Blackpool: From the courts 12-07-18

Here is the latest round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

Daniel Geoghegan, 28, assault

A man who had been taking Spice spat in the face of a man waiting to go into night shelter accommodation.

Daniel Geoghegan, 28, of General Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to assault.

Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court
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An application to keep him in handcuffs in the dock because he had been aggressive with cell staff was agreed to.

He was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the victim with £85 costs.

Prosecutor, Andrew Robinson, said a man was waiting for night shelter accommodation in Blackpool on July 7 at 12.40pm.

There was music playing and Geoghegan came up and asked him to change it, but the man said no.

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Goeghegan then spat at the man and the spittle went onto the side of the victim’s face.

At the time of the offence he was on a suspended prison sentence for an offence of assault.

Kathryn Jamieson-Sinclair, defending, said it had been 17 months since her client’s last offence.

During the past year Geoghegan had been made homeless and lost support from his family who could not cope with his mercurial behaviour and mental health issues.

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Geoghegan said he had dallied with Spice and been using the drug for the past week but had indicated he was no longer going to take it.

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Wednesday's round-up of cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court 11/07/18

Sarah Ashcroft, 26, theft

A shop worker stole scratchcards from her workplace and then took cash from the till to pay herself out on the winning cards.

Sarah Ashcroft, 26, of St Annes Road East, St Annes, pleaded guilty to theft of scratchcards valued at £200 and takings from Londis, Wood Street, St Annes.

A charge against her of stealing £30,000 of scratch-cards and takings from her employer was dropped.

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She was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 compensation with £85 costs plus £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Adrian Hollamby, said Ashcroft had worked at the Londis shop since June 2015 and was a trusted employee.

Before January 31 this year, she started stealing scratch-cards from the shop, discarding the losing cards and paying herself from out of the till for the winning cards.

John McLaren, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been shocked at her conduct and had agreed it was a breach of trust.

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Ashcroft lived in a flat with her father and the family finances became extremely stretched after her dad became ill and could not work and they had to pay a vets bill for their dog.

When there was no money left in the family kitty she started stealing from her workplace.

Her employer noticed that scratch-cards which did not win were not paid for and once it was established Ashcroft had been stealing, she was dismissed.

Adam Lane, 39, breach of the peace

A man was arrested after shouting and swearing in the street when he was being escorted from an address. Adam Lane, 39, formerly of Marine Parade, Fleetwood, now living at Victoria Road West, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace.

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He was bound over in the sum of £200 for 12 months by District Judge Jeff Brailsford.

Prosecutor, Andrew Robinson, said police went to an address on Victoria Road West on July 7 , after receiving a report there had been an assault there.

It was decided Lane should leave that address, but as police were escorting him down the street to his mother’s he became aggressive.

Lane told the judge: “I apologise for my behaviour.

“I had had too much to drink.”

Garath Snow-McArthur, 37, theft

A thief was described as doing a supermarket sweep, collecting stolen goods valued at £474 in his trolley.

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Garath Snow-McArthur, 37, of Dickson Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Adrian Hollamby, said the defendant was stopped as he tried to leave Asda in Blackpool on June 22 with a trolley full of goods.

When interviewed Snow-McArthur told police that if he had got away with it he would have sold what he could of the stolen items to buy drugs.

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Gerry Coyle, defending, told magistrates: “I would describe his behaviour as a sort of supermarket sweep.

“Off he went but there was no sign of Dale Winton.”

Mr Coyle added that his client had been living with his cousin and things had been going well for him until he started using drugs again.