Blackpool: From the courts 24-05-18

Here is the latest round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court
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Blackpool: From the courts 23-05-18

Elizabeth Woodhall, 62, drink-driving

A woman drove while more than three times over the alcohol limit after police twice warned her not to get behind the wheel.

Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

Elizabeth Woodhall had been asked to leave by her partner because she was drinking too much, so she decided to move her car from the roadway to a drive and sleep in it.

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Woodhall, a former department store assistant and care worker, 62, formerly of Reads Avenue, Blackpool, now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 30 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, ordered to do 70 hours unpaid work for the community, banned from the road for 25 months and told to pay £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said police were asked to go to Reads Avenue on May 19 at 11.20am, where an officer was told by a householder that Woodhall had been asked to leave because of her excess drinking.

Woodhall was asked to go by police and warned not to drive because she had been drinking.

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At 1.20pm police were asked to go back to the address as Woodhall had returned.

She was again told to leave and advised not to drive her car.

At 2pm patrolling police noticed Woodhall’s Peugeot had been moved to a nearby drive and she admitted driving it.

A breath test showed 116 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

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Matthew Knights, 28, driving while disqualified and without insurance, obstructing police

A builder who was banned from the road told police who had stopped him behind the wheel: “I will just go out and get another van – I have a business to run.”

Matthew Knights lied to officers who pulled him over and gave another man’s name.

Knights, 28, of Borrowdale Road, Mereside, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified without insurance and obstructing police.

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He was sentenced to sixmonths in prison, banned from the road for two years and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Jeff Brailsford.

The judge told him: “Your record is peppered with offences of driving while disqualified. You are cavalier about it given your response in the police station.”

Prosecutor, Martine Connor, said Knights drove a panel van across the path of a police patrol car on Knowle Avenue on May 19 at 2.30am.

Knights gave a false name but after checks were made he admitted his true identity.

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At the time of the offences he was on a suspended prison sentence for driving while banned.

Steven Townley, defending, said a man usually drove the van for Knights but both of them had been to visit a friend and the other man had had too much to drink.

Knights did not want to leave the van so he took the stupid decision to drive it the short distance to the man’s home where he was staying the night.

Robert Heslop, 21, possession of a knife in public

A man who abused the drug spice carried a knife with a nine inch blade for his own protection,a court heard.

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Robert Heslop, 21, was seen by a member of the public with the black handled knife tucked down the waist band of his track suit bottoms in Blackpool town centre.

Heslop, of Caunce Street, Blackpool, admitted possessing the knife in public in the resort’s Abingdon Street.

Mowbray,prosecuting, said the witness who had seen the knife contacted police.

The knife was removed from Heslop’s possession by an arresting officer and Heslop threatened to constable stating:”If I had got the knife now I would have cut your throat.”

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Sue Mugford, defending, said her client had taken the knife out for his own protection.

“The previous night he had been attacked by two men,” said the lawyer.

“Heslop does use spice at night to help him to sleep.”

The prosecution wanted the case sent to Preston Crown Court for sentence.

Heslop had a previous conviction for a similar offence –having a knuckle duster.

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Magistrates sent the case to the higher court where he will appear on June 20.

Darren King, 50, driving while disqualified and without insurance

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Blackpool man who failed to turn up at court for the eighth listing of his case.

Darren Kin, 50, of Thirlmere Road, is alleged to have driven a Fiat van while he was banned from driving.

He is further accused of using the vehicle without insurance.

Blackpool Magistrates granted the warrant after being told previous hearings had been postponed due to sickness.