Blackpool: From the courts 02-01-18

An accounts worker causing a drunken nuisance of himself told a police officer he would beat him in a cage fight.

Thomas Whittaker’s behaviour became so bad police eventually had to pepper-spray him after giving him numerous chances to go home.

Whittaker, 23, of Warbreck Drive, North Shore, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.He was fined £150 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by District Judge

Roger Lowe, who told him: “That was a very expensive night out.”

The judge added:”You behave in a crazy manner when you have too much to drink. If you continue in this way you will get into more trouble and lose your job and liberty.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Whittaker causing a disturbance outside Walkabout on Queen Street, on November 9 at 1am, after he had been ejected from the nightspot.

He was asked to leave the area but went to a nearby takeaway where he was involved with an incident with a man.

Whittaker told police he was going home but then offered to fight door staff outside Bar 19.

Again he was told to go home but he became aggressive telling an officer he was fitter then he was and he would beat him in a cage fight.

After being pepper-sprayed he ran off, but was chased and caught. Whittaker had a previous conviction for being drunk and disorderly.

Brett Chappell, defending, said the case highlighted the perils of drinking to excess.

Mr Chappell added: “The police were vastly fair to him and gave him many chances to go home. He has to stop drinking copious amounts of alcohol and control his behaviour,”Paul Dicks,

35, drink-driving

A man caught drink-driving would now have to cycle to work a judge was told.

Paul Dicks, a 35-year-old father-of-two, of Egerton Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from the road for 18 months, fined £420 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £42 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Lowe.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Dicks exceeding the speed limit in a Mercedes and pulled him over at the junction of Ripon and Palatine roads on December 12 at 11.40pm.A

breath test showed 63 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Trevor Colebourne, defending, said Dicks described himself as not a drinker and rarely went out, but he had stopped at a pub he used to frequent and met some old friends.

Dicks worked as a processor at a chemical company in the old ICI Hillside site at Thornton.

He worked shifts and would not be able to get to his job by public transport so he intended to cycle there.

Troy Scanlan, 20, possession of ketamine, threatening behaviour

A man has made his first appearance at court accused of the illegal possession of ketamine.

Troy Scanlan, 20, of Admiral Gardens, Bispham, is also charged with behaving in a threatening manner.

He was bailed for further inquiries into the case by District Judge Lowe.

Youth, 16, criminal damage

A Fleetwood youth kicked and banged on the front door of a block of flats in a bid to see a girl he believed lived there.

But neighbours heard the racket and called the police who arrested the 16-year-old,Blackpool Youth Court was told.

The youth admitted obstructing the police by resisting arrest during the incident on London Road,Fleetwood.

Magistrates gave the student a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay a £15 victims’ surcharge.

Youth, 14, carried in a car without the owner’s consent

A 14-year old boy will be found a home by the local authority, Blackpool Youth Court ruled.

The youngster admitted allowing himself to be carried in a motor vehicle – a Ford Fiesta – without the owner’s consent. He also admitted breaching a bail condition by failing to live at an

agreed address in Blackpool when he was bailed by police.Magistrates were told that all addresses for the boy were no longer suitable and they remanded him until January 4 to an

address to be found by the local authority.