Blackpool: From the courts 06-04-18

Samuel Holbrook, 80, drink-driving

A pensioner who had been drinking crashed his car into another vehicle when he pulled out of a medical centre in Lytham.

Samuel Holbrook, an 80-year-old former painter and decorator, of Gregory Place, Lytham, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen for alcohol testing.

He was banned from the road for 12 months, fined £50 with £50 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police were called to an accident on Albany Road, Lytham, on February 28 at 6.20pm, where Holbrook had pulled out of a medical centre in his Vauxhall Astra and hit a Toyota.

Police could smell drink on his breath and a roadside breath test for alcohol was positive.

Despite numerous attempts Holbrook, was unable to provide the two required breath specimens at the police station.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said his client had drunk more than he normally would the day before and on the day of the accident he had drunk a glass of wine at lunchtime and later had a pint of beer at The County pub, Lytham.

Holbrook had been driving home when he felt queasy and pulled into the medical centre car park until he felt better.

After the accident he had been very upset and emotional and that was why he had been unable to provide the breath specimen.

The driving ban would be a hardship for Holbrook as he had spinal injuries after falling from a height when he was a painter and decorator and he was waiting for a hip and knee replacement.

Martin Prestedge, 38, driving while disqualified and with no insurance

A heating engineer drove his van while he was banned because he needed to work to pay his debts.

Martin Prestedge, 38, of Redeswood Avenue, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified without insurance.

He was disqualified from driving for six months, fined £575 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £57 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said checks by police on a Ford Transit pulling onto a pub car park in Poulton Road, Fleetwood, on March 5 at 3am, showed the vehicle had no insurance.

Inquiries revealed Prestedge had been banned from the road for three years in February 2017 for an offence of drink-driving, Steven Townley, defending, said Prestedge had been hit hard when he and his wife split-up towards the end of last year.

He had a lot of financial problems following the break-up, got in arrears with his mortgage and child maintenance.

He was offered some employment and decided to drive his van.

Michael Beresford, 21, drink-driving with no licence or insurance, aggravated vehicle taking

A learner driver described as being hungry and having the “munchies” after drinking took a car a friend was looking after for a woman who had gone on holiday.

Michael Beresford who was more than twice over the drink-drive limit, lost control of the car near a takeaway and crashed into a lamp post on New Year’s Day.

Beresford, a 21-year-old ride operator on Central Pier, of Windsor Avenue, South Shore, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving with excess alcohol without insurance and not in accordance with his provisional licence.

He was sentenced to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, banned from the road for 20 months and ordered to pay £300 compensation with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Beresford lost control on a bend on Central Drive near Albert Road, on January 1 at 4.45am, and crashed onto the pavement causing extensive damage to the Peugeot 206 he was driving.

A breath test showed 71 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

When interviewed Beresford admitted taking the car without permission from a friend who was looking after the vehicle for a woman on holiday.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, was extremely remorseful about what he had done.

Beresford had been out and returned to a friend’s home. The friend had been looking after the car. He had been drinking , felt hungry and decided to take the car without asking and drive to get some food.

Clare Gough, 37, theft

A 37-year-old Blackpool woman charged with theft from her employer has had her case adjourned.

Clare Gough, of Grasmere Road, is alleged to have stolen £589 from The Doric Hotel in May last year.

Magistrates adjourned the hearing in her absence until April 18.