Guilty plea hits travel dream

An argument with his brother over a girl may have destroyed a man’s dream of going to Australia to do voluntary work, a judge was told.
Blackpool Magistrates' CourtBlackpool Magistrates' Court
Blackpool Magistrates' Court

Ryan Hopkirk smashed glass in a communal door at a block of St Annes flats during the row, and his hope of entering Australia was doubtful because he now had a criminal record.

Hopkirk, 28, of Harbour Lane, Warton, pleaded guilty to causing damage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £95 compensation with £85 costs plus £15 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Roger Lowe, sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, told the court police were called to flats in St Annes, where Hopkirk had broken two panes of glass in a communal door on March 30, at about 5am.

Hopkirk said he had been out with his brother, and after returning to the brother’s flat they argued over a girl.

Police offered him a caution at the time, on the condition he paid for the damage within a certain time, but Hopkirk said he had no money to pay it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stephen Duffy, defending, said Hopkirk, who had no previous convictions, may have ruined his hope of going to Australia to do voluntary work, as it was doubtful he would be let into the country because of the record he now had.