It’s the weekend and therefore time for a look at the cases that have recently come before Cornwall’s magistrates. Everyone who has been charged with an offence, from the least to the most serious, appears initially before the magistrates.
The most serious cases are then sent to the crown court. If a defendant pleads guilty, they could be sentenced straight away or have the matter put back for a pre-sentence report. If they deny the allegations against them, the case will be adjourned for a trial.
The courts are open to anyone and our reporters attend just like any other member of the public. As most people have jobs and cannot spend their time in court, the media has always acted as the eyes and ears of the public to ensure that justice is seen to be done.
Here’s who has been sentenced at the magistrates’ court in Bodmin and Truro recently.
Christopher Hart
Age: 66
Yorke Road, Dartmouth
On March 18, 2024, at Plymouth drove a motor vehicle on the A379 Elburton Road West at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour ‘Contrary to the above local traffic order and sections 84 and 89(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.’
Also on October 19, 2024, at Newton Abbot in Devon, drove a motor vehicle on the A380 South Devon Link, subject of a local traffic order, namely Devon County Council Order 2019, at a speed exceeding 50 miles per hour, contrary to the above local traffic order and sections 84 and 89(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
Fine: £230. Penalty points for this offence: three.
Stoil Manchev
Age: 44
Minorca Lane, St Austell
On March 24, 2024, in Camborne drove a motor vehicle on the A30 Roseworthy Eastbound at a speed exceeding 60 miles per hour, contrary to article 3b of the 70 Miles Per Hour, 60 Miles Per Hour and 50 Miles Per Hour (Temporary Speed Limit) Order 1977, section 89(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
Points disqualification – Disqualification period: 6 months, Notional penalty points: 3. Fine: £133.
Gordon Davis
Age: 61
Westleigh, Tiverton
On June 5, at Dunkeswell in the county of Devon drove a motor vehicle on Manleys Lane, Dunkeswell at a speed exceeding 42mph in contravention of a Local traffic Order where the speed limit was 20mph.
Disqualification period: 28 days. Fine: £403.
Andrew Lashbrook
Age: 61
Crediton Road, Okehampton
On May 1, 2024, at Okehampton drove a motor vehicle on a restricted road, namely Exeter Road, Whiddon Down, Okehampton, at a speed of 38mph when the speed limit was 30mph.
Fine: £40. Penalty points for this offence: three.
Gary Thornton
Age: 41
Mount Pleasant Road, Camborne
On the same day and also in Camborne interfered with another vehicle. Also stole a wallet containing £195, a car fob and a bank car belonging to a person.
On February 13 at Camborne attempted to steal items from a woman.
On November 9 at Camborne had in your possession 0.404g of herbal cannabis, a controlled drug of class B in contravention of section 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; also had in your possession 0.37g of amphetamine, a controlled drug of class B.
In addition, on November 25 at Trevenson Park, Pool, interfered with a motor vehicle or anything carried in or on the same with the intention that an offence of theft of said motor vehicle or part of it or of anything carried in or on the said motor vehicle or an offence under section 12(1) of the Theft Act 1968 should be committed.
Prison: eight weeks. Court costs: £85. Compensation: £195.
Simone Pivetti
Age: 35
Carluddon, St Austell
Possess a controlled drug of Class A – cocaine, contrary to section 5(2) of and Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. On January 1, 2024, at West Carclaze Green Village, Carluddon, St Austell in the County of Cornwall, had in your possession 0.2g of cocaine, a controlled drug of class A, in contravention of section 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Forfeiture and destruction of cocaine.
Shaun May
Age: 54
Hyns an Vownder lane, Newquay
On August 7, 2024, drove a vehicle on Tolcarne Road, Newquay, when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Benzoylecgonnine (BZE, Cocaine breakdown product), in his blood, namely 279 micrograms per litre of blood, exceeded the specified limit.
Also, on the same day and in the same place, drove a vehicle when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in his blood, namely 3.2 micrograms per litre of blood, exceeded the specified limit.
On that day, had in his possession 7.56 grams of cannabis, a controlled drug of class B, in contravention of section 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Also drove a vehicle without any third party insurance in place.
In addition, had with him, without good reason or lawful authority, in a public place, namely Tolcarne Road, an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a carving knife.
In the same place and on the same day, had in his possession 26.91 grams of amphetamine, a controlled drug of class B, in contravention of section 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Community order. Mental health treatment for 12 months. Unpaid work: 200 hours. Obligatory disqualification: 20 months.
Connor Blackford
Age: 23
Prislow Fields, Falmouth
On December 18 last year, in Prislow Fields, Falmouth assaulted a woman by beating her. On the same day and in the same place, without lawful excuse, damaged a drinks dispenser and candle burner to the value of unknown belonging to the same woman intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged. Contrary to sections 1(1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Community order. Rehabilitation activity: 40 Days.
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