Blackpool: From the courts - 14/12/16

Marcus Seddon, 18, assault

A teenager with a history of causing trouble on NHS property who was described as being obsessed with being admitted to hospital spat at a nurse dealing with him.

Marcus Seddon had gone to Blackpool Victoria Hospital claiming he had heart and mental health problems and then said he had drunk bleach.

He lost his temper after medical staff could find nothing wrong after testing him and said he was going to be discharged,

Seddon, 18, of Osborne Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to assaulting Declan Hart and damaging a police cell.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with a 12 weeks curfew from 6pm to 8am and ordered to pay £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Peter Collins, told him: “You present yourself at hospital and cause problems there. You have to take account of people who need urgent medical care while you are there.”

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said medical staff at Victoria Hospital were dealing with Seddon on December 11, at 9.25pm, when one of them saw him spit on a nurse’s back.

When arrested he was volatile and unpredictable and relieved himself on the police cell floor instead of the using the toilet.

Four days ago before he was convicted of causing a nuisance on NHS premises at Victoria Hospital and had been sentenced to a curfew.

Mitch Sarangi, defending, said over the past months Seddon had been sectioned and spent some weeks in psychiatric units, but doctors diagnosed he was not suffering from any psychiatric illness.

Mr Sarangi said: “My client feels he has a personality problem.

“He suffers from anxiety. He feels he has various medical problems, such as heart infections and wounds. “He feels the hospital has not kept proper records and have discharged him without looking into his medical issues.

“He wants to go back into hospital – it’s his obsession.”

A support worker of Seddon’s told magistrates: “He seems to want to be in a medical health unit because it’s easy for him.

“He does not have to worry about food, accommodation, debts and can get medication. But he does not have a mental illness.”

Phillip Jones, 25, burglary

A man accused of stealing jewellery of a sentimental nature from a Layton address while the householder was on holiday has made his first appearance at court.

Phillip Jones, 25, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool, is charged with burgling a home on Foxdale Avenue, stealing jewellery, aftershave and cash of a value unknown between August 13 and 15 this year.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, asked for the case to be heard at crown court and opposed bail for Jones. Defence lawyer, Peter Manning, said his client would not indicate a plea to the offence at that stage.

Jones was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on January 11.

Elizabeth Chamberlayne, 45, engaged in misleading advertising

A case involving allegations of using misleading advertising for a teeth whitener bought by a Blackpool salon has had its first hearing at court.

Elizabeth Chamberlayne, 45, of Chigwell Road, London, is accused of engaging in misleading advertising for teeth whitener at the Professional Beauty Tradeshow, Manchester, in September last year.

Clearly You Limited, a company based in London, is also accused of engaging in misleading advertising likely to deceive traders.

The case has been brought by Blackpool Council under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008.

Neither Chamberlayne or a representative of the company was present and the case was adjourned to the New Year.

Michael Hennessy, 55, theft

A man who had recently been released from prison stole food when he was at his lowest ebb.

Michael Hennessy had left jail with no discharge grant, no benefits in place, had nowhere to live and a drugs problems.

Hennessy, 55, of Dean Street, South Shore, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was fined £80 with £40 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said security staff at Blackpool’s Aldi saw Hennessy drop a bag in the meat aisle on October 1.

He then put five beef joints valued at £29 into the bag and walked out without paying.

He was on licence from prison at the time of the offence.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client had a raft of problems on leaving prison. Hennessy’s circumstances had now changed as he had somewhere to live, his benefits were in place and he had weaned himself off using drugs.

Mark Warwick, 33, breach of the peace

A patient assaulted other patients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital a judge was told.

Mark Warwick, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £200 for 12 months by District Judge Jeff Brailsford.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said police were called to Victoria Hospital where staff said Warwick, who was a patient, had assaulted other patients on December 12 at 5pm. No-one wanted to make a formal complaint about Warwick’s behaviour.

The duty charge nurse believed Warwick was a threat after he said he was going to hurt someone else and that he wanted a mental health assessment. 
Warwick was treated for a broken hand and then arrested.

Warwick apologised for his behaviour.

Daniel Sims, 22, assault

A man accused of hitting his former girlfriend has made his first appearance at court.

Daniel Sims, 22, of Larbreck Avenue, Layton, pleaded not guilty to an offence of assault.

He was bailed to February 7 for trial by District Judge Jeff Brailsford on the conditions he did not contact his ex or go within 100 metres of her address on the resort’s Promenade.

Steven Coram, 46, breaching a restraining order

A man accused of breaking the law by texting and calling his former girlfriend has made his first appearance at court.

Steven Coram, 46, of The Promenade, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to breaching a restraining order.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody towards his trial on January 20 by District Judge Jeff Brailsford.

Jason Leigh, 46, assault

A husband accused of hitting his wife in the street when she was dressed in pyjamas has made his first appearance at court. Jason Leigh, 46, of Clarendon Road, South Shore, pleaded not guilty to assaulting wife Annette. He was bailed to February 10 for trial by Blackpool magistrates. He must live at his given address and not contact his wife as conditions of his bail.