Blackpool: From the courts 18-01-18

Peter Fowler, 47, attempted burglary

A burglar caught after trying to break into a restaurant told police he had spent a relative’s money on drugs.

Peter Fowler, 47, of Westmorland Avenue, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to attempting to burgle the Oriental Chop Suey Bar, Central Drive.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said police making inquiries about a missing man were in an alley at the rear of Central Drive in the early hours of January 14, when they heard the sound of breaking glass and voices.

A man walked out of a rear gateway followed by Fowler who had a hammer and chisel in his hand.

A wooden panel had been smashed in the restaurant door and a nearby window broken.

Fowler told officers: “It’s my nephew’s birthday. I have a really bad crack problem and I spent all his money. I have to get it back.”

He added that the other man he had been with had tried to talk him out of breaking into the restaurant.

Fowler was bailed for pre-sentence reports by District Judge Jeff Brailsford.

Sebastian Kilpatrick, 19, drink-driving

A teenage drink-driver staggered along a road then fell flat on his back on a roundabout after crashing his car.

Sebastian Kilpatrick was almost three times over the alcohol limit when he clipped a kerb driving friends home.

Kilpatrick, a 19-year-old sandwich shop worker, of Carr Head Lane, Poulton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from the road for 23 months, fined £200 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Kilpatrick’s Ford Fiesta stopped on Amounderness Way, Fleetwood, on December 23 at 4.50am.

Officers saw Kilpatrick staggering along the road before he fell on his back on a roundabout. People at the scene identified him as the driver.

A breath test showed 91 micrograms of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

When interviewed Kilpatrick said he had drunk some vodka and a couple of pints in Poulton and as it was busy and there were no taxis, he drove to Fleetwood with friends where he had another couple of pints.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had made a grave error of judgement when he was on a Christmas night out with friends and was truly remorseful.

Phillip Scholes, 64, drink-driving

A civil servant was reported to police after drinking wine in a pub on New Year’s Eve.

Phillip Scholes, who was seen driving over a grass verge in the car park of the Bay Horse pub, Thornton, was found to be almost three times over the limit.

Scholes, aged 64, of Hawthorne Road, Thornton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from the road for 26 months, fined £750 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £75 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said staff at the Bay Horse pub contacted police on January 1 at 1.25am, to say a man who had been drinking wine at the pub was driving on the car park.

A member of the public removed the keys from Scholes’ car.

Scholes told police: “I’ll be well over.” A breath test showed 96 micrograms of alcohol - 35 is the limit.

When interviewed he said he had drunk at least a bottle of wine in the pub.

David Charnley, defending, said his client was very remorseful and the offence was out of character.

Scholes offered no excuse for getting into the car. He only lived two streets away and he could have easily walked.

Sarah hutchinson, 23, drink-driving, no insurance

A party planner seen driving without headlights was almost three times over the alcohol limit.

Sarah Hutchinson, 23, of Holmfield Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance.

She was disqualified from driving for 26 months, fined £460 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £46 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Hutchinson driving a Ford Focus without headlights on Grosvenor Street and cutting a corner on December 29 at 5.40am.

Police put on their blue lights but Hutchinson only stopped when the police car sirens were sounded.

A breath test showed 91 micrograms of alcohol in her body - 35 is the limit.

David Charnley, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been out with friends.

The car belonged to a man and it was arranged he should drive, but he got so drunk Hutchinson took his keys off him.

She felt okay to drive so she did.

Hutchinson had believed as she had a fully comprehensive insurance policy she was covered to drive the man’s car.