DRINK-DRIVE BAN: Disqualification for drink-driving would probably mean the final nail in the coffin for a Birkenhead man’s business, defence solicitor John Ballam told Wirral Magistrates.

Peter Mark Farrell, 46, of Mallaby Street, admitted driving when over the legal alcohol level in February.

He was stopped at 1.35am because there was only one headlight lit and he was driving at only 10mph.

Magistrates fined him £150 plus £100 costs and he was banned from holding a licence for 12 months.

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DRUGS FIND: Cannabis and cocaine were recovered when police carried out a search warrant at the home of a young Birkenhead man.

Malcolm Andrew Jones, 23, of Lever Terrace, admitted unlawful possession of the controlled drugs when he faced magistrates.

He was fined £100 plus £100 costs and the drugs seized were forfeited.

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SHOPLIFTER HAD KNIFE: A shopper stopped by a store detective produced a knife from her pocket, magistrates were told by prosecutor Alan Currums.

Susan Ann Readman, 27, of Shore Drive, Port Sunlight, admitted theft of items worth £50 from Asda at Bromborough and also having the knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority.

Gerald Pachter, defending, said she used the knife to hack down part of a hedge in her path because it was catching her skirt.

She then put it in her pocket and forgot about it. She apologised for her behaviour at the store.

Magistrates said they did not accept she had the knife with her accidentally, but they recognised she did put it down when requested to do so by the store official.

They imposed a six-month community order to include maintaining a nightly 7pm to 7am curfew for 12 weeks.

Readman had to pay £85 costs and the knife was confiscated.

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GAVE BROTHER'S DETAILS: A drunken motorist stopped in the early hours driving his mother’s car without permission gave his brother’s details to the police, magistrates were told.

James Elliott Shaw, 23, of Duncan Drive, Greasby, pleaded guilty to taking a car without consent, not having insurance, obstructing a police officer and driving when over the legal alcohol limit.

Shaw was questioned by the police just before 4am because of the speed of the vehicle, which was also weaving.

Gerald Pachter, defending, said Shaw fully accepted the offences.

He was not proud of what he had done. He recognised he had been foolish and apologised.

He was ordered to serve 100 hours of unpaid work. There was also a one-year driving ban and he had to pay £85 costs.

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COULD NOT RECALL: A 59-year-old Upton woman could not remember committing shoplifting offences because of the alcohol she had drank, magistrates heard.

Jennifer Burns, of Jasmine Close, admitted theft of items worth £16 from Home Bargains at Moreton and was in breach of a conditional discharge imposed for three previous shoplifting matters.

The latest offence was recorded on cctv and she was stopped.

Magistrates made a six-month supervision order to include attending an alcohol choices and change programme.

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STOLE GAME DISCS: A 36-year-old man was seen to shake discs from game boxes at an Asda store before concealing them in his clothing and leaving without paying, magistrates heard.

Lee Alexander Campbell, of Temple Road, Birkenhead, admitted theft of the discs worth £66 at the Upton premises in February.

He was fined £70 and also had to pay £100 costs.

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NOT GUILTY PLEA: John Clarke, 22, of Connaught Way, Birkenhead was bailed for two weeks by magistrates for a trial date to be fixed.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of cannabis at Connaught Way last October.