Latest convictions from Blackpool's court - Wednesday, August 01, 2018

Leonard Duffy, 39, assault causing actual bodily harm

A mother-of-four suffered a fit after being punched and repeatedly slapped by her boyfriend.

Leonard Duffy was also abusive to his partner, calling her insulting names in front of two teenage boys.

Duffy, a 39-year-old former gardener, of Gainsborough Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks jail, suspended for 24 months with a two year community order with up to 40 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service and ordered to pay his victim £50 compensation.

He was also made the subject of a two-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the victim and her mother and from entering Gainsborough Road and Fulwood Avenue.

Presiding magistrate, Susan Ling, told him: “This was a sustained assault, there were children present and you were in drink.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Duffy went home in the early hours of July 27, after drinking and started shouting, telling about 15 people who were at the address to go home.

He called his partner vile names and punched her in the eye before slapping her across the face about six times then following her to the bathroom and pushed her over.

The victim had suffered from seizures previously but after being battered she suffered two fits and was taken to hospital.

When interviewed by police, Duffy told officers he had drunk pints and Sambuccas and remembered nothing about the assault.

Duffy, who said he only usually drank at the weekend, said he was angry when he returned home and found his partner drinking with a number of other people.

Christopher Odenwalder, 45, assault causing actual bodily harm

A man accused of stamping on his girlfriend’s face after punching her to the floor has made his first appearance at court.

Christopher Odenwalder is alleged to have caused injuries to her lower eye and the right side of her face plus a cut knee.

Odenwalder, 45, formerly of Park Road, Blackpool, now living at Easington Crescent, Grange Park, pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

The offence is alleged to have taken place on Park Road on July 27.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, opposed an application for bail for Odenwalder by defence lawyer Hugh Pond.

Odenwalder was given bail by Blackpool magistrates but this decision was appealed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

He must now remain in custody until the appeal is decided before a judge at Preston Crown Court.

Jordan Harvey, 21, drink-driving, failing to stop after an accident and driving with no insurance

Police had to chase a drink-driver who drove off from an accident scene after crashing into another car.

A patrol car was just behind the vehicle Jordan Harvey smashed into at traffic lights and the officer expected him to stop but he accelerated away.

Harvey, a 21-year-old retail worker, of Chislehurst Avenue, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

He was banned from the road for 17 months and fined £295 with £85 costs plus £35 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a police patrol car was behind a Toyota Yaris at traffic lights at the junction of New South Promenade and Clifton Drive North on July 15 at 12.30am.

As the lights turned green the Toyota set off only to be hit by Harvey who drove into its path in an Audi A1, sending the Toyota crashing into street furniture.

After seeing Harvey accelerate away on Squires Gate Lane the police officer turned on his car’s lights and sirens and pursued him until he stopped further along the road.

A breath test showed 61 microgrammes of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

David Charnley, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, was a decent, respectful hard-working young man who had made a very foolish mistake.

Christopher James, 33, fraud

A Blackpool man has been sent for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

Christopher James, 33, admitted four charges of fraud – using another person’s cash card-at shops and garage in the resort.

Blackpool Magistrate heard that James, currently of no fixed address, was in breach of suspended sentences imposed at the magistrates court and the Crown Court.He was remanded in custody pending his appearance at the higher court on August 29.