Blackpool: From the courts 11-01-18

Luke Couzens, 22, driving dangerously

A man accused of driving dangerously in Blackpool has been put on the wanted list.

Luke Couzens 22, of Wensleydale Avenue, Grange Park, is charged with driving a Saab Sport dangerously on Whitegate Drive and failing to stop for a police officer.

He is also accused of driving without insurance or an MoT and not in accordance with his licence on August 4 last year.

Couzens failed to attend court and a warrant without bail was issued by Blackpool magistrates for his arrest.

Sophie Lloyd, 24, and Jordan Price, 27, left restaurant without paying

Two St Annes people have appeared at court charge with making off from one of the town’s restaurants without paying for their meal and drinks.

Sophie Lloyd, 24, of East Bank Road and 27-year-old Jordan Price, of Orchard Road, are alleged to have left the Olive Press on Wood Street without paying their bill of £30.40.

The couple both pleaded not guilty to the offence and their trial will take place April 24. They were both bailed.

Ann Taylor, 63, driving with excess alcohol

A grandmother was reported to police by her daughter for drink-driving after she drank wine in a church car park.

Ann Taylor drove erratically through the church car park in front of her son-in-law who followed her, took her car keys and told his wife.

The retired civil servant was found to be more than three times over the limit after police arrested her at lunchtime.

Taylor, 63, of Arthurs Lane, Hambleton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 35 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work for the community, banned from the road for 45 months and told to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge.

Alesso Zinna, 19, possessing a blade in public and possession of cannabis

A teenager failed to notice a knife in his car because it was so full of rubbish.

Alesso Zinna said if he could go back in time he would have kept his car clean as he would then have noticed the lock-knife.

Zinna, a 19-year-old health bar chef, of Sharman Avenue, St Annes, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade in public and possession of cannabis.

He was sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work for the community and told to pay £85 costs with £115 victims’ surcharge by magistrates who said the knife and drugs must be destroyed.

Presiding magistrate, James Hanna, told him: “Knife crime is abhorrent.”

David Shaw, 31, armed robbery

A man accused of armed robbery has made his first appearance at court.

David Shaw, 31, of Rawcliffe Street, South Shore, is charged with robbing a woman shop assistant of £100 at the resort’s Premier Store, Bond Street.

He is also accused of possessing an imitation firearm, a 15cm handgun, with the intent to commit a robbery.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on January 6.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said the case must be heard at crown court.

Defence lawyer, Martin Hillson, did not ask for bail for Shaw and said his client had indicated he would plead not guilty to the offences.

Shaw was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on February 7.

Michael Robinson, 53, burglary with intent to steal

A burglar described as being turned into a Zombie after taking the drug Spice used a church as a public lavatory.

Michael Robinson was caught on CCTV at Our Lady’s Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, St Annes, urinating near the altar into a bucket which was for used candles churchgoers lit in prayer.

In a statement read to a court, priest the Reverend Peter Hart said: “This showed a complete lack of respect for people using the church.

“Many have shared my opinion about this and find the behaviour disgusting.”

Robinson, 53, of Watson Road, South Shore, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

Robinson had a lengthy criminal record with 93 previous convictions, 17 of which were for burglary.

Trevor Colebourne, defending, said his client had hung his head with shame and kept it down during the prosecutor’s address to the court.

Robinson was bailed to appear for sentence on February 7 at Preston Crown Court.