A man accused of the manslaughter of a St Annes man who suffered serious head injuries in a late night assault, has been granted bail by a crown court judge.

Peter Honeyman, 20, of Heyhouses Lane, St Annes entered no plea to the charge when he appeared for a preliminary hearing before Preston Crown Court.

Jonathon James Plum, 37, of Sandgate, St Annes, was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital in the early hours of Sunday following the incident in the resort’s Wood Street, but died on Monday evening.

Honeyman was arrested initially for assault, and re-arrested for manslaughter, before appearing at Blackpool Magistrates Court last week for commital to the higher court.

He will next appear for a plea and case management hearing on August 31 at the Crown Court.

It’s expected a three-week trial will take place on January 3.

A man accused of sexually molesting a girl over eight years, including multiple offences of raping her from when she was aged seven, has made his first appearance at court.

Kevin Bambury, a 45-year-old designer, of Buckley Crescent, Cleveleys, is charged with six offences of raping the girl, 15 offences of seriously sexually assaulting her and one offence of inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between August 2006 and August last year at Cleveleys.

Defence lawyer, Brett Chappell, said his client vehemently denied the offences and would plead not guilty to all the allegations.

Bambury was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on August 31 by Blackpool magistrates.

He must not have any unsupervised contact with any child under 16, except
for fleeting or inadvertent contact or via Social 
Services, as a condition of his bail.

Pokémon Go users are being warned to not become an ‘easy target’ for phone theft in Lancashire.

Preston Police published the warning to their Facebook page telling people to be ‘aware of their surroundings’ when out playing the reality smart phone game.

PCSO Ste wrote: “Had a cycle around Avenham Park this evening and there were a lot of budding Pokémon Masters out chasing those little critters and the 7 pokestops that can be found there.

“I couldn’t help but think about the mobile phone theft that occurred in the City Centre only a couple hours earlier, as someone walked along texting they had their phone stolen by a passing cyclist.

“Although we’ve had no poke-crime here in Preston since the games launch, walking around with a £500+ phone out in your hand & your head down makes you an easy target for a would be thief.

“So please be aware of your surroundings, avoid parks and similar places after dark.”

People can also register their IMEI number for FREE on the Immobilise property database by clicking here.

Blackpool is in the running to stage the Great Exhibition of the North.

The resort has been named as one of four finalists to stage the two-month exhibition celebrating the best of art, culture and design across the North of England.

It will take place in 2018.

The Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) has named the four finalists as Blackpool, Bradford, Newcastle-Gateshead and Sheffield.

Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, said: “The Great Exhibition of the North is a unique opportunity to celebrate the creativity of Northern England and I am thrilled we received so many innovative bids.

“British arts and culture are among the finest in the world.

“I am determined we democratise the arts and celebrate the best in every part of our nation.

“What’s more, cultural investment can bring enormous benefits for communities – it drives regeneration, promotes tourism and increases life chances.

“The shortlisted bids show just what’s on offer and show we have brilliant options for hosting the Great Exhibition of the North.

“Whichever is successful, this exhibition will leave an important legacy to benefit the whole country.”

Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, said “We’re delighted to learn that Blackpool, the UK’s favourite seaside resort, is in the running to host the Great Exhibition of the North.

“Getting through to the next stage speaks volumes about the Lancashire’s ambition as a cultural destination and strengthens Blackpool’s excellent reputation for creating and delivering world class events.

“Our joint bid highlighted that Blackpool has the ability to deliver an imaginative and spectacular exhibition and events programme in collaboration with Lancashire and other northern partners.

“The investment made in Blackpool will support the transformation of the visitor economy, by supporting the resort’s vision to make the Winter Gardens a leading UK centre for popular culture.

“The Great Exhibition of the North would showcase the very latest design, innovation and pioneering spirit that continues to thrive both in Lancashire and in the North of England.

“Creating and making is in our DNA and we’ll be doing our utmost to make sure the Great Exhibition of the North comes to its natural home in Lancashire in 2018.”

