Blackpool: From the courts 04-10-17

Here is Tuesday’s round-up of cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court 03-10-17

Daniel Ashworth, 25, breach of community order

A father who failed to do any payback work or rehabilitation sessions wept in the dock when he realised magistrates were giving him a last chance and he was not going to jail.Daniel Ashworth and his partner both had medical problems and a number of children to care for so he missed appointments a court was told.Ashworth, 25, of Branstree Road, Mereside, pleaded guilty to breaching a community order.He was sentenced to a three-month jail sentence, suspended for a year with up to 25 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service.Ashworth was warned by presiding magistrate, Ian Robertson, that if he appeared again before them on a similar offence - “next time it will be immediate custody.”Brian Weatherington, prosecuting for the probation service, said Ashworth had been sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 20 days rehabilitation and 150 hours unpaid work for the community in April, for offences of assault and damage.On July 21 he missed a payback work session and on August 1 failed to attend a supervision appointment with his probation officer. Patrick Nelligan, defending, said Ashworth’s partner had been in and out of hospital with a serious medical problem. They had a number of children and Ashworth helped care for them.

Paul Newburn, 56, indecent assaulting girl under 14, sexually touching girl, 13

A man accused of carrying out sex attacks on two teenage girls has made his first appearance at court.Paul Newburn, 56, of Waterloo Road, South Shore, faces nine charges of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14 and one charge of sexually touching a girl aged 13.He pleaded not guilty to all the offences which are alleged to have taken place between 1997 and 2011 at Blackpool.Newburn was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 1.

James Walton, 48, and Tracey Simmonds, 48, malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

A couple accused of stabbing a man have made their first appearance at court.James Walton, 48, of Withnell Road, and Tracey Simmonds, 48, of Osborne Road, both of South Shore, are charged with maliciously wounding a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.The offence is alleged to have taken place on September 29 in Blackpool.Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said the case must be heard at crown court.Defence lawyer, Hugh Pond, who did not apply for bail, said his clients had indicated they would plead not guilty to the offence.The defendants were remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 1.

Leon Bolger, 24, failing to stop for police, no insurance

Police were forced to chase a driver in St Annes after he refused to stop when requested to by an officer.Leon Bolger ended up driving along 20mph Bartle Avenue at double the speed limit pursued by a police car with its blue lights and sirens on.Bolger, 24, of Elgin Place, Grange Park, pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police and driving without insurance.He was fined Â£230 with Â£85 costs plus Â£30 victims’ surcharge and had eight motoring penalty points put on his driving licence.Prosecutor, Adrian Hollamby, said Bolger was driving a Renault Megane in St Annes, on September 8, at 6.10pm, when police signalled him to stop as they had received a report he was driving without insurance.Bolger refused to halt and there was a chase.Mitch Sarangi, defending, said that the pursuit did not go on for long. Bolger knew he should have stopped and he had now learned his lesson.

Mary Thornton, 77, drink-driving

A 77-year-old woman accused of drink driving had her case adjourned by magistrates after her lawyer said she was going to stop driving.Mary Thornton, of Warley Road, Blackpool, is alleged to have driven a Peugeot 206 on the resort’s Devonshire Road in February with 45 micrograms of alcohol in her – 35 is the limit.Paul Robinson, defending, said his client was in the process of surrendering her driving licence.The prosecutor said the Crown Prosecution Service was waiting for confirmation the defendant had surrendered her licence. After this they would consider dropping the prosecution.