Wednesday, July 6, after a devastating fire ripped through the top floor of her home in Hill Street, South Shore, at 12.50am. She had managed to escape from the top floor of the building, but died of her injuries at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. A man in his 50s and three of her children, aged 13, 16 and 26, were also hospitalised. On July 26, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and taken into custody for questioning. He was later released under investigation. Photo: Lancashire Police