A new visitor economy strategy for Lancashire, developed through consultation across the sector by Marketing Lancashire, aims to grow visitor numbers from 63 million a year to 70 million by 2020, with heritage and culture one of four key themes highlighted for opportunity and growth.

Blackpool will play a key role in reaching that goal, as current host to 17 million visitors annually.

Speaking on behalf of Blackpool Council, deputy leader Coun Gillian Campbell, said: “We are delighted that Blackpool has been selected to move into the next phase of this process.

“The Great Exhibition of the North is a hugely exciting opportunity and one that we firmly believe that Blackpool can deliver for the benefit of all of Lancashire.

“Blackpool has a long history of staging world-class events and we are confident that, given the chance, we can produce something that will truly capture the public’s imagination. We are the perfect location to celebrate the best of art, culture and design across the North of England.”

The next stage of the competition will include interviews with Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and chair of the Great Exhibition Board, before the winning venue is announced this autumn.

Police are appealing for help to find a missing teenager from Wyre.

Crystal Holder, 16, from the Knott End area, is possibly with others in Thornton.

Anybody who has information about her whereabouts should call police on 101.

INSURERS have warned that criminals targeting farms are getting increasingly sophisticated.

NFU Mutual has estimated rural crime is costing Lancashire £2.1m a year, with thieves now using technology to find potential victims.

Jo Oliver, NFU Mutual’s senior agent in Lancashire said: “It’s disappointing to see Lancashire is a hotspot for rural crime in the UK with the cost for the county the second highest in the UK.

“Rural thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated and using computers rather than bolt cutters to steal from farms and country properties.

“Farmers and police have been working hard to adopt high-tech security measures to tackle the problems which now include cloning tractor identities, advertising non-existent machinery in agricultural publications and stealing the GPS computer systems which are a key part of modern farming.”

Other farmers have been targeted by less sophisticated criminals.

In December, Matilda, a life-size model cow,was stolen from Joylan Farms, in Sowerby, near St Michael’s-on-Wyre.

Three weeks ago, thieves returned and stole the their replacement statue in the dead of night.

Owner, farmer Anne Swale, said: “The farm crime report isn’t a surprise because so accessible to major motorways.

“People have spray-painted over our milk bar signs, and on quite a few days of week takings are down in
 the farm shop because things are stolen.

“We get up extra early to make it look nice and stay up late to serve the public. It makes us wonder if it’s worth carrying on. It’s a sad time for the farming community.

“I work in an agricultural shop in the day, and farmers are always coming in saying they’ve had trailers stolen, and buying padlocks to try and protect their property.

“I think the cuts to policing have had an impact but I only have positive things to say about the police here because they really try to help us with the reduced resources they have, and it takes extra time to respond to victims in a rural area.”

Lancashire police have held various operations to tackle rural criminals. In March, three people were arrested and 35 vehicles were stopped and checked as part of a rural crime crackdown in north Lancashire. In Ribble Valley, mounted volunteers have been recruited to help crack crime.

Today, Chief Inspector Julian Platt, force operational lead for rural crime, said: “A significant proportion of Lancashire is rural and we are committed to making sure it is safe and communities in these areas feel safe.

“We are working hard to better understand the scale and impact of rural crime and we would encourage people living in rural areas to sign up to In The Know so that we can send you alerts about crime in your area and help you to keep yourselves and your property safe.

“Partnership working is key in detecting and preventing rural crimes and we will continue to work alongside our partners, including NFU Mutual, so we can better understand the challenge.”

• To report a rural crime, call Lancashire police on 101.

New homes plan gets backing of community

McCarthy and Stone unveiled its plans for Poacher’s Way, Thornton – the current site of the Bourne Poacher pub – at an exhibition last week.

And the firm said it was delighted with the support it has received with more than 80 per cent of those who attended backing the proposals.

