These are the latest cases and convictions from Blackpool Magistrates' Court - Thursday, February 20, 2020

Andrew Haworth, 31, drink-driving

A former professional footballer was more than twice over the alcohol limit when he crashed into a flowerbed at Lytham.

Andrew Haworth, who played for Blackburn Rovers, Rochdale and Bury, had been on his works Christmas do before the accident.

Haworth, a teacher, 31, of Garstang Road, St Michaels, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from the road for 18 months, fined £458 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £45 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Sophie Gillespie, said police received a report of a crash on Ballam Road near Lytham Hall, on December 7 , at about 3am

Officers saw an Audi A5 embedded in a raised flowerbed and Haworth was in the car with a passenger.

His shoes were muddy and he told an officer he had tried to lift the front end of his car off the flowerbed.

He added he had been to his works Christmas do and had drunk two pints.

A breath test showed 71 microgrammes of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

Mr Alex Rostron, defending, said his client, who had no previously convictions, now played semi-professionally for Longridge Town Football Club.

Haworth, who was ashamed of what happened, would not normally have been out on a Friday night but was not playing in football matches at the time, so he decided to go to his work Christmas do.

He was giving a female friend a lift home when the slow speed collision with the flowerbed happened and no-one was injured.

References for him from the school he teaches at and Longridge Town FC were give to magistrates.

The football club described him as having an impeccable character on and off the pitch and said he coached youngsters at the club.

James Smith, 29, assault, possession of drugs

A rig worker assaulted two women who were trying to act as Good Samaritans.

The women had tried to intervene as 29-year-old James Smith was involved in a street brawl in the town centre at 4am.

Prosecutor Pam Smith ,said that the first woman was hit on the head by Smith and the second was pushed in the chest.

They called police who arrested Smith of Belle Vue Place, Blackpool.

They found snap bags of cocaine in his belongings.

Smith admitted assault and drug possession. .

He was given a one year community order with 30 rehabilitation days and must do 100 hours unpaid work for the community.

He must pay his victims £100 each compensation.

His lawyer Steven Townley said “He accepts what he did was totally inappropriate and accepted that when he sobered up.”

Jenna Wilson, 26, assault and criminal damage

A Blackpool woman charged with assault causing actual bodily harm has been bailed.

Jemma Wilson, 26, of York Street is alleged to have used a knife in an incident on February 11.

Blackpool Magistrates were told that Wilson also faces a criminal damage allegation involving household items.

The court sent Wilson for trial at Preston Crown Court where she will appear on March 18. She must live at her given address and not enter the town’s Grange Park estate.

Olivia McNeil, 33, burglary and theft

A Blackpool woman accused of three house burglaries in which jewellery and bank cards were taken has been sent for trial at Preston Crown Court.

Olivia McNeil, 33, of Cheltenham Road also faces an allegation of theft of jewellery from the Regent antique centre worth a total of £640.

She aces further accusations of illegally pawning stolen Good and three shoplifting offences two at Marks and Spencer and one at Specsavers.

Blackpool Magistrates refused her application for. Bail.

She will appear at the higher court on March 18.

Hannah Ali, 25, breach of Criminal Behaviour Order

A woman accused of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order has been put on the wanted list.

Hannah Ali, 5, of Chapel Street, Blackpool, is charged with breaching the order by sitting in doorways in central Blackpool including St Johns Church and Pizza Express.

Blackpool magistrates issued a warrant without bail for her arrest after she failed to attend court.

Mohammed Ahmed, 37, possession of cocaine

A man accused of possessing cocaine at Blackpool has been put on the wanted list.

Mohammed Ahmed, aged 37, of Balaclava Street, Blackburn, is charged with possessing the class A drug between November 18 and 21.