These are the latest cases and convictions from Blackpool Magistrates' Courts - Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Terence Maughan, 37, burglary and taking without consent

A 37-year-old Blackpool man has been remanded in custody pending his appearance at Preston Crown Court.

Terence Maughan of Cocker Street is charged with burglary and taking a car without consent.

He also faces two allegations of breaching a restraining order and driving without insurance or a licence.

Blackpool Magistrates said he must appear at the higher court on April 6.

Julie Hemingway, 27, possession of a grade A substance

A Blackpool woman accused of the illegal possession of crack cocaine has been sent for trial at Preston Crown Court. Julie Hemingway, 27, of Sunnybank Avenue, is alleged to have had 13.2 grammes of crack cocaine.

District Judge Jane Goodwin sitting at the town’s magistrates court bailed Hemingway pending her appearance.

Patrick Maher, 29, actual bodily harm

A St Annes man accused of carrying out a glassing attack will have to stand trial at Preston Crown Court.

Patrick Martin Maher, 29, of St Andrews Road South is alleged to have carried out an assault causing actual bodily harm at Blackpool’s Excelsior bar on Saturday.Maher was remanded in

custody by District Judge Jane Goodwin sitting at Blackpool Magistrates Court.

He will appear at the higher court on April 8.

Michael Hughes, 51, benefit fraud

Showbiz compere Michael Hughes was confined to a wheelchair when he started to claim state benefits.

But he managed a remarkable recovery when he went to live in Spain ,a court heard.

Fifty-one-year-old Hughes of Mount Street, Fleetwood, ended up working full time running a Benidorm bar.

Hughes – who was once on the books of Wolverhampton Wanderers- continued to illegally claim Disabled Living Allowance and Employment Support Allowance using his Fleetwood address.

Hughes who has just arrived back in the UK admitted two offences of fraud by failing to declare that he was living in Spain and that his mobility had improved.

He also admitted a bail act offence when he appeared before Blackpool Magistrates.

Ironically his UK benefits have now stopped and he is living off Spanish State benefits of 464 Euros a month.

The court heard that Hughes who had enjoyed a career as a compere in clubs , hotels and cruise ships before illness struck.

He twice required kidney surgery and when he needed to use a wheelchair to get around legitimately claimed benefits.

Family tempted him to join them in Benidorm and prosecutor Tracy Yates said: “It appears life in Spain improved his health and he started working full time.”

Steven Duffy,defending, said: “He was wheelchair bound when he was in Fleetwood because he could barely walk 100 metres. He went to Spain for two seeks in 2016 and decided to stay there.”

“Someone had seen him working in the bar and tipped off the DWP.”

Hughes was made the subject of a 10-week curfew from 7 pm to 7 am and he must pay £170 costs.

Hannah Ali, 25, breach of a criminal behaviour order

One of Blackpool’s most prolific beggars and rough sleepers has appeared in court.

Hannah Ali, 25, of Central Drive admitted eight breaches of a Criminal Behaviour order designed to keep her out of town centre shop doorways,Blackpool Maguistrates heard.

Ali was made the subject of a two-year community order with 50 rehabilitation days and a drug abuse programme. She must pay £175 costs. Defence lawyer Mitch Sarangi said:”There are complex mental health issues here with a drug problem as well. She realises this is her last chance.”“She has a place to live but cannot stand being within four walls.”

Boy, 16, breach of bail

A 16-year-old’s bid to make a late night return home from Blackpool ended when he found he could not get on a bus. The youth – who cannot be named for legal reasons-was due to get the last train from the resort to Manchester to comply with bail terms. But he found the train service cancelled and replaced by a bus.

Unfortunately other terms of his bail imposed at Crown Court forbids him from getting on board any bus or coach. This followed him being charged with arson with intent to endanger life by setting fire to a Greater Manchester bus and allegedly causing £37,000 worth of damage. The youth admitted breaching his bail by not sleeping at a given address that night. He was re bailed with a tagged curfew.