Ian Wilkins, Regional Managing Director for McCarthy and Stone (North West Region) said: “We are really pleased by the positive response the plans received, it’s clear people want this site cleaned up and our proposals represent a great opportunity to do this.”

The proposals can be viewed at www.mccarthyandstone-consultation.co.uk/thornton

Here’s the first pictures of the demolition of the flats at Layton, carried out this morning.

People around the world watched the demolition of the last remaining three tower blocks in Layton, as thousands of people gathered around the site.

And here’s some of our readers’ thoughts as they waited for the big moment – from near the scene, around the UK, and much further afield.

See tomorrow’s Gazette for a four-page special on the big blow-down.

And check www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk all day for more.

Watching from Devon, I grew up in Layton

Debbie Kneale

We’re on sainsburys car park it’s packed up here

Andrew WWhalliwell

Looking forward to not seeing these ruining the tower view from Normoss.

Dan Webster

Watching from Melbourne, Australia.

Craig Anthony Brooks

I’m going to watch out of my attic window from near the airport, Blackpool that is... great view

David Arundel

Current view from my front bedroom window - front row seat ( with brew!)

Janet Hill

Watching from Northwich had to go to work unfortunately

Damian Brett

Blackpool skyline won’t be the same

Carrie Prince

Watching from Marton

Sally Sargeant

It will only improve Blackpool skyline

Nadya Rodgers

Can’t come soon enough should have never been built in the first place

Anne Ward

Watching from Bispham

Nicky Graves

Watching from ex Blackpool residents in Carisle.

Jean Scott

Watching from Spain, Blackpool resident 20 years

Douglas Johnston

These are like Layton’s versions of the Pyramids in Egypt. Great memories of Layton growing up

Jordan Wylie

Moved from Blackpool to near Brighton 9 years ago will be dif (sic) once these have gone

Sarah Louise Thornton

Watching from London grew up half here and half on the Grange Park Estate. They were part of my growing up.

Caroline Baird

Watching from Barnsley lived Blackpool most my life wish I come Blackpool but come bk to home time had some good times at them flats

Jodie Louise Kirkup

Firefighters were called to a caravan fire where they were mistakenly led to believe there was a person trapped inside in Fleetwood.

Three fire engines and crews from Fleetwood and Bispham were called to the blazing caravan on Fleetwood Road at around 9.50pm last night.

A service spokesman said: “Initial fears that someone might be trapped in a caravan on fire turned out to be mistaken but three fire engines and crews, from Fleetwood and Bispham, responded with search and rescue in prospect.

“In fact there were no casualties and firefighters used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.”

The cause of the fire is ‘yet to be established’ say the service.

Trains travelling in and out of Manchester are the most crowded outside London, new figures have shown.

The number of passengers using National Rail has continued to grow between 2014 and 2015, and the latest statistics show the direct impact this growth has had on levels of train crowding in a number of major cities.

On a typical autumn weekday in 2015 there were 581,400 passengers arriving into London during the morning peak, an increase of 3.2 per cent since 2014.

Birmingham, the city with the next largest number of arrivals, had 42,900.

Crowding levels at major cities rose by 0.4 percentage points in the morning peak to five per cent PiXC, (Pasengers in excess of capacity) and 0.2 percentage points in the afternoon peak to 2.4 per cent PiXC between 2014 and 2015.

Morning peak PiXC was greatest at London, at 5.8 per cent PiXC, followed by Manchester with 3.7 per cent .

Lianna Etkind, Public Transport Campaigner, Campaign for Better Transport said: “Rail passengers are paying record amounts for their tickets and it’s not acceptable that so many regularly have to stand.

“They have every right to be outraged at the levels of overcrowding.”

Blackpool airport’s commercial airline Citywing has said business is back to levels before the temporary closure in October 2014.

Boss David Buck said passenger numbers reached almost 2,000 in June and the company has put on an extra summer flight every Friday – despite the fact that many people still think the airport is closed.

He said the company, which flies between Blackpool, the Isle of Man and Belfast twice a day, still gets people contacting its website accusing them of being liars for offering flights from Squires Gate.

