Blackpool: From the courts 09-04-18

Here is the latest round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court.
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Blackpool: From the courts 06-04-18

David Foreman, 26, drunk and disorderly, obstructing police

A drunken yob refused to leave a van in Fleetwood when ordered to by police.

David Foreman repeatedly told officers they would have to drag him out of the vehicle and refused to get out until a constable drew his pepper spray and reinforcements arrived.

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Foreman, 26, of Nightingale Road, Middlesborough, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and obstructing police.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police received a tip-off on March 10 about 1am that a driver who had been drinking had driven off in a van from Fleetwood’s Shell service station.

Officers arrested the driver on suspicion of drink-driving and told Foreman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, he would have to get out.

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Police offered to take Foreman to a taxi office in the port, but he refused and demanded to be taken to Blackpool.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been in the van with his boss.

Foreman had no money on him and asked police if they would take him into Blackpool because his hotel was near the police station.

Officers said the best they could do was drive him to a taxi office in Fleetwood. Foreman then got upset about the way the officers had treated him.

Carl Rankine, 68, drink-driving

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A night porter was more than twice over the alcohol level when he got behind the wheel of a friend’s car.

Carl Rankine, 68, of Cavendish Mansions, Green Drive, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance or a licence.

He was disqualified from driving for 22 months, fined £285 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said police saw Rankine on the car park of The Venue, Cleveleys, on March 9, about 6.30pm.

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He was unsteady on his feet and was seen driving off in a Citroen Picasso. Police stopped him on Green Drive.

A breath test showed 82 micrograms of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

He had a previous conviction for failing to provide a specimen for alcohol testing in 1999.

Steven Townley, defending, said Rankine had lost his licence following the previous conviction and had lost all interest in driving. The night of the offence he was out celebrating. Rankine said he would get some photographs from his home. A friend suggested he take his car.

Martin King, 29, threats to kill

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A man who had a charge against him dropped has been put on a restraining order.

Martin King, 29, of Waterloo Road, South Shore, pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill a woman.

The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence on the offence.

The prosecution then asked for King to be put on a restraining order which would prevented him from contacting the woman.

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Magistrates were told by their legal adviser that despite no evidence being offered against King on the threat to kill charge, they still had the power to place a restraining order on him if they believed he could pursue a course of conduct which would lead to the harassment of the woman.

King was put on a two year restraining order.

Martin Gilbert, 51, failing to return from day release

Martin Gilbert, 51, of HMP Kirkham, was jailed for 10 days after admitting failing to return from day release at the prison and must pay a £115 surcharge.