Here are the latest cases from the region’s courts:
NEWCASTLE: Fifty-eight-year-old Anthony Hogan has been handed 10 penalty points on his licence after he failed to provide a specimen of breath.
Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: “Police attended Cross May Street, Newcastle, at 10.45pm on October 13 following reports that a man had been driving a white Renault Traffic van and had hit a parked vehicle. Police attended and the owner was spoken to. Police believed he was under the influence of alcohol and requested a roadside breath test. He refused to provide a sample and was taken to custody. Again a sample of breath was requested. Again this was refused. One of the officers said as Hogan exited the vehicle he immediately stumbled from side to side. Both officers had to grab him to prevent him from falling over.”
Miss Swindail added that it was a ‘deliberate refusal’.
Hogan, of Queensway, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis when in charge of a vehicle.
Iain Haley, mitigating, said Hogan suffers with mental health difficulties, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Mr Haley added: “He had a couple of pints in a pub and went to order some food. The police came. He completely and utterly shut down. He was in a complete daze and completely disorientated. He shut himself down because of his mental health difficulties. It was not a deliberate refusal but was because of mental health difficulties. He should have walked, rather than driven.”
Magistrates fined Hogan £80 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.
KIDSGROVE: Dad Anthony Dolan punched his partner several times during a heated row. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 39-year-old’s partner called the police on April 30 to say she had been assaulted.
Prosecutor Jo Fox said police attended the couple’s address in Ian Road, Kidsgrove.
Miss Fox said: “In the call she stated she had been punched multiple times and had bruises. On arrival she was clearly upset and distressed.”
The court heard the victim was left with a mark on her neck.
Dolan, of Manchester Road, Little Hulton, Manchester, pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
David Ellis, mitigating, said Dolan has been living away from his family for eight months.
He said: “It is clear she wants him back as soon as possible. He accepts he assaulted her and very much regrets that.”
Mr Ellis said Dolan is now receiving medication for ADHD.
He added: “He has not assaulted her before. He is desperate to return home.”
Magistrates sentenced Dolan to a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.
CHELL: Thirty-year-old Ryan Lear has been hit with a £607 court bill after he assaulted a police officer. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Lear was arrested on April 28.
Prosecutor Jo Fox said: “He asked to go to the toilet. The police granted him that opportunity. He became verbally aggressive. There was a struggle and he punched an officer in the face.”
Lear, of Carlton Avenue, Chell, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.
Representing himself, Lear said: “I had an argument with my girlfriend. I went out. I came back in. We were still arguing. I went to my mother’s address. I got myself in bed. The next minute I had the police trying to pick me up. I asked to go to the toilet. They allowed me. I did not like the way he was speaking to me. I just told him to ‘f*** off’. I put my hands in the air. That is when it all started. I had too much to drink and I am sorry for my actions on that night. I am not normally like that.”
Lear added that he has recently started a new job.
Magistrates fined Lear £373 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £149 surcharge.
BASFORD: Thirty-six-year-old Ryan Allcock has been hit with a £1,054 court bill after he breached a court order by sending threatening texts to his ex. Prosecutor Jo Fox told North Staffordshire Justice Centre that the victim took out a non-molestation order against Allcock and it was granted for 12 months in October 2023.
But on February 9 he sent her a message which was described as threatening.
Allcock, of Victoria Street, Basford, pleaded guilty to breaching a non-molestation order.
Representing himself, Allcock said: “I do not see the messages as threats. There have been no issues since and no issues on the non-molestation order.”
Magistrates fined Allcock £692 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £277 surcharge. He was made the subject of a 12-month restraining order which prohibits him from contacting his victim.
CRACKLEY: Drink-driver Cheryl Ibi has been banned from the roads for 26 months after she crashed into four parked vehicles when three times the legal limit. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard police received a call at 8.20pm on September 8 to say the defendant had driven into four parked vehicles on Cherry Tree Road, Crackley, before parking her own vehicle.
Officers attended and Ibi was identified. Officers attended her address and she failed a roadside breath test. She was taken to custody where she was breathalysed and gave a reading of 109 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than three times the legal limit of 35.
Ibi, of Cherry Tree Road, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Tony Cooke, mitigating, said Ibi has no previous convictions. She has recently lost her job and is now on benefits.
Magistrates sentenced Ibi to a 12-month community order with a three-month alcohol treatment requirement and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. She was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge. Her ban will be reduced by 26 weeks if she completes a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.
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