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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Skating pensioner fined by court | Skating pensioner fined by court |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A roller-skating pensioner has been fined £300 after he was filmed skating along a street in Southport. | |
| Geoff Dornan, 71, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, was caught on CCTV skating through Chapel Street in October 2008. | Geoff Dornan, 71, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, was caught on CCTV skating through Chapel Street in October 2008. |
| He said it was to keep fit but Sefton Council said his skating was a nuisance and a danger to the public. | |
| He was found guilty at North Sefton Magistrates' Court of two counts of breaching a by-law but has since lodged an appeal. | |
| I think people suspect that I am more dangerous than I am Geoff Dornan | I think people suspect that I am more dangerous than I am Geoff Dornan |
| He was also ordered to pay £1,800 costs, but the fines were suspended after Andrew Scott, defending, said an appeal notice had been handed to the prosecution. | He was also ordered to pay £1,800 costs, but the fines were suspended after Andrew Scott, defending, said an appeal notice had been handed to the prosecution. |
| The appeal case will be heard at a crown court at a later date. | The appeal case will be heard at a crown court at a later date. |
| In his defence, Mr Dornan, a retired youth worker, told the court he took up skating seven years ago as a way of keeping fit. | |
| He said he enjoyed skating down the town's main street as he enjoyed moving to the music from buskers, but he insisted that he always gave right of way to pedestrians. | He said he enjoyed skating down the town's main street as he enjoyed moving to the music from buskers, but he insisted that he always gave right of way to pedestrians. |
| He also told the court he tried to give people as much space as possible and used his skates responsibly. | |
| Geoff Dornan: 'I like to go shopping on my skates' | Geoff Dornan: 'I like to go shopping on my skates' |
| He said: "The reason I do the skating is primarily for my health benefit. | He said: "The reason I do the skating is primarily for my health benefit. |
| "I think people suspect that I am more dangerous than I am." | "I think people suspect that I am more dangerous than I am." |
| But the council said he was contravening a by-law which forbids skating on Chapel Street. | But the council said he was contravening a by-law which forbids skating on Chapel Street. |
| The by-law states that "no person shall skate, slide or ride on rollers, skateboards or other self-propelled vehicles in such a manner as to cause danger or annoyance". | The by-law states that "no person shall skate, slide or ride on rollers, skateboards or other self-propelled vehicles in such a manner as to cause danger or annoyance". |
| Chairman of the bench, Fraser Wallace, said: "We find the manner of your skating put pedestrians at risk and exposed them to harm." | Chairman of the bench, Fraser Wallace, said: "We find the manner of your skating put pedestrians at risk and exposed them to harm." |
| He said it was clear Chapel Street was not meant to be used as a "skate park" and said Dornan's behaviour "causes a danger" to the public. | He said it was clear Chapel Street was not meant to be used as a "skate park" and said Dornan's behaviour "causes a danger" to the public. |