Blackpool: From the courts 21-02-17

Jacqueline Chapman, 56, theft and fraud

A widow stole gold jewellery from an 86-year-old dementia patient she cared for.

Jacqueline Chapman took items including rings and brooches belonging to the woman and sold them because she was short of money.

Chapman, 56, of Central Drive, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft and fraud.

She was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 200 hours unpaid work for the community and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to her victim.

Presiding magistrate, Alan Sandham, told her: “You took advantage of the position you were in.

“Your were a friend of the victim’s and the partner of her son.

“This was an enormous breach of trust.”

Prosecutor, Peter Bardsley, said Chapman was the partner of the victim’s son.

The victim lived in sheltered accommodation and on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Chapman cared for her doing jobs such as cleaning, making meals and collecting medication.

Between October 1 and November 30 last year gold jewellery went missing from the victim’s home.

Her son said it included rings, brooches, other pieces with stones in them and a solid gold watch form. The son estimated the jewellery’s worth at about £1,000.

Inquiries revealed Chapman had sold the jewellery at a pawnbrokers receiving about £400 for it.

Peter Cave, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been a friend of the victims’ for 18 months and then started a relationship with her son.

She had volunteered to care for her partner’s mother, out of the goodness of her heart and unpaid, four days a week.

Chapman lived with her son, who had mental health issues.

Her son had problems with his benefits money and they had no money, so she took the jewellery and sold it.

Here is a round-up of some of Monday’s cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court 20-02-17

Craig Bennett, 36, assault

A businessman accused of assaulting his former girlfriend’s boyfriend by punching him in Fleetwood has been refused bail.

Craig Bennett, 36, of Bushfield Drive, Dublin, is also charged with breaching a restraining order by contacting his ex and driving while disqualified without insurance.

Bennett appeared over the court video-link and pleaded not guilty to all the offences.

He was remanded in custody towards trial on March 30.

Kelly Fallon, 22, malicious wounding

A woman has made her first appearance accused of maliciously wounding a man causing him grievous bodily harm.

Kelly Fallon, 22, of Caunce Street, Blackpool, was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 17.

Martin Devon, 31, robbery

A man accused of bank card robbery has made his first appearance at court.

Martin Devon, 31, of Reads Avenue, Blackpool, is charged with robbing a man of his NatWest Bank card in the resort on June 25 last year.

Devon was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 22.

Jack Wibberley, 30, drink driving

A father-to-five children was caught drink-driving the first time he had a alcohol in 10 years.

Jack Wibberley, who had been teetotal for a decade after conquering a drink problem, turned to alcohol after splitting-up with his long term girlfriend.

Wibberley, a 30-year-old former coach driver, of St Paul’s Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from the road for 12 months and fined £120 with £85 costs plus £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Peter Bardsley, said police stopped Wibberley as he drove a Peugeot on Lytham St Annes Way because one of his rear brake lights was out on February 2 at 3.50am.

A breath test showed 49 microgrammes of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

Peter Cave, defending, said his client had had a severe alcohol problem until he was 20.

He had then conquered his addiction and not drunk for 10 years.

Mr Cave added: “The reason he had a drink on this occasion was because he had split-up with his long-term partner.

“At the time he was significantly depressed.

“He is hoping for a reconciliation with her.”

Irene Jones, 50, theft

A woman shoplifter struggled violently with a store worker at B&M Bargains and had to be detained on the floor.

Irene Jones then said she was pregnant and that she had hurt her knee in the scuffle so she was taken to hospital.

Jones, 50, of Roughwood Drive, Kirby, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to theft.

She was sentenced to a 12 months community order with a four weeks curfew from 9pm to 6am and ordered to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge.

Jamie Cawley, 18, actual bodily harm

A teenager accused of attacking a man with a large metal bar has made his first appearance at court.

Jamie Cawley, an 18-year-old student, of Lindel Road, Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

He also denied possessing the metal bar as an offensive weapon in Promenade Road, Fleetwood, on February 13.

Prosecutor, Peter Bardsley, asked for the case to be heard at crown court. Defence lawyer, Gerry Coyle, asked for bail for his client.

Cawley was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 22 by Blackpool magistrates.

He must lived at his given address, keep and overnight curfew, not contact prosecution witnesses and not enter Promenade Road as a condition of his bail.

Caroline Ferguson, 34, failing to provide a specimen for alcohol testing

A woman who had been drinking was seen speeding through crossroads in Thornton at 60mph by police.

Caroline Ferguson provided a high alcohol reading when she took a breathalyser test at the roadside but once at the police station did not give the required samples.

Ferguson, 34, of Fir Grove, Marton, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for alcohol testing.

She was disqualified from driving for 28 months and fined £120 with £85 costs plus £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Ferguson driving a Peugeot at speed on Victoria Road East before going through crossroads at 60mph on January 30 at 1.10am.