Blackpool: From the courts 15-03-18

A man who stole thousands of pounds when he raided a Blackpool bank was caught because he cut himself breaking in.

Jason Cave left a small spot of blood at the Nat West Bank, Lytham Road, South Shore, after he smashed his way in with a crowbar.

Forensic tests on the blood showed there was a one-in-billion chance of it belonging to anyone other than Cave.

Cave, 26, of Crescent Close, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to burglary.

He was jailed for 14 weeks and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge.

Presiding magistrate, Neil Atkinson, told him: “The premises were deliberately targeted, a weapon was carried and you were a member of a gang.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police went to the resort’s NatWest Bank on December 8 at 4.25am, after the alarm went off.

Officers found a window and an internal perspex safety window had been smashed with a crowbar and £3,000 of cash stolen from drawers inside the bank.

A trace of blood left on the perspex window was linked to Cave who had a previous conviction for burglary.

Domenico Santoro, 23, and Giovanni Santoro, 31, grievous bodily harm

Two brothers accused of attacking a man fracturing his cheek bone have made their first appearance at court.

Domenico Santoro, 23, of Pierston Avenue, North Shore, and Giovanni Santoro, 31, of Sherwood Avenue, Layton, are charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The offence is alleged to have taken place on September 30 last year at Blackpool.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, asked for the case to be heard at crown court.

The defendants were bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on April 11.

Jacqueline Gold, 22, drink-driving

A woman was found to be three times over the drink-drive limit on the anniversary of a friend’s death.

Jacqueline Gold had gone to a memorial meal for the friend but then suffered a panic attack when others did not turn up and drove off.

Gold, 22, of Kimberley Avenue, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was sentenced to do 80 hours unpaid work for the community, banned from the road for 24 months and ordered to pay £85 cost with an £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police received a tip-off a potential drink-driver was going to drive off in a Peugeot from the resort’s Beach House Restaurant on February 20 at 1.50pm.

Police stopped Gold on the Promenade and a breath test showed 104 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

In a report to the court, probation officer Eleanor Cordwell, told magistrates that Gold said it was the second anniversary of a close friend’s death.

Gold and other friends had arranged to go for a memorial meal. Gold, who rarely drank, arrived at the restaurant around noon.

She decided to drink because she was very upset and emotional. When the other friends did not arrive she suffered from anxiety and a panic attack and left.

David Charnley, defending, said: “It was a moment of madness. It is not likely to happen again.”

Craig Gilroy, 30, theft

A thief who was short of money in the run up to Christmas targeted the same shop two days running.

Craig Gilroy, 30, of George Street, North Shore, pleaded guilty to two offences of theft.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £47 compensation with £85 costs plus £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Gilroy was detained at the B and M Bargains store, Whitegate Drive, on December 23 at noon, after stealing three jars of coffee valued at £14.

CCTV showed he had been in the shop the day before and taken four bottles of liqueur worth £47.

He had a record of 29 previous offences of theft and similar matters and at the time of the offence was on post prison sentence supervision.

Howard Green, defending, said in the run up to Christmas his client was short of money and decided to steal to get some. Gilroy, who had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, was estranged from his family.

He had no permanent accommodation but was allowed to sleep at the address he had given.

He had also missed appointments with the probation service on his post prison sentence supervision.