IN THE DOCK: 11 people who have appeared in East Lancashire courts

A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been banned from having any contact with his dad for 12 months after magistrates were told he had ignored a harassment warning and continued pestering his parent for cash.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mark Lee Miller wanted the money to buy drugs.

Milner, of Cross Bank, Padiham, pleaded guilty to harassing Peter Milner. He was fined £80 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge and made subject to a restraining order for 12 months. The order prohibits any contact with his father or entering Dean Street, Padiham, where he lives.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said Mr Milner had decided that enough was enough and had involved the police. “He had decided he didn’t want his son coming round pestering him for money,” said Mrs Mann.”

That didn’t stop it and even after being arrested and charged with this offence he still went round to his dad’s address in breach of bail conditions.”

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A MAN who had just been given a pat on the back by Blackburn magistrates couldn’t make it from the court to the bus station without stealing from a store.

And the theft of two candles from Boots cost Frederick Sagar, 46, 14 weeks in prison after the magistrates activated a suspended sentence and added six weeks for the new offence.

Sagar, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, pleaded guilty to theft two candles worth £48 from Boots. Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the suspended sentence was imposed in January for six offences of shoplifting.

Gareth Price, defending, said the suspended sentence order also included a curfew but when his client got home from court his front door had been damaged and there were problems with the curfew.

“The matter was listed in court yesterday when the magistrates recognised his good progress on the order and removed the curfew,” said Mr Price. “He was on his way to the bus station yesterday when he bumped into someone he owed money to who wasn’t prepared to wait for his money.”

Mr Price said Sagar went into the first shop he came to and stole to try and pay off the debt.

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A 37-YEAR-old man who got away with nothing from two shoplifting offences and a charity shop burglary landed a 34 week prison sentence when he appeared in court.

Blackburn magistrates heard the offences put Anthony Eden in breach of two suspended prison sentences, one of them imposed the day before he committed the latest offence.

Eden, 37, of Dunoon Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of a bottle of Jack Daniels from Morrisons, theft of perfume from Debenhams and burglary at Age Uk with intent to steal. The magistrates activated both suspended sentences and added a further 12 weeks for the latest offences.

The chairman told him: “Your record is appalling. You are subject to two suspended sentences, have failed to comply with any court orders and despite already being banned from Morrisons still went in there shoplifting.”

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said Eden was detained as he left both stores.

and the property recovered. Access to the Age UK premises had been gained by smashing an upstairs window. One of Eden’s fingerprints was found inside but nothing had been stolen.

Shaun Finnegan, defending, said despite there being no loss to any of the victims his client was realistic about what would happen to him.

“He is someone who offends to feed his drug habit and he knows he needs help,” said Mr Finnegan. “While he is in prison he says he will take all the help available to him to get him clear of drugs.”

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A MAN refused to give a breath sample and became aggressive towards police when arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

Blackburn magistrates heard Simon Michael Lang, 32, started banging his head against the wall and floor at the police station and he was eventually put in a cell with a protective helmet on his head.

Lang, of Bank Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge. He was banned from driving for 36 months.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Lang admitted he had been drinking when he was stopped driving a van at 1.50 am but refused to give a breath sample. On the way to the police station he put coins in his mouth believing this would affect a breathalyser reading.

At the police station he was asked several times to take a breathalyser and told officers: “Don’t touch me or I will knock you out.”

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said after his arrest Lang thought he was being treated unfairly and things were said to him that shouldn’t have been said.

“He says there was some goading and when he got out of the police vehicle there were seven officers waiting for him,” said Mr Taylor.

“He was put in a cell, had the majority of his clothes removed and a helmet put on his head.”

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A COMPANY boss who felt unwell at work set off to drive himself to hospital despite being banned from driving.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mark Benjamin Craddock panicked when he was stopped by police and gave a false name. Craddock, 34, of Gallows Lane, Dutton, Ribchester, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and obstructing a police officer.

He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for two years, made subject to a curfew between 8 pm and 6 am for four months, banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client suffered ongoing stomach problems as a result of an accident 10 years ago.

“He suffered a flare up of the old problem and made the decision to drive himself to hospital,” said Mr Pickup. “He is the manager and owner of his own groundworks company and 22 people rely on him for their jobs. He knows he has been very foolish.”

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A MAN has been fined £220 after being prosecuted for dropping a cigarette.

Burnley magistrates heard how 53-year-old Robin Evans, of Garnett Street, Darwen, committed the offence in Burnley town centre on July 19.

The offence was proved in his absence.

Evans was also ordered to pay £75 prosecution costs and a £30 surcharge to fund victim services.

A collection order was made meaning Evans must pay the balance by February 23.

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A MAN has been given three penalty points after admitting to speeding on the Rawtenstall Bypass.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard how Gary Smith, 52, of Mosedale Drive, Burnley, committed the offence in a Mazda on August 8.

Smith was fined £100, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £30 surcharge to fund victim services.

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A REFORMED drug addict returned to crime because of a pain in the neck.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher James Morley was prescribed subutex, the heroin blocker, and as a result could not take a number of paid relief medications.

His solution was to steal bottles of Jack Daniels from Morrisons on three consecutive days which he drank to help the pain.

Morley, 41, of Inkerman Street, Bacup, pleaded guilty to three charges of shoplifting. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £64 compensation, £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Gareth Price, defending, said: “Because of the subutex his client could not take any opiate-based painkillers. It has been seven years since he was before the court and this could be seen as a blip.”

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A MAN who was caught drink-driving ended up assaulting a police officer.

Blackburn magistrates heard how 37-year-old Ian Stinson committed the drink-driving offence in a Vauxhall Astra in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, on January 18.

The court heard the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, but Stinson had 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when police initiated a breathalyser.

Magistrates were told that on the same day Stinson assaulted PC Philip Darbyshire.

Stinson, of Park Lee Road, Blackburn, admitted to drink-driving and assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

As well as being given a three-year ban, Stinson was also ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.

He was also ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, pay £85 prosecution costs, £100 compensation and an £85 surcharge to fund victim services.

The money will be deducted from his benefits.

A magistrates courts spokesman said: “The defendant’s guilty plea was taken into account when imposing the sentence.”

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A THIEF who stole nearly £40-worth of chocolate has been ordered to pay compensation.

Magistrates heard how 35-year-old Daniel Marsh stole two large boxes of Ferrero Roche and three boxes of Belgian Truffles from the Park Garage, Whalley New Road, Blackburn, on October 21. The total value of the theft was £38.75.

Marsh, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft.

Marsh was ordered to pay £38.75 compensation, a £40 fine, £30 prosecution costs and a £30 surcharge to fund victim services.

The costs and charges, which total £138.75, will be deducted from his benefits.

A spokesman for the magistrates court said: “The defendant’s guilty plea was taken into account when imposing the sentence.”

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A MAN turned to theft after a “friend” spent his benefits.

Blackburn magistrates heard when Paul James Ashworth, 38, was challenged by a member if staff at Wilko in Nelson he threw items at her before pushing her.

Ashworth, of Princess Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to assaulting Sandie Dickinson and theft of four speakers from Wilko. He was made subject to a curfew between 8pm and 7am for 28 days and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said Ashworth became aggressive when he was challenged and started throwing items.

Adnan Hanif, defending, said Ashworth had his benefits paid into the bank account of a man called Billy. “Unfortunately, Billy took all the money and left my client with nothing,” said Mr Hanif.