Latest convictions from Blackpool's court - Monday, August 06, 2018

David Heaps, 37, theft and breach of a conditional discharge

A thief could have put workers in danger when he stole fittings holding their scaffolding together.

David Heaps was caught at the top of the scaffold with a bucket containing clamps which held the framework in place at an address on Banks Street, North Shore.

Heaps, 37, of General Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft and breaching a conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly.

He was sentenced to a 12 weeks curfew from 7pm to 6am and ordered to pay £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said the owner of a scaffolding firm which had erected scaffolding at an address in Banks Street was told on July 11 at 5.45pm that a man appeared to be dismantling it.

The owner went to the site and saw Heaps on top of the scaffolding with a bucket containing about 40 clamp fittings valued at £80.

The owner told police he was very concerned because the scaffolding had been made unsafe and if the workers had gone to the site and not realised it had been tampered with it could have been dangerous for them.

Brett Chappell, defending, said his client suffered from schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, anxiety and depression.

A person had taken advantage of Heaps vulnerability and said he would pay him to steal some scaffolding fittings.

At the time Heaps benefits had been suspended and he needed money for food and essentials.

Danny Howard, 39, drink-driving

A holidaymaker was twice over the alcohol limit when he drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway in Blackpool.

Danny Howard then became aggressive to the police officer who stopped him, calling him fat and threatening to “smash him”.

Howard, a 39-year-old carer, of Poole Crescent, Leeds, 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, ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work for the community, banned from the road for 40 months and ordered to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Howard driving a Peugeot van the wrong way down the dual carriageway in Kelso Avenue, Cleveleys, on July 7 at 9.50pm, before doing a u-turn.

When stopped he became aggressive and at first refused to take a roadside breath test.

At the station a breath test showed 70 microgrammes of alcohol - 35 is the limit.

He had a previous drink-driving conviction from 2011.

Steven Townley, defending, said Howard and his partner had come to the resort for a break.

They went to a pub and had some drinks while watching an England game during the World Cup.

One the way back to their hotel Howard mistakenly went the wrong way on the dual carriageway because he did not know the area.

In a report to the court, probation officer Gilliam O’Flaherty, told magistrates Howard said he had drunk about five pints and knew he should not drive, but decided to take a chance because he did not want to leave the car where it was and get a parking ticket.

Connor McGrath, 21, going equipped for theft, possession cannabis and breach of a suspended prison sentence

A homeless man was arrested after foraging for abandoned scrap metal.

Connor McGrath, 21, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to going equipped with tools for theft, possessing cannabis and breaching a suspended prison sentence.

He was sentenced to four months in prison and told to pay £115 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said patrolling police saw McGrath and another man in the Knowle Avenue area on July 31 at 4am.

When officers tried to speak to them they ran and McGrath was later found hiding behind a garden gate.

He had bolt cutters, shears, a torch and cannabis on him.

Charmain Price, prosecuting for the probation service, said McGrath had previously been sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for 12 months with 60 hours unpaid work for the community for an offence of going equipped for theft

McGrath then missed appointments to do payback work on June 20 and 27.

Steven Townley, defending, said when his client was put on the suspended prison sentence he believed the probation service would help him find accommodation but that did not happen.

McGrath had tried to make a living foraging for scrap metal. He had the tools for dismantling parts from unwanted items such as washing machines.