Veteran's attacker sent back to jail over burglary

James Lowry, 27, of Caroline Street, Preston, has been jailed for 21 months over his latest misdemeanour, which ended in a supermarket rampage.

Lowry stole a car during a house burglary in Preston on October 21, then drove himself and another man to Morrisons supermarket on Blackpool Road.

After suspicious staff saw him stealing beer he hurled glass bottles at them.

Richard Howarth, prosecuting, said: “A phone call was made to police around 7.50am. There were reports of a man acting in an aggressive fashion in the store and stealing items.

“He became aggressive, raising his fists and throwing bottles. He was shouting where were his keys."

Bungling Lowry was arrested by police who arrived before he had found the keys.

He made no comment in interview but later admitted affray, burglary, theft and driving without insurance or a licence.

In 2008 Lowry was jailed after subjecting former Preston councillor Ron Yates, then 86, to a machete attack in his own home. He died two months later, though a judge ruled his death was not linked.

Lowry’s defence lawyer said he had been working as a window cleaner before relapsing into drug abuse.