And he said many of those people were from Blackpool who did not realise flights still took place from their own town’s airport.

He said: “It is amazing. I think because people drive past and see the space where the old terminal used to be, they think the whole airport is closed.

“Obviously it isn’t and it is very much a case of business as usual for us. We are back to levels of passengers we had before the closure. In June we had almost 2,000 people flying from Blackpool.”

He said the resort was still a major holiday destination for people from Ireland and the Isle of Man and vice-versa.
Citywing restarted flights to Blackpool in April 2015, six months after the airport shut down temporarily after its owners Balfour Beaty said debts of £34m meant it had to end large commercial holiday flights to the continent by Jet2.

Businesses on the Fylde coast are being urged to look closely at their insurance cover ahead of the biggest shake-up to insurance contract law in more than 100 years.

The Insurance Act 2015 comes into force this month and brings fundamental changes to the way insurance policies for businesses work.

Lawyers at Harrison Drury, say the changes mean businesses will need to be more diligent in ensuring they have adequate cover and in remaining compliant with their terms of insurance.

The reforms, which affect policies entered into after August 12, also have important implications for insurance brokers who will need to ensure policies they recommend to clients are appropriate for their needs.

Nick Booth, an expert in contract law and commercial litigation at Harrison Drury, said: “The Act will give greater scope to insurers to tailor the terms of their commercial insurance policies and to contract out of parts of the Act, meaning that deciding upon a policy simply by reference to the premium, without properly considering the policy wording and implications will be increasingly risky.

Businesses should shop around to get the best product to suit them and take advantage of the new landscape.”

According to Nick much greater care will need to be taken by businesses, particularly given their new obligations to make fair representations to the insurer, in a clear and accessible way, all those relevant matters affecting the risks to be insured.

The main changes coming in under the Insurance Act relate to duties of good faith and disclosure, remedies, use of warranties, fraudulent claims and contracting out.

The company which runs top attractions on the Golden Mile has reported profits up by one per cent for the first half of the year.

Merlin Entertainments posted results which showed visitor numbers up to 28 million from 27.7 million at its world wide stable of resorts and attractions.

Pre tax profit rose from £49m to £50m in the six months to June 25 while revenue rose from £544m to £573m.

The company, which is paying a dividend of 2.2p per share, said that its “Midway Attractions” which include the Blackpool Tower, Sea Life Centre and Madame Tussauds as well as its dungeons and Legoland Discovery Centres was doing well with 7.1 per cent revenue growth.

And it said the company could be set to benefit from a weaker pound as domestic and international visitors are encouraged to spend time in Britain rather than abroad this year.

Nick Varney, chief executive officer, said: “If the current weakness in sterling persists over the medium term, it should provide support to the UK tourism market from domestic and international visitors, benefiting our attractions both in London and across the UK.”

“Merlin has delivered a resilient performance in the first half that reflects the benefit of our diversified portfolio and strong New Business Development programme.

“Our Midway Attractions Operating Group has continued to see a challenging market in London, and Alton Towers, whilst seeing some recovery in mainstream leisure visitation, continues to experience significantly lower overall volumes.

“By contrast, and following two years of exceptional growth, our LEGOLAND Parks Operating Group has continued to build on its strong performance.

“However, 2016 has also brought some new challenges. Heightened security concerns, following attacks across Europe, have had an effect on city centre tourism, creating a challenging market and compounding an already difficult market in London.”

He said they were confident for the future and expected to benefit from the three new Lego Movies planned for the next three years and expansion in the Chinese market.

Leisure businesses in the county must offer customers the chance to experience Lancashire to make the most of a new spending trend.

Alison Tootill, Station Director at the region’s biggest radio station, Smooth Radio, said new research showed Britons are increasingly ditching big ticket items in favour of “little and often” spending on experiences.

