Blackpool: From the courts 22/05/17

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court.
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Court news

Phillip McKenna, 41, handling stolen goods and fraud

A prolific criminal got in trouble with the law only six days after being released from prison.

Phillip McKenna used a bank card which had been stolen in a burglary only hours before to buy scratch cards, tobacco and chocolate.

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McKenna, 41, of Cheltenham Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and fraud.

By committing the offences he had breached his licence from prison to which he had been sentenced for an offence of burglary.

He was being recalled to jail and may have to serve a further two to two-and-a-half years inside.

McKenna was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

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Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a woman’s home on Salcombe Avenue, had been burgled over May 8 and 9, and her purse containing bank cards taken.

Only hours later McKenna was discovered at McColls shop using one of the stolen cards to buy goods.

Another man was also seen using the same card at the shop.

The prosecutor described McKenna as having an extensive record with convictions for robberies, burglaries and thefts on it.

The victim who had only just moved into the house was upset and had not slept at night.

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Steven Townley, defending, said his client had been outside McColls picking up cigarette ends when a man he did not know approached him and asked him to use the card to get some goods for him, saying he could also get something for himself.

McKenna thought it was strange, but he turned a blind eye to the evidence.

After buying goods at the shop he handed over some scratch cards and the card to the other man.

Brian Carlisle, 48, found in an enclosed premises with intent to steal

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Police called to a report of intruders at a tip found two men hiding in a recycling container under bin bags.

Brian Carlisle told officers the only benefit he claimed was housing benefit and that he had gone to the tip at Bristol Avenue, Bispham, to find thrown away items he could sell at car boot sales.

Carlisle, 48, of Coronation Road, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to being found on enclosed premises with intent to steal.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

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Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police received a report two men were inside the household waste recycling centre at Bispham, on April 25 at 9.35pm.

Police with dogs searched the area and Carlisle and another man were found hiding in a container under bin bags.

Carlisle told police he had regularly gone to tips to get items he could sell at car boot sales and he had believed it was not illegal as the items had been thrown away.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said his client was a proud man who did not claimed any benefits except housing benefits.

He did some car boot sales and gardening to earn money.

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Joseph Stephens, 23, failing to comply with a community order

A caravan cleaner got in trouble with the law when he failed to keep appointments with his probation officer.

Joseph Stephens, 23, of Ansdell Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a community order.

He was sentenced to a four weeks tagged curfew from 7pm to 7am and ordered to pay £60 costs by magistrates.

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Gillian O’Flaherty, prosecuting for the probation service, said Stephens had been sentenced to a community order for an offence of damage.

On April 11 and 24 Stephens failed to keep appointments with his probation officer and did not provide an explanation for his absences.

It was his second breach of the order.

Hugh Pond, defending, said his client had not seemed to appreciate the court order must be complied with. Stephens had appeared to believe he could say to the probation service he did not now need the help as he had stopped drinking and had got a job. He now knew he must comply with the order.

Katrina Wilde, 36, theft

A mother-of-three went shoplifting after relapsing back into taking drugs.

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Katrina Wild, 36, of Bold Street, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to theft of £50 worth of food.

She was fined £40 with £40 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said on April 24 Wild was seen at Asda hiding food in her jacket.

After being apprehended she admitted her motivation was to get money for drugs.

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Patrick Nelligan, defending, said at the time of the offence Wild had relapsed back into using Class A drugs. She was now seeing drug rehabilitation experts.

Danny Thompson, 23, drink-driving

A driver was almost twice over the alcohol limit when police saw him driving without headlights.

Danny Thompson, a 23-year-old ground maintenance worker, of Grasshopper Road, Warton, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

He was banned from the road for 14 months, fined £295 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

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Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said police stopped Thompson on April 28 at 1am after seeing him drive a Nissan without headlights on Lytham Road, Warton.

A breath test showed 69 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Kathryn Jamieson-Sinclair, defending, said her client was a hard-working man of previous impeccable character.

Thompson had been out with friends and drunk four pints. He said he did not know what on earth possessed him to get into his car and since then he had regretted doing so every second.