Blackpool: From the courts 02-12-16

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from December 01.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

Robert Mack, 32, driving while banned

A man was caught driving while disqualified for the 21st time when police stopped him in St Annes.

Robert Mack, who was described as having an addiction and fixation on vehicles, was told by a magistrate his driving record horrendous.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mack, 32, of Windsor Avenue, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to driving while banned without insurance and breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed for an offence of disqualified driving.

He was sentenced to 28 weeks jail, banned from the road for 18 months and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Peter Trend, told him: “You have an horrendous record for driving while disqualified.”

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said police were tipped off that a banned driver was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra on Clifton Drive South on October 31.

Mack was stopped and the car seized.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Gerry Coyle, defending, said another man had been driving the car but he and Mack argued. Mack then decided to drive it back to Blackpool rather then leave it in St Annes.

Mack, who had an addiction and fixation to vehicles, had been due to get his driving licence back in the middle of this month and had intended working as property maintenance man.

When he had been put on the suspended prison sentence it included him being supervised by the probation service and doing 88 hours unpaid work for the community.

Neal Brookes, for the probation service, said Mack had done only half-an-hour of the payback work.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He had refused to work in a town centre charity shop and refused to work in a group saying he suffered from nerves.

Mr Brookes added: “He said he would rather go to prison than do community work.

“When challenged about this he said he did not like working for free.”

Darren Wilson, 37, theft

A man accused of stealing bracelets valued at £787 from the Blackpool branch of Money Traders has had a warrant without bail issued for his arrest.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Darren Wilson, 37, of Richmond Road, St Annes, had the warrant for him issued by Blackpool magistrates after he failed to attend court.

Sean Royds, 21, dangerous driving

A learner driver refused to stop for police and led officers on a chase at speed round Blackpool.

Sean Royds had first crashed into the back of a taxi and the cab driver also pursued him alerting a passing police patrol car as he drove.

Royds, a seasonal pier worker, 21, of Burlington Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, failing to stop after an accident and driving without insurance and not in accordance with a licence.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 15 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work for the community, disqualified from driving for 15 months and must take a retest and pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a taxi driver stopped at a pedestrian crossing on High Street when Royds on Sunday November 13 at 7pm, who was driving a Vauxhall Insignia, crashed into the back of his.

Royds drove off pursued by the cabbie who alerted a passing police car by sounding his horn and flashing his lights.

Police took up the pursuit and saw him drive through a no entry sign the wrong way along a one-way street,

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The police were doing 50mph with their blue lights and sirens on but Royds pulled away from them.

Royds and a passenger leapt out of the car while its engine was still running and it rolled across Caunce Street before hitting a street sign.

When interviewed Royds accepted he had been driving dangerously and that people could have been killed.

Leisa Splaine, defending, said her client, who had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Ms Splaine said: “It was sheer panic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He knew he was in a situation he should not have been and did not know what to do about it.”

Jack Mikolaczak, 24, assault

A Poulton man charged with assaulting a police officer has been sent for trial at Preston Crown Court.

Jack Mikolaczak, of Garstang Road West, is charged with assaulting the officer in Blackpool on November 30.

He is further charged with burgling a house in Bangor Avenue, Blackpool, stealing a televison and Playstation.

He will appear at the higher court on January 4.

He was remanded in custody.

Christopher Caesar, 36, cannabis production

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A man accused of producing cannabis at Blackpool was unable to attend court because he was in hospital.

Christopher Caesar, 36, of Withnell Road, South Shore, had his case adjourned by Blackpool magistrates.

Lynn Douglas, 28, driving with excess alcohol without insurance

A woman described as drinking up to six litres of cider plus cans a day was almost four times over the limit when she crashed a car.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lynn Douglas had 131 micrograms of alcohol in her body - 35 is the limit - when she hit a boundary wall.

Douglas, 38, of Henry Street, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance.

She was sentenced to 12 weeks jail suspended for two years with up to 35 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, banned from the road for four years and fined £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said staff at the Salon 19 hair salon, Squires Gate Lane, saw Douglas crash into a boundary wall as she moved a Chevrolet Kalos on Saturday November 12 at 4.20pm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She had two previous convictions for drink- driving and one for failing to provide a specimen for alcohol testing.

Steven Townley, defending, said a male friend had asked Douglas to move his car a short distance on a forecourt, but he did not know how much she had had to drink.

She had been alcohol dependant for 10 years.

Mr Townley added: “She knows that while she has this addiction she should never be behind the wheel of a car because she will always be over the limit.”

Probation officer, Brian Weatherington, in a report to the court said Douglas had been alcohol dependant for 10 years following a number of family bereavements.

She had told him that on a “good” day she drank three litres of cider and on a “bad” day she drank up to six litres of cider plus a number of cans.