Blackpool: From the courts 13-04-18

Anthony Lewis, 23, driving while disqualified and without insurance

A banned driver got behind the wheel to drive his children to school because he did not want them to be late.

Anthony Lewis had tried twice to get a taxi to ferry the children but none were available at the time.

Lewis, a 23-year-old carer, of Lune Grove, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified without insurance.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order with up to 10 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, put on an eight weeks tagged curfew from 8pm to 7am, disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to pay £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police stopped Lewis on March 13 at 8.45am as he drove a Renault Clio on his home road and he immediately admitted being a banned driver.

Lewis had been disqualified for 22 months previously for an offence of drink-driving and he had one previous conviction for disqualified driving.In a report to the court, probation officer Eleanor Cordwell, told magistrates that Lewis said the family were running late and he was desperate to get his two older children to school on time.

Lewis had tried to get taxis but none were available. He also had to get to a hospital appointment after dropping the children off.

Defence lawyer, David Charnley, said his client had now sold the car to avoid any temptation to drive and also booked a taxi the night before to take the children to school.

Jake Harthill, 26, drunk and disorderly and in breach of a conditional discharge

A man with mental health issues used alcohol to cope when he was not receiving his usual medication.

Jake Harthill, 26, of Peter Street, North Shore, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and being in breach of a conditional discharge for being drunk.

He was fined £80 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police were called to Talbot Road on March 18 at 10.20pm, where a man was said to be trying to attack another.

Officers saw Harthill being aggressive towards the other man and then swing a punch at him.

He was stopped from hitting the other man by an officer but broke free. He was then detained on the floor.

Allan Cobain, defending, said his client had been diagnosed with Asperger’s, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression and anxiety.He had been treated at a mental health centre but one day Harthill found his medication prescription had been stopped.

He and his family tried to sort it out but for two to three months he had no medication.

Harthill then self medicated with alcohol to make himself feel better.

The day of the offence he had been drinking and could remember nothing about the incident.

Woman on drugs charge

A woman accused of possessing three kilos of cannabis at Blackpool, valued on the open market at more than £6,000, with intent to supply the drug has made her first appearance at court.

Nicole McGrath, 27, formerly of Hobart Street, Burnley, now living at Station Road, Padiham, Burnley, is also accused of theft.

Police allegedly found 15 bin bag liners full of cannabis when they stopped a car McGrath was in at Blackpool on April 26 this year.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, asked for the case to be heard at crown court. McGrath did not indicate pleas to the offences.

She was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on May 9 by Blackpool magistrates.

Robbery charge

A 37-year-old Blackpool man has been sent for trial at Preston Crown Court for trial accused of a knife-point shop robbery.

Mark Dowie of Prescot Place, Marton, was remanded in custody until May 16. He is accused of stealing alcohol and cigarettes from a McColls store near his home while equipped with a kitchen knife.