Blackpool Magistrates' Court cases and convictions, April 2023

Mum-of-two in head on drink driving crash

A woman crashed her car after leaving her village pub.

Carer Samantha Folks, of Eddleston Close, Staining admitted drink driving at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

The mum-of-two was banned from driving for 20 months and must pay £435 in fines and costs.

The court heard that Folks' Vauxhall Astra car crossed the central white line on Chain Lane after she left the nearby Plough pub.

She hit another vehicle head on but fortunately no one was injured.

Man’s arrested for drunken antics

A man's drunken antics in Blackpool ended with his arrest.

Stephen Vandusen, 39, of Pembroke Road, Macclesfield was given a six month conditional discharge by Blackpool Magistrates after he admitted being drunk and disorderly in Central Drive in April this year.

At one stage he stood in the middle of the road and halted a police car, demanding a lift from officers.

Drunk woman kicked police officer

A woman has admitted assaulting a police officer.

Blackpool Magistrates heard how Debra Allen, 50, of Caunce Street, was drunk at the time she kicked the constable.

Magistrates bailed Allen until Friday, May 12 to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared on her.

Drink driving ban for charity worker

A charity worker made a rash decision to drive her car in the early hours.

A police officer watched as Emma Callaghan, 36, of Chestnut Avenue, Blackpool went down Squires Gate Lane and then turned back on herself.

She drove back home and bumped into another vehicle while parking her car.

Callaghan was twice over the limit when arrested and admitted drink driving.

She was fined a total of £537 and banned from driving for 18 months.

Convicted sex offender accused of child porn offences

A 22-year-old Blackpool man has been sent for Crown Court trial accused of distributing child pornography.

Jordan Little, of Mersey Road, also faces two allegations of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and one of making child pornographic pictures.

Blackpool Magistrates heard the offences were allegedly committed in Blackpool in October and November last year.

He will appear at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, May 16 and was bailed until then.

Man captured by police dog

A man who drove on grass verges and through pedestrian areas between blocks of flats was cornered by a police dog.

The dog handler had been alerted by the standard of John Gill's driving in the Spencer Court area of Blackpool.

The officer started to follow Gill's Toyota which then drove off between the flats.

Hill then tried to make a dash for it on foot but was cornered by the police dog which had Gill's leg in its jaws but did not break the man's skin, Blackpool Magistrates heard.

Hill, of Leeds Road, Blackpool admitted driving without due care and attention and being in breach of a suspended jail sentence imposed in 2021.

Brett Chappell, defending, said that Gill had disappeared from Blackpool after allegedly being tipped off by police about threats made to his life.

The lawyer said that his client had driven off realising there was a warrant for his arrest as a result of breaching the suspended sentence terms.

Magistrates extended the suspended sentence for a further six months and ordered him to pay £159 in fines and costs.

Man sent emails pretending to be his mother

A man has appeared before Blackpool Magistrates charged with perverting the course of justice.

Scott Upton, 51, of Fleetwood Road North, Thornton is alleged to have sent emails to police pretending to be his mum.

The messages allegedly asked for charges against him to be withdrawn.

Upton denied the offence which magistrates sent to Preston Crown Court.

Homeless man arrested after going into ‘no go area’

A court rejected a plea to end a man's survival on the streets lifestyle.

Reginald Brown was before the court having broken a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from Blackpool town centre for the 23rd time.

He was jailed for sixteen weeks.

Blackpool Magistrates heard how Brown's homeless lifestyle consisted of being sent to jail, being released and re-arrested for going into banned areas to seek food and shelter and then being arrested again.

His lawyer Sue Mugford asked magistrates to give the 47-year-old a final chance.

"He is trapped in a circle of offending and feels picked on by the authorities,” she said.

"As soon as he is seen on CCTV cameras near the town centre they are onto him.

"He is sometimes with others who are breaching court orders but they do not get arrested and he does,” claimed the lawyer.

"All he wants is to end his lifestyle of survival on the streets."

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said that Brown, of no fixed address, breached a suspended jail term after he was seen inside the boundary of his ‘no go area’ in Blackpool town centre.

He was seen and arrested near Funnygirls in Dickson Road on April 13 in breach of the ban imposed by the courts as part of a two year Criminal Behaviour Order.

Sentencing Brown, magistrates told him he would be a target if he broke court orders.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the higher court on Monday, May 15.

Upton is also charged with assault.

Man forbidden from contacting his ex

A Blackpool man has denied breaching a restraining order which forbids him from contacting his ex partner.

Jamie Gorton, 32, of Osborne Road, was arrested on a warrant issued by Leeds Magistrates for the alleged breach.

Gorton was bailed by Blackpool Magistrates to appear in Leeds on May 17.

Man who broke hotel window back in court

A St Annes man failed to attend the probation service so that pre-sentence reports can be prepared on him.

Moving address from Blackpool to St David's Road South, St Annes was to blame, Blackpool Magistrates heard.

Kieron Thomas, 18, is due to be sentenced on two offences of assault and criminal damage to a sky light at the Norbreck Castle Hotel.

Thomas was rebailed on condition he complies with probation and returns to court on May 19.

Man accused of assaulting and harassing women

A Fleetwood man has denied assaulting a woman.

Ashley Tombs, 34, of Balmoral Terrace also denies harassing the same woman and a second female.

Tombs is allleged to have committed the offences in Fleetwood on April 12.

His trial was fixed for August 18 and he was bailed on condition he reports to Fleetwood police station once a week.

Driver banned for second drink drive offence

A 26-year old Blackpool man committed his second drink drive offence in five years.

Ben Cassin, of Prenton Gardens, was banned from driving for 38 months by Blackpool Magistrates.

He must pay £335 in fines and costs.

The court heard that Cassin was arrested after police saw him fail to give way at a roundabout in Waterloo Road.

Drink driver banned from road

A full time driver's red light blunder landed him in court.

Ross Bewley, 27, of Bela Grove, Blackpool was over the drink drive limit when he made his mistake.

Bewley admitted drink driving when he appeared before Blackpool Magistrates.

He was banned from the road for 17 months and must pay £253 in fines and costs.

Man found with snap bags of cocaine

A man was found with three snap bags of cocaine in his possession when the car he was being carried in was halted by police.

Lee Freeman, 30, of Heeley Road, St Annes admitted illegal possession of the Class A drug at Blackpool Magistrates Court.

He claimed the cocaine was for personal use.

Brett Chappell, defending, said his client had been tempted to acquire drugs when he went out with friends.

Freeman was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £253.

Man denies drink driving

A St Annes man has denied drink driving.

Colin Maycock, 46, of Admiral Close had his case adjourned until August 18 by Blackpool Magistrates.

He pleaded not guilty to driving a Vauxhall while over the limit in Admiral Close on December 21 last year.