Fleetwood: From the courts 02-02-16

Wesley Akrigg, a 24-year-old father-of-two, of Agnew Road, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

He was banned from the road for 16 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said police saw Akrigg speeding in a transit van on Blackpool’s Devonshire Road on February 7 at about midnight.

A breath test showed 59 microgrammes of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Gerry Coyle, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had drunk two to three pints. He then rowed with his girlfriend and decided to drive home.

Akrigg had set up his bricklaying firm about two-and-a-half years ago.

He had a contract with a building firm to do work at seven sites around the Fylde Coast, which would now be in jeopardy because of his driving ban.

• A woman who kicked a police officer on the legs has been ordered to pay him compensation.

Nicola Geddes, a 33-year-old mother, of Rede Avenue, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to assault on police and being drunk and disorderly.

She was sentenced to a two months tagged curfew from 8pm to 8am and ordered to pay £50 compensation with £85 costs plus £60 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Andrew Robinson, prosecutor, said police found Geddes drunk in Talbot Road, Blackpool, on October 15. As she was arrested she kicked an officer.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said Geddes, who had mental health issues, had been given a caution by police for the offences on the condition that she sought some help for her problems.

She did not do that and the matter had been brought to court.

Geddes had been part of a big family brought up on an estate and some of the family had about 1,000 convictions between them.

Up until this incident Geddes had had no criminal convictions and she had been proud of that.

• A man who celebrated getting his first permanent job was more than three times over the alcohol limit when police arrested him.

James Aitchison, who had been drinking beer and tequila, was described by a taxi driver as “all over the road.”

Aitchison, 27, a laboratory worker at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, of Turnberry Avenue, Thornton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from the road for 28 months, fined £440 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £44 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said Aitchison was reported to police for driving erratically in a Citroen C1 at Thornton, on January 30 at 11.30pm.

A taxi driver saw him clip a kerb and take a bend on the wrong side of the road. A breath test showed 117 microgrammes of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had decided to celebrate after landing his first full time job, as a laboratory technician. He had previously only done agency work.

After drinking at a pub, he could given no explanation for deciding to drive. He made it home to his front door when police arrived.

Mr Coyle added: “He is disgusted with himself and completely embarrassed. It was a moment of madness. He will keep his job, but he will have to use public transport.”

• A man pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he made his first appearance at court.

Jamie Sharp, 24, of Broadway, Fleetwood, was caught after driving a BMW on the port’s Fleetwood Road with 45 microgrammes of alcohol in his body – 35 is the limit.

His case was adjourned and he was banned from the road in the meantime by Blackpool magistrates.

• A university student found herself in trouble with the law when she acted as a Good Samaritan and went on a mercy mission.

Nicola Sproat, who is doing a course on fashion at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, was over the limit when questioned by police.

Sproat, 30, of Maida Vale, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said police received information on January 31 at 4.15am, that a car was being driven by a possible drink-driver.

Officers were given a description of the car and told where it was heading.

Police saw the car, being driven by Sproat, pull into a driveway on Hawthorn drive, Cleveleys. A breath test showed 46 microgrammes of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

David Charnley, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been at an address where a man who had drunk a lot had driven off in a BMW belonging to the householder.

Sproat did not want the man to get in trouble so she went and retrieve the BMW, not realising she was slightly over the limit. In the meantime someone had rung the police about the missing BMW.

• A teenager breached his bail because he wanted to visit his sister in Fleetwood.

The 15-year-old, from Darwen, who can not be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a bail condition.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said the teenager had pleaded not guilty to an offence of affray and was due for trial on March 8.

He had been bailed to the care of the local authority with a condition he did not enter Hodder Avenue, Fleetwood. On February 25 at 7.50pm he was found in Hodder Avenue and arrested.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said: “It was his sister’s birthday and that is the reason he came to Fleetwood. He fully accepts he should not have done it but he was desperate to see his sister.”

Blackpool magistrates agreed to rebail him on the conditions he did not enter Fleetwood unless accompanied by social services or a youth team member, he lived and slept where directed by the local authority and kept a tagged curfew between 9pm and 7am.