Blackpool: From the courts 12-01-18

John Knox, 20, wilfully obstructing the highway

A 30-year-old man has appeared at court charged with staging an anti fracking protest.

John Knox of Maple Farm, Westby, is charged with wilfully obstructing the A583 outside the Cuadrilla gas fracking site near Blackpool.

Knox is further charged under Trade Union legislation by getting on the roof of a lorry and preventing it from entering the site.

Knox denies the offences and was bailed until his trial.

He must not go within a mile of the gas site as terms of his bail.

Alexander Pilkington, 24, driving with excess alcohol

A soldier was more than twice over the alcohol limit after a pre Christmas meal at a friend’s.

Alexander Pilkington, aged 24, of Crossways, Thornton Cleveleys, who works in logistics, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was disqualified from driving for 40 months, fined £350 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £35 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Pilkington was arrested about 4am on December 23 after being seen driving a Volvo on Rossall Road, Cleveleys, without headlights and turning up a own-way road the wrong way.

A breath test showed 72 micrograms of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

Pilkington had a previous drink-driving conviction from 2013.

Steven Townley, defending, said Pilkington, who was based in Peterborough, had been to a small gathering at a friend’s for a meal and drinks.

He slept at the friend’s and woke in the early hours.

He felt fine to drive and was driving the relatively short distance to his home when he was stopped by the police.

Pilkington said his headlights had been on but the lights on his car were not bright.

He had been doing a u-turn and not driving the wrong way up a one-way road.

Catherine Smith, 54, theft

A woman has made her first appearance at court accused of burgling an address in Fleetwood.

Catherine Smith, 54, of Windsor Terrace, Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to stealing a £300 television in the burglary of a property in Rhyl Street on July 1 last year.

Prosecutor Pam Smith’s application that the case should be heard at crown court was not opposed by defence lawyer Steven Townley.

Smith was given unconditional bail to appear at Preston Crown Court on February 7.

Leon Olive, 33, theft

A thief who stole packets of razors was chased and caught by supermarket security staff.

Leon Olive, 33, of Egerton Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was sentenced to a six weeks tagged curfew from 9pm to 6am and ordered to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Olive put two packets of razor blades valued at £30 in his coat and left Sainsbury’s, Talbot Road, without paying, setting off the alarms on November 22.

When caught he said he had intended to steal the razor blades and sell them to buy food.

Olive, who had 31 previous convictions for theft and similar offences on his record, was on post prison sentence supervision after serving time for an offence of theft, at the time of the offence.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said Olive had committed the offence not long after being released from prison and he had been struggling financially.

Olive had had a drug problem but was now working with rehabilitation specialists.

David Crossfield, 24, failing to comply with a community order

A man made excuses for going out when he should have been staying inside his address keeping a curfew.

David Crossfield said on one occasion his father had stormed from the house leaving the door open and the dog had run out so he was forced to go and get the animal back.

Another time he maintained he had gone out in the middle of the night to buy tablets because he had a headache.

Crossfield, 24, of Dinmore Avenue, Grange Park, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a community order.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks jail suspended for nine months.

Martin Parsons, 26, theft

A prolific offender told police the offences he had committed were “a survival crime.”

Martin Parsons had 154 previous convictions a court was told. Parsons, 36, of Furness Avenue, Grange Park, pleaded guilty to two offences of theft.

He was ordered to pay £18 compensation.