Blackpool: From the courts 09-07-18

Benjamin Clarke, 30, threatening behaviour and possession of cannabis

A man fought with his brother in a busy shopping centre.

Benjamin Clarke had not seen his sibling since he was knifed by him and his brother was sentenced to nine years for the crime.

The brothers were first spotted arguing in Blackpool’s Houndshill Shopping centre and then punching and kicking each other in Victoria and Coronation streets.

Clarke, 30, of Clevedon Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and possession of cannabis.

He was sentenced to a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £20 victims’ surcharge.

Presiding magistrate, Andrew McVinnie, told him: “We feel this was impulsive and you were subjected to a high level of provocation. You were hospitalised and we don’t believe you were the instigator of this incident.”

Prosecutor, Sarah Perkins, said two security officers in Houndshill warned the brothers, who were arguing violently, to calm down on June 19.

The duo then started to fight each other. Passers-by tried to intervene, with no success.

At 4.35pm police responded to an emergency call and went to the scene.

Clarke was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital as he had had a chunk bitten off his finger. At the police station he was found to have a cannabis joint on him.

He told police he saw his brother, knew he was on licence from prison and felt let down he was allowed to live back in Blackpool.

David Charnley, defending, said his client had to have surgery to remove the knife after the attack by his sibling.

He lost a kidney and his bowel was pierced and he underwent more surgery. On June 19 Clarke saw his brother for the first time since the attack. Clarke claimed his brother said: “I should have taken your other kidney.”

It was this remark which started the fight.

Kelly Martin, 44, assault

A woman accused of punching her boyfriend on the cheek outside the Victoria pub, St Annes, has made her first appearance at court.

Kelly Martin, 44, of Meadowcroft, St Annes, pleaded not guilty to assaulting her partner on June 19 this year.

Martin was given unconditional bail to September 26 for trial by magistrates.

Heather McLellan, 24, drunk and disorderly

A woman was found by police to be drunk twice in one day in Fleetwood.

Heather McLellan, 24, of Kenilworth Road, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to two offences of being drunk and disorderly.

She was given a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £85 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Alex Mann, said police were first called to Kenilworth Road on June 8 , where McLellan was shouting and swearing outside an address just after midnight.

Officers had to return to the scene again the same day, where McLellan was again drunk and causing a disturbance.

McLellan told magistrates that the problem was caused by her former boyfriend. She described him as a horrible person who took money from her.

Boris Garanins, 54, assault

A man has denied assaulting his wife.

Boris Garanins, formerly of Palatine Road, Blackpool, now of Lauderdale Street, Preston, is alleged to have knocked two of the woman’s teeth out.

Garanins, 54, must have no contact with his alleged victim.

His trial was fixed for October 1.

Kasim Hussein, 43, harassment

A man accused of stalking a woman by following her to her home in Blackpool has made his first appearance at court.

Kasim Hussein, 43, of Palatine Road, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to harassing the woman between January 1 and February 6 this year.

Hussein’s case was adjourned to September 4 for trial.