Southport man in court on drink drive charge

A drink driver from Southport was caught after overtaking a police car at speed on the Promenade.

Richard Gaskell, 22, of Kingston Crescent, pleaded guilty to six charges in total at Sefton Magistrates Court on September 4.

They were for offences of possession of cocaine and cannabis, drug driving with benzoylecgonine and cocaine, drink driving and assaulting an emergency worker.

Natalie Cassidy, prosecuting, said: “A police officer was on patrol on the Promenade about 12.50am on March 16 when he saw the defendant driving a silver Ford Fiesta overtake him at speed. He followed the car into Morrisons car park and when he got out the defendant ran off.”

Ms Cassidy said Gaskell returned a short time later and hit the officer twice in the face with the palm of his hand when the officer pulled him from the car to stop him from driving off.

The court was told the officer found a bag containing cannabis, which Gaskell said belonged to a friend, and a bag containing traces of cocaine.

The magistrates sentenced him to a six- week 7pm to 7am curfew, ordered that he pay compensation of £80 to the officer, and pay £170 in costs and victim surcharge.