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POOLE, Martin

Case Reference: 04ZL1012226

Case Details

Open Justice Notice: This record is a public court hearing entry sourced from official HMCTS daily cause lists and is published under the principle of open justice, which holds that court proceedings must be accessible to the public and the press. Appearance in this record does not imply guilt. If this case involves a spent conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, or if you believe this record is inaccurate, please contact us.

Reference

04ZL1012226

Court

Lancaster Magistrates and County Court (Lancaster Courthouse) - Courtroom 02

Magistrate

Mr Bowley JP , Ms Eccles JP , Mr Lunt JP

Hearing Date

28 October 2026

Time

2pm

Hearing Type

Trial

Court Type

Magistrates

Prosecutor

CPS-NW

Case Details

Offence Details: | Fail to surrender to police / court bail at the appointed time Arrest by a constable for breaking / likely to break bail conditions - duty to surrender into the custody of a court Assault by beating of an emergency worker Drunk and disorderly in a public place

Next Steps at this Trial

During the trial, the prosecution presents evidence and calls witnesses to prove the defendant committed the crime. The defense cross-examines the witnesses and presents its own evidence. Once all evidence is heard, the magistrates, district judge, or a jury (in the Crown Court) will decide if the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Court Jurisdiction: Magistrates' Court - Magistrates' Courts handle virtually all summary offences (minor offences) and start the proceedings for serious offences. They are presided over by three volunteer Magistrates (advised by a legal advisor) or a single qualified District Judge. They do not have a jury.

UK Offence & Sentencing Guidelines

Common Assault / Battery

Common assault is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to apprehend immediate, unlawful violence. Battery is the actual application of unlawful force. No physical injury needs to occur.

Sentencing: Usually dealt with in the Magistrates' Court. Maximum penalty is 6 months imprisonment, a community order, or a fine. If racially or religiously aggravated, it can be sent to the Crown Court with higher maximum penalties.
Public Order Offences

Behaviours that cause, or are likely to cause, fear, alarm, distress, or disorder in public spaces. Includes affray, violent disorder, and threatening behaviour (Public Order Act 1986).

Sentencing: Low-level public order offences (Section 5) result in fines. Serious offences like affray (Section 3) carry up to 3 years imprisonment. Violent disorder (Section 2) carries up to 5 years.
Disclaimer: The legal definitions and sentencing guidelines above are for general educational purposes under English Law and do not constitute formal legal representation or advice. If you are facing criminal prosecution, consult a qualified criminal defense solicitor immediately.

Case FAQs & Procedure Guide

A trial in the Magistrates' Court typically lasts from a few hours to a few days. Crown Court trials with a jury can last from several days to multiple weeks, depending on complexity and the number of witnesses.

If the verdict is not guilty (acquitted), the defendant is free to leave and cannot be prosecuted again for the same incident based on the same evidence.

If found guilty, the judge or magistrates will proceed to sentence the defendant, either immediately or at a separate sentencing hearing after a pre-sentence report is prepared.

For a single summary/either-way offence, magistrates can sentence a defendant to a maximum of 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months for multiple either-way offences), alongside unlimited fines and community orders.

Magistrates are trained volunteers from the local community who sit in panels of three. A District Judge is a qualified legal professional who sits alone. Both have the same sentencing powers.

Common assault is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to apprehend immediate, unlawful violence. Battery is the actual application of unlawful force. No physical injury needs to occur.

Usually dealt with in the Magistrates' Court. Maximum penalty is 6 months imprisonment, a community order, or a fine. If racially or religiously aggravated, it can be sent to the Crown Court with higher maximum penalties.

Behaviours that cause, or are likely to cause, fear, alarm, distress, or disorder in public spaces. Includes affray, violent disorder, and threatening behaviour (Public Order Act 1986).

Low-level public order offences (Section 5) result in fines. Serious offences like affray (Section 3) carry up to 3 years imprisonment. Violent disorder (Section 2) carries up to 5 years.

Interested in the outcome of this case? You can request more information by emailing the court directly using the Email Court button at the top of the page.

Public Discussion

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