Latest convictions from Blackpool's court - Thursday, August 23, 2018

Martin Oglesby, 48, assault

A bar customer twice slapped the landlord round the face after swearing and calling him a “dweeb”.

Martin Oglesby, who was drunk, lost his temper after the landlord of Bar 19 told him he could not take his drink outside.

Oglesby, 48, of Collyhurst Avenue, South Shore, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 30 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work for the community and told to pay the landlord £100 compensation with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said the landlord of Bar 19, Queen Street, Peter Herdman, went outside on August 2 at 10.15pm.

He then saw Oglesby walk outside with his pint which was against the rules of his licence.

When Oglesby was told he could not drink outside he slapped the landlord across the face and went inside.

He then came out and told the landlord “I’ll cut your head off” before slapping him across the face again.

When interviewed Oglesby said he only recalled buying two pints at the bar and then waking up in the police cells.

Suzanne Mugford, defending, said Oglesby could not remember the incident but since it he had acknowledged there was a problem when he drank alcohol.

Silas Alexander, 21, drug-driving

A university chemistry student was found to have a cocktail of three drugs in his body while he was driving.

Silas Alexander believed his drink had been spiked with drugs at a party he attended 24 hours before police received a tip-off he was at the wheel under the influence of something.

Alexander, 21, formerly of Heyhouses Lane, St Annes, now living at Lowton Road, St Annes, pleaded guilty to three offences of drug driving.

He was sentenced to a three months curfew from 8pm to 6am, banned from the road for two years and ordered to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge.

Presiding magistrate, Christine Houghton, told him: “The aggravating factors in this case were that the drugs in your body were high doses and you were carrying passengers.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police received information on April 20 at 10.30pm, that a man was driving a Mercedes under the influence of a substance.

A police patrol saw Alexander on St Annes Road West, St Annes.

He had two passengers in the car and officers spoke to him when he pulled onto the car park of the Lord Derby pub.

A blood test showed 82 units of ketamine in his body - 20 is the limit, 2.7 units of cannabis - two is the limit and 217 units of benzoylecgonine, a derivative of cocaine, - 50 is the limit.

Mitch Sarangi, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, was extremely contrite.

Mr Sarangi added: “He is adamant as far as the cocaine derivative and ketamine were concerned his drinks were spiked with those drugs at a party 24 hours or so before.

“The police received a report from someone that he was driving under the influence and it is suspected that report came from the person who laced his drinks.”

Alexander, who had the support of his family, was now making changes in his lifestyle.

Cora Carr, 21; Katrina Lawrie, 40; Lee Walsh, 43; Christopher Wilson, 56 and Tara Wolf, 26, obstructing the highway and hindering staff going about their normal work

Five people have denied charges brought after an anti-fracking protest.

Their trial will be held before Blackpool’s new District Judge Jane Goodwin on November 30.

Judge Goodwin will replace District Judge Jeff Brailsford who retires next month.

The five all deny obstructing the A583 outside the main entrance to the Cuadrilla gas exploration site at Little Plumpton by staging a lock-on.

They also deny an offence brought under Trade Union legislation of hindering Cuadrilla staff going about their normal work.

They are: Cora Carr, 21, of Maple Farm, Preston New Road; Katrina Lawrie, 40, also of Maple Farm; Lee Walsh, 43, of New Hope protest camp, Preston New Road; Christopher Wilson, 56, also of New Hope camp and Tara Wolf , 26, of no fixed address.

Magistrates said their trial would last three days and bailed all five of the defendants until their case is heard by the judge.