Results tagged “Elton” from Chester Chronicle - And Finally

MOTORISTS dialled 999 after seeing two men driving a horse and cart at 10mph down the M56 at night without any lights.

The men, who had been drinking, refused to stop for police during their 40-minute journey between Frodsham and Elton on Sunday.

Police used a 10mph rolling road block to slow traffic and escorted the horse, trap and riders off at Elton.

They arrested the men after they crashed the cart into a parked car.

Police spokeswoman Jacqui Hanson said: "At 11.15pm on Sunday, we received calls from concerned motorists that a pony and trap were trotting erratically westbound along the hard shoulder of the M56 between junction 12 and junction 14.

"Officers instigated a rolling block and a number of police cars slowed down the traffic on the motorway while another patrol spoke to the men.

"They refused to stop and were followed from the motorway at about 5-10mph into Elton. At about 11.50pm the cart collided with a parked car and the two men were arrested.

"An equine hospital was called and took the horse away to be cared for until one of the men could collect it. The RSPCA will be keeping an eye on its welfare."

A 27-year-old man from St Helens and 38-year-old man from Queensferry were charged with driving a prohibited vehicle and have been released on police bail.

Both men are thought to be from the Travelling community.

Magistrates only found out a criminal was in jail when they read about it in The Chronicle.

Puzzled court staff could not work out why Liam Anthony Guest, 18, had not turned up for his trial.

But the question was solved when they were handed a copy of The Chronicle - and read that Guest was already in prison.

The Court Service has admitted it does not check whether a defendant has already been jailed for another crime, and relies on solicitors to let them know.

Chairman of magistrates Mike Cooper told alleged assault victim Chris Murphy and his family: "We attended this morning hoping to try him. Unfortunately we were not aware he was in custody. All I can do is apologise to you on behalf of the court for your wasted time."

Mr Murphy, who took a day off work to attended court and give evidence, said: "It's a total mess-up - I'm a bit disappointed."

Guest, of Queensway, Frodsham, pleaded guilty to punching unconscious dad-of-two Gareth Gregory, from Elton, in October last year. Last month Chester Crown Court sentenced him to six months in a young offenders institute.

He was then due to appear at Vale Royal Magistrates Court on Tuesday of this week for an alleged beating in January.

But the trial had to be rescheduled to June 27 as no transport was arranged to get Guest to court.
The clerk to the court told defending solicitor James Robertson: "You could have avoided this situation today if you knew he was inside. I would have thought it was fairly obvious he was in custody, why he was in custody and how he would get to court. It would have made sense to have averted it.
"It seems to me an entirely avoidable situation."

An HM Courts Service spokesman said: "I can confirm that courts do not routinely check if defendants are in custody. Parties to criminal cases are under a positive duty to inform the court if information comes to their attention that may impact on the conduct of a trial.

"In this case the court received no such notification and the trial could not go ahead."