Smoke row on bus led to theft

Joe Fletcher, 19, of Lincoln Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft.

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

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said Fletcher and a friend got on a bus at Fleetwood to go home to Blackpool on February 10 about 10pm.

At Poulton the 16-year-old victim and three friends got on.

Fletcher and his friend shouted at and were abusive to the other group.

Fletcher’s friend then whipped off the victim’s baseball cap and after he threw it back to him the defendant picked it up and took it.

When interviewed Fletcher told police the bus driver had falsely accused him and his friend of smoking.

The victim and his friends then got on.

One of that group lit a cigarette and an argument started between the two groups.

Brett Chappell, defending, said the flashpoint for everything was when one of the victim’s friends started smoking.

Fletcher was ashamed of his behaviour and apologised to the victim.