Blackpool: From the courts - 15/12/16

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

Francis Mulligan, 40, assault

A police officer will have to endure months of medical treatment to prevent infection after a prisoner spat in his eyes.

Francis Mulligan spat blood and saliva at the officer while he was in a police holding cell having been arrested when he travelled to Blackpool for a boxing tournament his son was taking part in.

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Mulligan, a 40-year-old labourer, of Maukinfauld Road, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to assault on police.

He was fined £300 with £85 costs and ordered to pay the police officer £150 compensation with £30 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Ronald Bell, told him: “This was a particularly disgusting offence against an officer in the execution of his duty.”

Prosecutor, Andrew Robinson, said police were at Blackpool’s Norbreck Castle hotel on November 27, at 1.20am, when Mulligan became abusive to other guests.

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Officers tried to escort him to his hotel room but he resisted and was arrested.

In the police holding cell he kicked out and then headbutted the Perspex screen.

When officers went in to check Mulligan’s head injury he spat blood and saliva in an officer’s face.

The officer had to wash his eyes out with saline and once off duty at 7am he went to hospital for a blood test for hepatitis.

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In a victim impact statement the officer said he faced going to his doctor’s for three months for injections against possible hepatitis.

He felt extremely stressed and also developed a stye on his eye where the blood and saliva had contacted with him.

David Charnley, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been embarrassed and ashamed by his behaviour.

Mulligan believed someone must have put something in his drink because he behaved so out of character. He wishes to apologise to the officer.

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Mulligan received injuries during the incident and the defence said the police were a little over zealous with him, but perhaps he deserved it.

Phillip Jones, 25, theft

A father-of-two stole more than £1,000 of property from a woman’s car after he had been drinking.

Phillip Jones, 25, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was ordered to pay £1,195 compensation by magistrates who imposed no other penalty.

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Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said Jones got into a woman’s car which was parked in Blackpool on October 27, and stole two iPads, a satellite navigation system and children’s clothing.

Peter Manning, defending, said Jones had been drinking and was persuaded to steal goods from the car by a far more prolific criminal.

That criminal had taken the majority of the items from the vehicle and Jones had benefited very little.

Jones looked after his children three times a week while his pregnant partner went to college. He had been arrested while looking after the children which had caused them great distress.

Elliott Hargreaves, 19, drink-driving

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A teenager missed his first court appearance because he was called to an emergency at his work in Birmingham.

Elliott Hargreaves, 19, of Beach Road, Cleveleys, who is accused of being in charge of a Corsa on the resort’s Grange Road while over the alcohol limit, had his case adjourned by magistrates.

Kieran McIntyre, 26, criminal damage

A man was unable to attend court because he lived in Coventry and had just finished a nightshift magistrates were told.

Kieran McIntyre, 26, of Common Way, Coventry, left a message saying he pleaded guilty to damaging a glass panel in a door valued at £100 in Blackpool.

He was bailed for sentence by magistrates.

Kharena Cooke, 30, drink-driving

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A single mother came to police attention when her car was seen kangerooing along a road in Poulton.

Kharena Cooke was found to be more than twice over the alcohol limit when police stopped her.

Cooke, a 30-year-old fast food restaurant worker, of Ormerod Street, Thornton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance or a licence.

She was disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £400 with £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

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Prosecutor, Andrew Robinson, said police saw Cooke in a Nissan Micra on Mains Lane, Singleton, on November 27 at 2.20am.

The car appeared to have stalled and had its hazard lights on but it then set off again.

The car stopped and restarted again several times,

When questioned Cooke said she was struggling to control the car which belonged to a woman passenger. A breath test showed 80 micrograms of alcohol in her body - 35 is the limit.

Suzanne Mugford, defending, said Cooke and her friend had been out.

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Her friend got quite drunk and Cooke believed it was safer for her to drive the car.

She had made a stupid mistake and apologised.

Cooke had hoped to take driving lessons in the New Year and when she passed her test be able to drive her daughter around but that would now be delayed.

Nicola Lord, 39, theft

A lottery winner has been put on the police wanted list.

Nicola Lord, 39, of Lytham Road, South Shore, who won £250,000 on a scratchcard, is charged with stealing perfume and aftershave valued at £200 from TK Maxx.

She failed to turn up at court for the first hearing of the case and a warrant without bail for her arrest was issued by magistrates

Mary Kelly, 27, drunk and disorderly

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A woman accused of assaulting another woman has had a warrant without bail issued for her arrest.

Mary Kelly, 27, of Clifton Drive North, St Annes, is also charged with being drunk and disorderly at the Townhouse pub, St Annes.

The warrant for her arrest was issued by magistrates after she failed to attend the first hearing of her case.

Jamie Hossain, 27, drink-driving

A man accused of driving with excess alcohol failed to turn up at the first hearing of his case. Jamie Hossain, 27, of Linden Avenue, Wigan, had a warrant without bail issued for his arrest.