Blackpool: From the courts 25-01-18

Scott Myerscough, 25, possessing a flare at a sporting event

A man seen carrying a lighted red flare by millions watching a televised FA Cup match has been fined at court.

Fishmonger Scott Myerscough was one of three people seen carrying the flare in the Memorial Stand at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Road ground during the club’s cup tie with Premier League Leicester City earlier this month.

Myerscough, 25, of Calder Avenue,Fleetwood, admitted possessing a flare at a sporting event on January 6.

He was fined £200 by District Judge Merion Lewis-Jones sitting at Blackpool Magistrates Court who called it a “stupid act which could have had grave consequences.”

Myerscough was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor Jim Mowbray said that polixce at the game were alerted by stewards to the flare being set off among the Fleetwood supporters.

Myerscough was one of those involved and was arrested as he left the gent’s toilets.

“He was displaying an aggressive manner and appeared to be under the influence of drugs,” said the prosecutor.

David Charnley, defending, told the court “He accepts he acted in a juvenile manner.

“He only held the flare for a few moments when it went out.”

James Campbell, 32, breaching a suspended prison sentence

A festival-goer punched a policeman outside the Livewire music event on Blackpool’s Tower Headland Arena which had featured Will Smith.

James Campbell lunged at the officer who had been on plainclothes duties outside the festival after the officer told him to stop urinating in public.

Campbell, a 32-year-old accounts department worker, of Talbot Road, Blackpool, denied assaulting the police officer but was found guilty of the offence at a trial in his absence.

He admitted breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed for assaulting a man.

Campbell was sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for 12 months with up to 30 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, fined £250 with £200 costs and ordered to pay the police officer £100 compensation.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said people were leaving the Livewire music festival when a plainclothes police officer saw Campbell urinating near his car on August 27 at 10.25pm.

When asked to stop Campbell swore at the officer asking him what he was going to do about it.

The officer showed Campbell his identification, saying he was a police officer and the defendant immediately lunged at him.

Campbell swung a punch at the side of the officer’s head. He managed to get his arm up but still suffered pain in his eye and cheek.

Police colleagues came to the officer’s rescue and Campbell told them: “I know a magistrate - nothing will happen to me.”

In a report to the court, probation officer Eleanor Cordwell, told magistrates that Campbell said when he left the festival the portable toilets were closed and many other people were urinating in the street.

Campbell said the officer had not identified himself as a police officer.

Brett Chappell, defending, said a common thread throughout his client’s offending was when he went out and drank copious amounts of alcohol.

Campbell appreciated he binge drank at times and he needed help.

Alan Catterall, 55, driving with excess alcohol

A judge told a drunken driver who crashed into a parked car at teatime but did not realise he had had an accident that it was a miracle he had not injured anyone.

Alan Catterall, who was drinking up to half-a-litre of whiskey a day, was more than three times over the alcohol limit when he was tracked down by police via his number plate after he drove off from the accident scene.

Catterall, a 55-year-old former call centre worker, of Luton Road, Anchorshomle, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 20 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, put on a three months tagged curfew from 8pm to 8am, banned from the road for two years and ordered to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge.

The judge told him: “It’s totally inexplicable what you were doing in that car. I can’t imagine what can have been going through your mind that day.

“It’s a miracle no-one was injured.”

Defence lawyer, Bash Khan, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had turned to drink after his life took an upsetting turn following losing his job.

Catterall had lost his job at a call centre last year after a dispute and had been caring more for his 80-year-old mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said on January 5 at 5.10pm police were called to East Pines Drive, Thornton Cleveleys, where people were milling around saying a Toyota Yaris had collided with a parked car and not stopped.

Police were given the car’s registration number and tracked Catterall down at his home. He was unsteady on his feet when he answered the door.

A breath test showed 117 micrograms of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

Defence lawyer, Bash Khan, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had turned to drink after his life took an upsetting turn.

Catterall had lost his job at a call centre last year after a dispute and had been caring more for his 80-year-old mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Since the offence Catterall had got help from drink rehabilitation experts and cut down his alcohol intake considerably.

In a report to the court, probation officer Eleanor Catterall, told the judge Catterall said he did not know why he was driving and was unaware he had hit a parked car.