The study by accountancy firm Deloitte showed activities such as visits to restaurants and cafes were the leisure activities which 95 per cent of 3,000 people surveyed had spent money on in the first quarter.

But, it also showed that a large amount of people were spending their money on in-home leisure, a market now worth an estimated £5.8 billion.

Alison Tootill said: “Leisure is no longer exclusively something people leave their homes to do and it is important to recognise that.

“Whether it is streaming films or television or listening to music at home, technology means people have a lot more choice around how they spend their disposable income these days. But, what leisure businesses in Lancashire have in their favour is the ability to offer experiences which people could only get by visiting locations in the county.”

The station director led the judging panel for the Leisure Business of the Year category of the Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs, which sees eight Lancashire businesses competing to be named the best in the county.

The finalists include the Sandcastle Water Park and Winter Gardens venue in Blackpool, Preston Grasshoppers RFC and the Clifton Buying Group, which is involved in a range of sectors including hospitality, retail and healthcare.

The 19 prizes which will be handed out at its prize-giving ceremony at The Blackpool Tower in September.

A man crashed a Ford Fiesta into fencing outside Cala Gran Holiday Park in Fleetwood, before getting into a white van and leaving his car abandoned in the middle of the road.

Police are hunting the motorist following the crash, which happened in Fleetwood Road at around 9.30pm yesterday.

The road was initially left blocked, but was cleared by 10.30pm, a spokesman for Lancashire Police added.

Witnesses have been asked to call officers with any information on 101, quoting log reference number 1495 of August 1, 2016.

A Blackpool, hotelier says the personal touch and free parking could be the way to boost visitors numbers this summer.

Mick Grewcock from The Burbage Lodge apartments said that some hotels had this year increased their parking charges which he said would do nothing to entice guests.

He said: “Parking is a major issue in Blackpool at this time of year and if you stay at some hotels you have to pay to park. Some have even put up their prices this year, which is crazy.

“At the Burbage and Queen’s Mansions we are full for the rest of the season and we don’t charge. In fact we have just started giving visitors their own personalised parking spaces, complete with their name on.

“They love it. One of the first things a visitor to a Blackpool hotel asks is ‘Where do I park?’ This shows them straight away.”

He said the four and five star residences had just had a £40,000 up grade to its frontage and added that it was important for businesses to continually invest to impress customers. He said: “It is what customers want and it will go a little way to keep Bispham looking nice.”

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Would-be hi-tech engineers of the future got a peek behind the scenes at the Fylde coast’s aircraft maker.

Forty students from across the UK visited BAE Systems’ site in Warton, Lancashire, as part of the Company’s successful 2016 Engineering Taster Weeks.

The visitors, aged 16-18, were offered a glimpse into the advanced technologies, projects, facilities and aircraft at BAE Systems’ Military Air and Information business as part of the event, which is designed to inspire the next generation into a STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics) career.

During the two taster weeks, which ran from July 11-22, students were tasked with working in small groups on an engineering-based project, culminating at the end of each week with a presentation to their peers, parents and a group of representatives from BAESystems.

They were also given guided tours around site and talks and presentations led by senior members of the Military Air and Information business.

Andy Bloor, Head of Early Careers at BAE Systems’ Military Air and Information business, said:”The Engineering Taster Week programme is key element of our extensive education calendar and is a great experience for would-be engineers of the future. 

“Through this scheme, the participants get to understand how interesting and diverse life as an engineer in our company is.

“It is great to see many of the attendees inspired by this experience go on to apply for our Early Careers schemes.”

The Engineering Taster Weeks will return in July 2017. For more visit: www.baesystems.com/en-uk/engineering- taster-weeks.

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Racists incidents increased in June – when the Brexit decision was announced – compared to June last year.

Police data released under the Freedom of information Act shows incidents spiralled by 68 per cent from 154 offences to 259 in Lancashire, with racial or religious offences up 80 per cent.

And police are still hunting for a man who threw beer in the face of a woman in a suspected race hate’ attack in North Shore in July.

