Blackpool: From the courts 10-05-18

Jason Goldrick, 48, shoplifting

A man who repeatedly targeted a Tesco store for shoplifting has been jailed.

Jason Goldrick, 48, of Park Road, Blackpool, was jailed for eight weeks.

He admitted three accusations of theft from Tesco Express on Central Drive.

Each time he stole fresh or cooked meat and sold the goods on to buy heroin.

Adrian Hollamby, prosecuting, said Goldrick had an unenviable record of 17 theft offences.

The three most recent offences involved goods valued at more than £100.

His lawyer Steven Duffy said: “He is a revolving door when it comes to crime.

“He goes to prison, comes out and commits more offences.”

Natasha Owen, 24, drug-driving

A woman and her family would have to pay heavily for her drug driving the court was told.

Natasha Owen, 24, of Wesham Hall Road, Wesham, pleaded guilty to driving with cannabis in her body.

She was banned from the road for 12 months, given a nine months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £40 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police stopped Owen as she drove a Peugeot 307 in Wesham on January 20 at 8.55pm.

Owen showed signs of being impaired by a substance and a roadside test proved positive for drugs.

At the police station Owen had a blood test which showed 10 micrograms of cannabis in her body – two is the limit.

Robert Castle, defending, said the driving ban would hit her family hard as her mother was unwell and she drove her to hospital appointments and she also drove her young daughter to school.

A business she had hoped to be starting with her mother soon had also required she drive.

Nicola Lord, 41, theft

A serial thief was described as going back on heroin and committing crime to fund her drug habit after being tortured.

Nicola Lord was said to have had the toes of one foot almost severed with a machete and had a blowtorch used on her leg.

A man was claimed to have burst into her home wearing a balaclava and accused her of taking his mobile phone before torturing her.

Lord, 41, of Lytham Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to an offence of theft.

She was sentenced to 16 weeks jail and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Lord was caught on CCTV taking between £50 and £60 of food and goods from Premier Store, St Annes Road on April 4 at 7.40pm.

At the time of the offence she was on a suspended prison sentence for an offence of shoplifting and she had a record of 210 previous offences.

Brett Chappell, defending, said Lord had been off street drugs and doing well before being tortured by a man in late February. Police were investigating the incident.

Mr Chappell added: “This left an indelible mark on her both physically and mentally and after the attack she turned to heroin.”

Lord was now back on a prescription for the heroin substitute methadone and was undergoing counselling for the torture incident.

Paul Edwards, 66, failing to ensure an animal’s welfare

A pensioner accused of cruelty to a cat, a parrot and a parakeet has had the first hearing of his case at court.

Paul Edwards, 66, of Springfield Road, North Shore, faces three offences of failing to ensure an animal’s welfare by not providing fresh clean drinking water, a suitable environment and daily care and supervision.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 23 and Christmas Day last year and involve a ginger and white cat called Sophie, an African grey parrot named Cookie and a ring-necked parakeet called Duncan.

Paul Ridehalgh, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the prosecution had a problem delivering the legal papers on the case to Edwards and asked for an adjournment.

The case was adjourned to May 23.

Mohan Retail Ltd, breach of health and safety at work legislation

A company faces health and safety offences following an explosion at a Fleetwood shop.

It is alleged lighter fuel refill canisters were stored next to an electric fan heater at the Today Local shop in Lord Street which caused an explosion under the shop counter injuring a male shop assistant on September 26 last year.

The company, Mohan Retail Limited, of White Lion Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, faces four breaches of health and safety at work laws.

The case was adjourned for the director to attend court on May 23 to answer the charges.