Blackpool: From the courts 28-11-16

Craig Rourke, 26, careless driving, failing to stop after an accident, failure to report an accident, no licence, insurance or MOT

A driver who fled from a crash in which two people were badly injured was trapped by his own airbag.

Police removed the airbag from the Audi A5 Craig Rourke had been driving for forensic tests and saliva found on the airbag proved to be Rourke’s.

Rourke, a 26-year-old former soldier, of Warley Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to driving carelessly, failing to stop after an accident and report it and having no licence, insurance or MoT.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 300 hours unpaid work for the community, banned from the road for three years and ordered to pay £300 compensation with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said Rourke failed to give way at the junction of Blackpool’s Warley and Dickson Roads on September 13, at 9.20pm, and drove into the path of another car driven by a woman. Both vehicles were badly damaged and ended up on the pavement.

Rourke ran from the scene. A male passenger in his car suffered a broken arm, but would not make any statement. The woman in the other car had concussion, ribs shoulder and back injuries and whiplash.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client had been taking driving lessons following a period of disqualification.

Rourke had kept out of trouble while he was in the Army serving in areas such as Iraq. He had then been discharged because he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He had applied to rejoin the Army and been accepted. If all went well he should be rejoining in the New Year.

Joseph Egan, 21, resisting arrest, damage

An angry young man had to be pepper-sprayed after he fought to resist arrest and flung two officers away from him.

Joseph Egan was annoyed after a row with his girlfriend, in which he smashed a guitar and punched a hole in the wall, before struggling with the officers.

His bad mood continued after he was arrested and he ripped up a pillow in the cell he was put into.

Egan, 21, of St Heliers Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and two offences of causing damage.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge, fined £40 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £34.80 compensation for the pillow plus £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said Egan’s then girlfriend called the police on October 1, saying he was leaving their flat and causing damage.

Egan was repeatedly asked by officers to calm down but failed to do so. As the officers tried to arrest him he resisted violently and all three of them fell to the floor.

Steven Duffy, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had just come out of the shower and could not understand why the police were there because the argument with his partner was over. He was upset and frustrated and behaved in an inappropriate way.

Jamie Aiden, 41, drink-driving

A businessman was over the alcohol limit when he crashed into a car with a mother and child inside.

Jamie Alden, 41, of Orchard Avenue, South Shore, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned from driving for 14 months and fined £350 with £85 costs plus £35 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said police were called to an accident on Abbey Road on November 4, at 8.20pm, where Alden’s Mercedes had collided with another car.

A breath test showed 55 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

Alden said he had drunk three pints in the early evening at the pub then drunk a large glass of white wine with his meal.

He normally did the shopping that night of the week.

He added he had made an horrendous miscalculation about his alcohol level before he set off.

Alden did his utmost to make sure the mother and child in the other car were OK.

Jeremiah Dennehy, 26, driving while banned, no insurance, failing to stop

Police had to chase a man who sped off after they had asked him to stop a BMW he was driving.

Jeremiah Dennehy then fled twice on foot as officers tried to apprehend him.

Dennehy, a 26-year-old former shop worker, of Topping Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to driving while banned without insurance and failing to stop for police.

He was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months, put on a 12 months community order with up to 20 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, banned from the road for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs with £115 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said police became concerned about the manner in which Dennehy was driving in the early hours on November 23

They signalled for him to stop but he would not and led police on a pursuit round Blackpool for five minutes. He then got out of the car and ran off twice.

It was his third conviction for disqualified driving in three years.

Hugh Pond, defending, said his client had borrowed a car from a friend to drive a short distance to a cash machine because he had no money. Dennehy had no recollection of being disqualified and it was suspected he could have been banned in his absence.

Natalie Felton, 24, threatening behaviour, criminal damage

A woman banged on two doors shouting to be let in and threatening to smash windows if she was not.

Natalie Felton, a carer, 24, of Red Bank Road, Bispham, pleaded guilty to two offences of threatening to damage property.

She was fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said a mother and her two-year-old child were asleep when they were woken by Felton banging on her door on November 5, about 4am, shouting to be let in and saying she would break windows if she was not.

Felton who then did the same thing at a nearby address told police she had no recollection of what she had done.

Suzanne Mugford, defending, said her client, who had no previous offences, had been drinking that night. She acted out of character after arguing with her boyfriend, who she believed was drinking at one of the addresses.