The 33-year-old victim, an Asian woman, was walking along Egerton Road when she was subjected to verbal abuse by one of a group of men gathered near the McColl’s convenience store.

One man then threw beer from a can into the woman’s face.

PC Guy Harrison told The Gazette: “It is believed this is a hate-motivated offence and such matters are taken very seriously.”

The man is described as around 26 or 27 years old and very tall. He had short dark hair and a grey jumper.

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Hate crime is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Lancashire.

“But police can only take action if these incidents are reported.

“Here in Lancashire we pride ourselves on having a diverse and inclusive community and it is a shame when a small minority forget this.”

But Faruk Desai, director of Lancashire’s Racial Equality Council urged caution over the figures, adding: “Any increase is concerning, however from April 2015 to March 2016 we recorded 599 incidents compared to 644 the year before – and that in itself was 15 per cent down on the previous year.”

A man of robbing another teenager on a bus has made his first appearance at court.

Jordan Briggs, 21, of Mowbray Road, Fleetwood, is charged with robbing a 16-year-old of a Nike body warmer on February 10.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said the case must be heard at crown court. Patrick Nelligan, defending, said his client would not indicate a plea to the offence at this stage.

Briggs was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on August 31 by Blackpool magistrates.

• A woman driver seen swerving about the road was blocked in by a police patrol car at a service station fuel pump.

Charlotte Holmes was asked by an officer why she had not stopped for the police’s blue flashing lights and she replied she did not think the police were after her.

Holmes, 34, of The Esplanade, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £120 with £85 costs plus £30 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Edward Barr sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said police patrolling Fleetwood on July 6 at 12.55am, saw Holmes in a Renault Clio take a sharp bend at speed and nearly lose control.

She was swerving along Fleetwood Road North and was signalled to stop but carried on to the Shell service station where police pulled their vehicle across hers to block her in when she stopped at a fuel pump.

A breath test showed 64 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client had had had a driving licence since she was 17 and had no motoring penalties.

She had had had a drink but felt she was fit to drive so she went for petrol.

• A man accused of sexually molesting a girl over eight years including multiple offences of raping her from when she was seven has made his first appearance at court.

Kevin Bambury, a 45-year-old designer, of Buckley Crescent, Cleveleys, is charged with six offences of raping the girl, 15 offences of seriously sexually assaulting her and one offence of inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between August 2006 and August last year at Thornton Cleveleys.

Defence lawyer, Brett Chappell, said his client denied the offences and would plead not guilty to all the allegations.

Bambury was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on August 31 by Blackpool magistrates.

He must not have any unsupervised contact with any child under 16, except for fleeting or inadvertent contact or via social services, as a condition of his bail.

• A father-of-tw0 flew into a temper and caused almost £2,000 worth of damage when his girlfriend of 10 years told him he had to leave her flat.

Lee Farrington binged on drugs and drink then attacked the property with his bare hands punching and kicking out.

He damaged and smashed walls, carpets, wardrobes, and kitchen equipment at the flat on Bayside, Fleetwood.

Farrington, 26, of Windsor Terrace, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to causing damage.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community service with up to 20 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, put on a three months curfew from 10pm to 6am and ordered to pay £500 compensation with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Edward Barr sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

The judge told him: “You caused considerable wanton damage to the property. The landlord has suffered considerably.”

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said when a landlord for a Bayside flat checked the property on June 14, it was discovered damage amounting to £1,800 had been caused.

Plaster was damaged on every wall, plus carpeting ruined.

Doors and wardrobes had been broken, the oven door damaged and a sink cracked.

Howard Green, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, was under pressure over a legal matter at the time and the last straw came when his long term partner said he could not live at the flat she rented.

Farrington took solace in drugs and drink and caused the majority of the damage in one day by kicking and punching, seriously injuring his hands.

Probation officer, Lesley Whittaker, told the judge Farrington had had problems controlling his temper and had also smoked cannabis from an early age. He took his anger out on property rather than people.

