Blackpool: From the courts 24-02-17

An elderly man with one leg broke his sex offenders order when he went to stay at a relative’s home where there was two children.

Wheelchair-user Mervyn Spencer, 66, had a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed on him at Preston Crown Court in 2016 when he was convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

But when Spencer came out of hospital following a leg amputation he signed out of a rehab unit and asked a relative if he could live at her home in Preston.

Spencer, of Station Road, Wesham, admitted breaching his order when he appeared before magistrates.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said the relative had no idea Spencer was subject to the order and had she known would not have allowed him to sleep on her sofa.

The court heard that Spencer was sometimes naked from the waist down and was with two children when their mother went to the shops.

The prosecutor said that another relative became suspicious and contacted social services and the police and was told that he should have no contact with anyone under 16.

He was arrested and told police he was too ashamed of the order to tell anyone about it.

He accepted he had made a stupid mistake and was embarrassed about what he had done.

He told police he thought the order only related to girls not boys and he was not interested in boys.

Peter Manning, defending, said: “There is no suggestion anything untoward happened at the house in Preston although it is accepted there was the potential for things going awry.

“He says he will not breach the order again.”

Spencer was given a 12-week curfew from 2pm to 10pm to allow him to take up medical appointments. He was ordered to pay £170 costs.

Here is a round-up of some of Thursday’s cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court 23-02-17

Craig Manning, 23, indecent exposure

A man who aimed to join the Army indecently exposed himself to a 78-year-old woman.

Craig Manning was at his girlfriend’s flat when he indicated to the elderly stranger he wanted to see her, then dropped his underpants.

As the woman backed away, Manning asked her: “You won’t tell anyone will you?”

Manning, 23, of Broadwater Avenue, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure.

He was sentenced to a six months community order with up to 50 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation officer, put on an eight weeks curfew from 9pm to 5am and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the woman with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said the victim, who lived at flats in Thornton, saw Manning at the window of one of the flats, on February 7 at 2pm. He indicated he wanted to speak to her.

She went in and Manning opened the door in his underpants.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said his client was depressed because he had applied to join the Army but then broken a finger. That meant he could not do basic training and he was told to apply again this month.

The day of the offence Manning’s girlfriend had gone to work. From breakfast time he had drunk a bottle-and-a-half of wine and smoked cannabis.

Mr Coyle said: “He says he was off his head. He seems to have interpreted a smile the victim gave him as a come on, so he pulled down his underpants. It beggars belief.

“He accepts his behaviour was shocking. He cannot control his embarrassment at what he did. His girlfriend does not know what to think and their relationship is on hold.”

Toyan Bristol, 23, possessing an offensive weapon, possession of heroin and cocaine

A man found with drugs and a knuckleduster struggled violently with police trying to arrest him.

Toyan Bristol came under police suspicion after officers saw him slumped over the wheel of a car in a leisure complex car park.

Bristol, 23, of Braith Close, Marton, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and having heroin and cocaine,

He was sentenced to 84 days imprisonment and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by magistrates who ordered the destruction of the drugs and weapon.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Bristol apparently asleep at the wheel of a Mazda parked in the Rigby Road leisure centre car park, in the early hours of July 10.

After being roused and getting out of the car Bristol tried to get back in the vehicle. A bag of drugs was found in the car and a knuckleduster in his pocket.

Brett Chappell, defending, said his client was currently serving a prison sentence for possessing CS gas, resisting arrest and driving matters.

Luke Goodman, 32, theft, failure to answer bail

A man who stole a woman’s handbag in a bar was chased and put under citizen’s arrest by customers and security staff.

Luke Goodman, 32, of Park Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft and failing to answer bail.

He was sentenced to nine weeks jail suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Goodman stole a handbag on January 15 from Ma Kelly’s bar, Talbot Road. The owner of the bag saw he had taken it, shouted for help and he was caught.

When interviewed by police Goodman said he had been at the bar with his girlfriend and then lost her. He picked up the handbag thinking it was hers. He admitted using heroin and cocaine.

Peter Cave, defending, said his client, who had significant mental health problems, had attended court but left before his case was called on after panicking. He had later handed himself into police.

Gary Kelly, 56, breach of post prison sentence supervision order

A man ended up under arrest after failing to keep in touch with the probation service.

Gary Kelly, 56, of Central Drive, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to breaching post prison sentence supervision. He was sentenced to a six weeks tagged curfew from 7pm to 6am and ordered to pay £50 costs by magistrates.

Neal Brookes, prosecuting for the probation service, said Kelly had been sentenced to 22 weeks jail which was suspended, for two offences of breaching a restraining order. The probation service lost contact with him after he failed to attend an appointment with them on January 17 and left no forwarding address.

Peter Manning, defending, said his client was homeless at the time. Kelly had not attended the appointment on January 17 because he was ill.