Blackpool: From the courts 22-11-16

Paula McIntyre, 41, theft and failing to attend court

A conwoman cruelly duped a pensioner who was suffering from memory loss and confusion.

Paula McIntyre distracted the 79-year-old man by hiding his back door key and then stole some of his savings.

She was described as targeting and cruelly abusing the generosity and kindness of a vulnerable elderly man by District Judge, Jeff Brailsford, sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

McIntyre, a 41-year-old mother-of-two, of Chatsworth Avenue, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to theft and failing to attend court.

She was sentenced to 16 weeks jail suspended for 12 months with up to 20 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, put on six months drug rehabilitation and ordered to pay the pensioner £200 compensation with £85 victims’ surcharge.

District Judge, Jeff Brailsford, said: “This was extremely serious. 
“There has to be a message sent out that those who target the vulnerable to steal from, cheat and con them, that this will not be tolerated.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said McIntyre and another woman knocked on the door of a 79-year-old man’s Fleetwood home on October 27.

He did not know McIntyre but let her in and she asked if he lived alone.

McIntyre returned the next day and after he reluctantly let her in she asked him for a couple of pounds. He gave her £5 from a drawer he kept money in.

She then asked to use the toilet and when she returned she asked him where his back door key was.

The pensioner, who suffered from memory loss, confusion and depression, found the key missing from the back door.

McIntyre then suggested it might be under a rug in the toilet. After asking her to leave he found £50 missing from the drawer.

Probation officer, Brian Weatherington, told the judge that in the months leading up to the offence McIntyre had relapsed into taking heroin again and her benefits had been reduced.

The victim was known for helping people in need.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said McIntyre now had her drug problem under control.

She was genuinely ashamed of what she had done.

Stephen Pugh, 34, assault

A man accused of pushing a girlfriend and hitting her in the face has appeared at court.

Stephen Pugh, 34, of Topping Street, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to assault and was bailed to January 13 for trial by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

He must live at his given address and not contact his girlfriend or go to her address as conditions of his bail.

David Tuck, 27, breach of bail, North Shore

A man was seen posting chocolate biscuits through the letter box of his former girlfriend’s home which he had been banned from approaching a court was told.

David Tuck, a solar panel fitter, 27, of Boothley Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty breaching bail.

District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court agreed to rebail him.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Tuck had been bailed on the conditions he did not contact his ex or go within 100 metres of her home on the resort’s Milbourne Street.

On November 27 Tuck’s ex first saw him posting biscuits through her letterbox and then saw him again in the early hours very near her home.

He also called her saying: “Can I see the kids.” She got about 28 calls, which she did not answer. She also received numerous texts from a number she did not know but she suspected Tuck was sending them.

Suzanne Mugford, defending, told the judge her client had accepted texting his ex about the children but said he had not posted the chocolate biscuits, which were for their two children. He said he had sent a friend to go that.

Craig Gilroy, 19, theft and assault

A teenager accused of stealing £11 worth of cheese from a Blackpool shop then slapping a woman worker at the store has appeared at court.

Craig Gilroy, unemployed, aged 19, of Clevedon Road, North Shore, pleaded not guilty to theft and assault.

He was bailed to January 23 for trial by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Gilroy must live at his given address and not enter the Co-op shop, Abingdon Street, as conditions of his bail.

John Lyons, 38, breach of order

A man found himself in trouble with the law after he failed to keep in touch with his probation officer.

John Lyons, 38, of Gorton Street, North Shore, pleaded guilty to breaching a community order.

He had an extra three months put on his community order by District Judge, Jeff Brailsford, sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Neal Brookes, prosecuting for the probation service, said Lyons had previously been put on a 12 months order for racially aggravated behaviour. He had failed to keep appointments and lost contact with the probation service.

Hugh Pond, defending, said Lyons had been having trouble with his accommodation. He had been sleeping in doorways and several hostels, but now had a place at a hostel.

Ian Miller, 44, breach of the peace

A man threatened to set himself on fire when a council refused to re-house him.

Ian Miller caused a fracas at Fylde Borough Council’s offices after demanding to be found alternative accommodation.

A council officer had tried to explain he could not be found another residence because he already had a home.

Miller, 44, of Lindsay Avenue, St Anne’s, admitted breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £100 for 12 months by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said police were called to Fylde Borough Council’s offices in Clifton Drive South, St Annes, on November 21 about 4.30pm , where Miller was demanding to be rehoused and refusing to leave.

Officers found Miller in the reception area speaking to a council officer who was explaining to him that he could not be provided with another home because he already had accommodation. Miller said his house was not fit to live in.

A police officer accompanied Miller to his home and saw parts of the accommodation covered in rubbish, alcohol bottles and cigarette ends. The officer understood this was as a result of Miller failing to clear up.

Miller first said: “I’m not staying here tonight. I’ll go out and smash a window and get arrested,” and added that he would burn the house down and set fire to himself.

Miller told magistrates: “All I was doing was begging for help after my father died. You won’t see any more of me because I am emigrating.”