• A man accused of assaulting a woman has been put on the wanted list.

Oliver Bland, 23, of Roylen Avenue, Poulton, had a warrant without bail issued for his arrest by District Judge Edward Barr sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court after he failed to attend court.

• A woman lapsed and took a drink on her first weekend out of an alcohol rehabilitation unit in four months.

Angela Bonney was more than twice over the alcohol limit when police found her sat at the wheel of her car one afternoon.

Bonney, 56, of Ringway, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

She was banned from the road for 17 months and fined £80 with £85 costs plus £30 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Edward Barr sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said police received a tip-off about a woman suspected of drink-driving in a Hyundai, on July 9 at 5.45pm.

Officers saw Bonney behind the wheel of the car parked in North Drive. 
The engine was running and an officer removed her keys.

A breath test showed 79 micrograms of alcohol in her body - 35 is the limit.

Bonney told the judge: “I had been in residential rehabilitation for four months and it was my first weekend out. I lapsed.

“I had been doing so well and I was so positive. I’m glad someone was there to stop me driving.

“Since then I have kept sober.”

• A sneaky prolific thief who stole a deputy shop manager’s wallet from behind a counter in the store has been jailed.

Paul Speck had a criminal record of 176 previous offences, many for dishonestly, which was described as dreadful.

Speck, 41, of Knowle Avenue, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Roger Lowe sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Speck stole the wallet which contained cash bank cards and a driving licence, from behind a counter at McColl’s on May 26.

Police identified him from CCTV footage at the store.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client had been on licence from prison at the time of the theft and was being 
recalled back to jail for 28 days.

Speck, who had not planned the unsophisticated theft, had a class A drug problem.

• A man has made his first appearance at court accused of grabbing his wife by the throat and dragging her along.

Paul Speck, 41, of Knowle Avenue, Cleveleys, pleaded not guilty to assaulting wife Michelle.

Defence lawyer, Steven Townley, did not ask for bail for Speck.

He was remanded in custody towards his trial on August 24 by District Judge Roger Lowe sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

• A police officer had to step out of the way of a car he had signalled to stop because the driver was slow to react.

Lee Matthews was then found to be more than two times over the alcohol limit.

Matthews, a 29-year-old father-of-two, of Beverley Close, Thornton, a development manager for a car company, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

He was banned from the road for 21 months and fined £300 with £85 costs plus £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said a police officer dealing with another motorist on Fleetwood Road, Carleton, saw Matthews Toyota Yaris approaching on July 10 at 3.20am and believed he was speeding.

The officer signalled Matthews to stop but he was slow to react and the officer had to step put of the way of the car.

A breath test showed 88 micrograms of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

Peter Cave, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, admitted driving that night was the most stupid thing he had done in his life.

He had been to a party and decided to drive home

• A man bombarded his former partner with threatening texts and voicemails.

Thirty two year Mark Sutton admitted three offences breaching a restraining order forbidding him to contact Sarah Cheetham.

He also admitted theft of one of her bank cards when he appeared before District Judge Jonathan Gosling sitting at Blackpool Magistrates Court.

Martine Connah said that Sutton of Deerhurst Road, Thornton Cleveleys had been to prison for assaulting legal secretary Sarah Cheetham with whom he had a four year relationship.

On his release from prison he started to watch her home and note cars parked outside.

Then he started to send up to 40texts a day.

In a statement his victim said she felt a prisoner in her own home where she looked after two children.

Her statement said : “He is bordering on stalking and obsessiveness and I am getting very worried.”

Allan Cobain, defending,said that Sutton had been told that the restraining order was no longer void.However it was still in place.

“He knows he was very foolish but there was no assault or face to face confrontation,” he told the court.

Sentencing Sutton to eight weeks prison, the judge told him: “You have been playing mind games with your victim and you were stalking her.

“You knew there was a restraining order in place.”

Ateenager stole another teenager’s baseball cap after an argument about smoking on top of a double-decker bus.

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.