Blackpool: From the courts 27-04-18

Jodie Williams, 21, child neglect

A woman is alleged to have abandoned a two-year-old boy for up to 24 hours.

Jodie Williams appeared before magistrates at Blackpool charged with child neglect in the town in September last year.

Williams, 21, of Beattock Place, Bispham, was sent for trial at Preston Crown Court by District Judge Jeff Brailsford.

He said the case was too serious to be heard at the magistrates court.

Williams is alleged to have left the youngster in a house in Grange Park while she went out.

Prosecutor Sarah Perkins said neighbours raised the alarm and alerted police who broke into the property and found the boy at the top of the stairs.

Williams will appear at the higher court on May 23. She was bailed.

Martin Tysoe, 36, possession of an offensive weapon, assault, theft, resisting arrest

A man has appeared at court charged with turning a police officer’s pepper spray on the constable during a struggle.

Martin Tysoe is alleged to have grabbed PC Josh Taylor’s spray gun as the officer tried to arrest him in Cleveleys.

Tysoe, 36, of Saville Road, South Shore, was charged with the possession of an offensive weapon which administered noxious gas.

He was sent to Preston Crown Court for trial.

Tysoe is also accused of assaulting a shop employee.

He is faces 10 offences of shoplifting involving food worth over £600 and a charge of escaping from lawful custody and resisting arrest.

Tysoe will appear at the higher court on May 30.

Steven Greenwood, 41, drug-driving

A driver who had been taking drugs led police on a high speed chase along Blackpool Promenade.

Steven Greenwood’s life had spiralled out of control after he first became addicted to cannabis and then cocaine a court was told.

Greenwood, 41, formerly of Saville Road, South Shore, now living at Holly Road North, Wilmslow, pleaded guilty to three offences of drug driving.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 40 hours unpaid work for the community, disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay £40 costs.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a police patrol saw Greenwood driving a Ford Fiesta on Bond Street on January 25 at 5.40pm.

He appeared to be trying to avoid the police car and police then saw him parked up in an alley with the car lights off.

As police approached the car lights went on and Greenwood made off at high speed. Police put on their blue lights and sirens and pursued him along The Promenade.

Greenwood stopped near Freemantle Avenue and when an officer opened the car door he could smell cannabis.

A blood test revealed three micrograms of cannabis, two is the limit, 33 micrograms of cocaine, 10 is the limit and 696 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine (a derivative of cocaine), 50 is the limit, in Greenwood’s body.

He had two previous convictions for drug driving.

Brett Chappell, defending, said: “His life spiralled out of control with an entrenched addiction to first cannabis and then to cocaine.”

Angela O’Donoghue, 33, drink-driving and no insurance

A mum-of-four was more than twice over the drink-drive limit as she drove her son to play football.

Angela O’Donoghue had been drinking heavily the night before at a wake for her uncle who had died.

O’Donoghue, a 33-year-old part-time cleaner, of Hamlet Road, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance.

She was banned from the road for 18 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a Ford Fusion being driven on Broomfield Road, Fleetwood, on April 2, registered with police as having no insurance.

A breath test done at 5.50pm showed 79 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

Timothy Cole, 25, robbery and assault, possession of a knife and cannabis

A man has made his first appearance at court accused of attempting to rob a 75-year-old pensioner and cause him grievous bodily harm.

Timothy Cole, 25, formerly of Wood Street, St Annes, now of no fixed address, is also accused of assaulting the pensioner causing him actual bodily harm, possessing a knife in York Street, Blackpool, and possessing cannabis.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on March 23 this year.

Cole was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on May 23.