Blackpool: From the courts 17-03-17

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

John Porter, 37, drug-driving

The level of drugs in a driver’s body as he travelled to Blackpool was described as “staggering”.

John Porter, a 37-year-old removals driver, of Stockdale Crescent, Bamber Bridge, Preston, pleaded guilty to three offences of drug-driving,

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

Prosecutor, Sarah Perkins, said police stopped Porter on January 7 at 7pm, as he drove a Volkswagen Golf on the resort’s Preston New Road,

A blood test showed 169 units of cocaine in his body – the specified limit is 10.

He also had 1,038 units of a cocaine derivative in his system – the specified limit for that is 50.

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The third drug found was five units of cannabis – the specified level is 2.

Ms Perkins said: “The combination and level of the drugs was quite staggering.”

Hugh Pond, defending, said Porter was going to Blackpool to meet a woman friend.

He admitted smoking cannabis some time before he drove but said the last time he took cocaine was well before January.

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There had been no suggestion from the police of bad driving by Porter. He would now lose his job because he could not drive.

Barbara Kanash, 36, dangerous driving

A mother accused of driving dangerously with children in the car has had the first hearing of her case at court.

Barbara Kanash, 36, of Catforth Avenue, Marton, is alleged to have committed the offence on August 27 last year.

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Defence lawyer, Suzanne Mugford, said Kanash was too ill to attend court.

Kanash was bailed by magistrates.

Daniel Cunningham, 27, drug-driving

A father-of-three was caught driving with cocaine and cannabis in his body.

Daniel Cunningham took the drugs because he was under stress as his wife had had a cancer scare and some family members had died.

Cunningham, a 27-year-old former forklift truck driver, of Maurice Grove, Bispham, pleaded guilty to three offences of drug driving.

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He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with a three months curfew from 8pm to 7am, banned from the road for 23 months and ordered to pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a Volkswagen Golf Cunningham was driving in Marsden Road was registered as having no insurance and the police pulled him over on on January 13 at 2.15am.

A blood test showed cocaine and cannabis in his body.

Gillian O’Flaherty, for the probation service, said Cunningham had taken two lines of cocaine and some cannabis to de-stress because of family problems. It was a one off.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said it had been more than 24 hours since Cunningham had taken the drugs and he had felt fit to drive. He had lost his job as a result of the incident.

Thomas Carney, 34, drink-driving

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A student who admitted driving while more than twice over the alcohol limit aims to keep his licence.

Thomas Carney, 34, of Queens Terrace, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to driving a Vauxhall Tigra on Blackpool’s Queens Promenade with 79 micrograms of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Defence lawyer, Patrick Nelligan, told magistrates that Carney said his drinks had been spiked.

Carney’s case was adjourned to May 2 by magistrates for him to show special reasons why he should not be disqualified.

Stephen Barber, 49, drunk and disorderly

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A drunk man caused a fracas in the street outside a Blackpool off-licence shop.

Stephen Barber, 49, of Waterloo Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

Barber was given a six months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said police were called to Talbot Road, on February 23 at 5.20pm, where Barber was outside the Booze and News shop threatening to smash the windows.

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He refused to calm down and was shouting and swearing so police arrested him.

Suzanne Mugford, defending, said her client accepted he was under the influence of alcohol when he made comments to the police.

Barber had been having mental health problems but he was not on medication at the moment because he was struggling to find a GP.

Thomas Lawson, 18, taking a car without consent

A teenager was unable to attend court because he had a sickness bug magistrates were told,

Thomas Lawson, 18, of Laburnum Street, Blackpool, who is accused of the aggravated taking without consent of a Mitsubishi ASX which collided with a VW Polo at Blackpool, had his case adjourned.