Blackpool: From the courts 31/05/17

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

John Sneap, 32, reaching a non-molestation order.

A man has been allowed to alter the sentence he was given by a court so he can go on holiday to the Lake District.

John Sneap, 32, of St Heliers Road, South Shore, had previously been sentenced to a community order with an overnight curfew and 20 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service for an offence of breaching a non-molestation order.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sneap asked for the curfew section of the sentence, where he should remain inside overnight at his given address, to be suspended for seven nights between July 29 and August 4.

Sneap, the father of three young daughters, told the court: “I have been split-up from my wife for a year.

“I have access to the children at weekends supervised by my parents.”

He added he was asking for his curfew to be suspended so he, his three children and his parents could go on a pre-booked holiday to Lakeland Leisure Park, Flookburgh, Cumbria.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When it was suggested he could still serve his curfew at the holiday accommodation, he replied: “It would be embarrassing.”

Blackpool magistrates agreed to lift Sneap’s curfew from July 28 to August 5 but said instead of his curfew ending in August it would run until September 7 to make up for the curfew time he missed on holiday.

Connor Goodrum, 20, breaching a community order

A burglar failed to do payback work and then disappeared off the Blackpool probation service’s radar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Connor Goodrum, 20, formerly of Sherbourne Road, North Shore, now living at Riverside arrive, Market Drayton, Shropshire, pleaded guilty to breaching a community order.

He was sentenced to four weeks jail suspended for 12 months.

Peter Moran, defending, said in July Goodrum had burgled the equine section of a college in Nantwich and was caught after his blood was found on a vending machine there. He had been sentenced to do 100 hours unpaid work for the community.

On March 17 and April 5 he failed to keep appointments with his probation officer and after April 19 had no contact with his officer, also failing to tell the officer he had moved address.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Goodrum had completed 45-and-a-half hours of the payback work.

It was his second breach of the order.

Gary McAnulty, defending, said his client came under pressure because he was living with his girlfriend in Blackpool. He became homeless and had no benefits.

Goodrum, who only had one previous conviction, suffered from depression and paranoia.

He could not get accommodation in Blackpool so he ended up moving to Shropshire where his girlfriend’s family lived.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kenny Dickson, 24, breaching a Sex Offences Prevention Order

A magistrate has asked for an investigation to be made into a hostel run by the probation service after a convicted sex offender refused to stay at it claiming the inmates there were taking drugs.

Kenny Dickson had been ordered to stay at Howarth House Hostel, Blackburn, for three months as part of his sentence, but he stayed there only one day.

He then went underground and was found by police 18 days later in his home town of Blackpool hiding in a bathroom.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dickson, 24, formerly of Carshalton Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sex Offences Prevention Order by failing to tell police of his address.

He also admitted breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed for six burglary offences and taking a car.

Dickson was sentenced to 52 weeks jail.

James Smith, assault

A drunken man attacked his partner and made what a judge called appalling comments about her disabled daughter

District Judge Huw Edwards told James Smith: “This is an unpleasant case of assault on your partner and you made some appalling remarks to her daughter.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Smith admitted assaulting the woman at her home and also criminal damage to her mobile which he stamped on, the judge heard.

Smith who been drinking white rum went into his partner bedroom and pulled her out of bed by her hair before pushing her to the floor where she banged her head.

He was then abusive to the girl.

Prosecutor Adrian Hollamby said that Smith was finally forced out of the house and the doors locked behind him.

Smith was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work and he must pay £205 costs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was placed on a one year community order during which he should do 20 days rehabilitation.

The judge was told that Smith formerly of Dalton Avenue, South Shore, had now moved to his father’s home in Poulton.

Anthony Brooks, 30, theft

A man has been put on the wanted list.

Anthony Brooks, 30, of Central Drive, Blackpool, who is accused of stealing a £7 bottle of wine from the One Stop Shop, had a warrant without bail issued for his arrest after he failed to attend court.

Robert Heritage, 25, criminal damage

Spurned Robert Heritage took revenge when his partner handed him his belongings through a window.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 25-year-old kicked in the door to her electricity meter and then turned his attention to her Ford car kicking out at its winger mirrors causing £200 of damage.

Heritage, of Thornber Grove, Marton, admitted causing criminal damage to the car and £50 of damage to the meter.

Magistrates were told that Heritage and his partner had been in a stable relationship and had been planning their wedding.

Defence lawyer Steven Duffy said: “They had fallen out over something and nothing and are now back together again. When he caused the damage he was frustrated and upset.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Heritage was given a one year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £160 costs.

Joseph Haslem, 23, causing an obstruction

The trial of a man charged with causing an alleged obstruction of the highway outsider the Cuadrilla gas fracking site has been adjourned.

Joseph Haslem, 23, of Stanley Road, Heysham was due before Blackpool Magistrates.

He faces a charge of obstructing the A583 at Westby with Plumpton near Blackpool on March 1 this year.

A new date will be fixed for his trial.