A teenage robber armed with a knife, a killer driver given jail time and sexual crimes for a former goalkeeper have been among the recent cases heard by Tameside Magistrates' Court.

Here's our latest round-up...

Teenage robber armed with knife

A 16-year-old lad threatened an individual with a kitchen knife, Tameside Youth Court heard.

The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a knife in a public place, assault and robbing an individual of an Apple Air Pod and keys.

The offences related to an incident which happened in Tameside on February 4 this year.

The court referred him to Greater Manchester Youth Offender Panel for 12 months.

They also ordered total compensation of £157.50 be paid and that the knife be forfeited and destroyed.

A 15-year-old also appeared before the court separately to face charges connected to the same robbery and assault incidents.

He was referred to Greater Manchester Youth Offender Panel for nine months and also ordered to pay £157.50 compensation - which his parent / guardian must pay.

£1,700 fines for Covid offenders

Tameside magistrates have slapped dozens of Covid rule offenders with hefty fines.

Residents who gathered when the Tier 4 restrictions were in place across Greater Manchester back in January this year have been ordered to pay £1,760 in fines for breaking the rules.

They will also have to pay more than £250 in associated court costs.

None of the offenders appeared before the court but were charged with meeting in a household with more than one other person from another household.

Carrying knife in public place

Twenty-three-year-old Kylie Powell was found with a Stanley knife in a public place, Tameside magistrates heard.

The court was told the offence happened on June 28 this year with magistrates stating only a suspended jail sentence could be justified.

She was subsequently given an eight weeks prison term, suspended for 12 months, plus ordered to carry out 40 hours unpaid work.

Her address was given as Haythorp Avenue, Wythenshawe.

Costs of littering

Tameside magistrates have fined numerous people £220 for throwing away cigarettes on the ground and therefore littering.

None of the offenders appeared in court but will receive fines plus an additional bill for associated court costs of more than £150 which must also be paid.

Killer driver is given jail term

A man has been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving after a woman was killed in a collision.

Last Thursday, Muhammad Ahmed, 25, of Eden Street, Hyde, was sentenced to 32 months in jail at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

You can read more on this here.

Former goalkeeper jailed for raping and abusing women and children

A former Mossley goalkeeper has been sentenced to 28 years after raping and sexually assaulting women and children.

Jonathan Diba-Musangu, 23, of Fernhurst Street, Chadderton, was jailed at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday (September 24).

You can read more on this here.

Woman jailed for spitting at officer

Rachel Samms, 38, of Hope Street, Audenshaw, has been jailed for a total of ten weeks by Tameside magistrates.

She admitted a charge of assaulting a police constable on May 23 this year in the town plus a further charge of resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.

Magistrates were told she had spat at the officer and with circumstances surrounding Covid they said only a custodial sentence was appropriate for such an offence.

The defendant was also issued with a restraining order.

Fines, costs for breaking orders

Tameside magistrates have ordered David Andrew, 57, of Werneth Avenue, Gee Cross, to pay £80 court costs for breaching previous court orders. He pleaded guilty to being in breach of the order.

In a separate hearing, Jamie Trenbath, 31, of Bradley Green Road, Hyde, was fined £60 for the same offence. He also admitted being in breach of previous court orders.

Masood Yaqub, 53, of Broadoak Road, Ashton, was fined £180 and ordered to pay £60 court costs for failing to attend unpaid work appointments.  He too admitted the offence.

£220 fines for Metro offenders

Tameside magistrates have fined more passengers for failing to pay for their Metrolink tickets.

Fines of up to £220 were handed out to offenders who will also have to pay bills of more than £150 associated court costs.

None of the offenders appeared in court.

Praise for bravery of child sex abuse victim

Norfolk Police have released a statement following the sentencing of Ashton man Richard Hall for child sex offences.

We reported last week that Hall, 36, whose address was given as Stockport Road, Ashton, had been given a five years’ jail term with an Indefinite Sexual Harm Order also imposed following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

You can read more on this here.

Driving ban

n Ashton motorist was more than twice over the legal drink drive limit when stopped in Oldham, Tameside magistrates were told.

Kuraone Munemo, 44, of Grovehurst Road, was stopped on Stannybrook Road and found to have 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He was banned from the road for 22 months, plus fined £369 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £37 victim surcharge.

The driving ban can be reduced by 22 weeks if a driving course is satisfactorily completed.

Man jailed

Tameside magistrates have jailed Ashton man Alal Hussain for 36 weeks for charges of assault and breaking a restraining order.

The 33-year-old, of Oldham Road, pleaded guilty to the offences which happened earlier this month in the town.

He also admitted being threatening and abusive towards two police officers.

The court also issued him with a further restraining order. He must pay a victim surcharge of £128.

Disorderly

Philip Hughes was handed a six months conditional discharge by Tameside magistrates for an offence of being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

The 43-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened on August 21 on Manchester Road in Ashton.

Magistrates ordered him to pay a £22 victim surcharge.

Driver found guilty

Scott Pullen denied a charge of failing to provide a breath specimen when believed to have committed a driving offence.

The 45-year-old, of Hindley Street, Ashton, was stopped in the town on July 22 last year.

But at Tameside magistrates he was found guilty of the offence and given a 100 hours unpaid work order.

He must pay £450 court costs and a victim surcharge of £95.

He was banned from the road for 22 months, although the driving disqualification can be reduced by 22 weeks if a driving course is satisfactorily completed.

Over legal limit

Tameside magistrates have fined George Shaw £692 for being over the legal drink drive limit.

The 28-year-old, of Hillary Avenue, Ashton, admitted the offence after being stopped on Cedar Avenue in the town on July 6 this year and found to have 57 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months although the ban can be reduced by 22 weeks if a driving course is satisfactorily completed.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £69 victim surcharge.

Assault charges

Tayo Rennie must carry out 300 hours unpaid work for charges of assault and driving without due care and attention.

The 30-year-old, of Astley Street, had denied two charges of assault and the driving offence which all happened on April 10 this year.

But Tameside magistrates found him guilty.

He was issued with a restraining order, plus instructed to pay £100 compensation, £620 court costs and a victim surcharge of £95.

His driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Drug driving

Reece Woodward, 33, of Bank Road, Stalybridge, has been banned from the road for 12 months for an offence of drug driving.

He pleaded guilty to the offence after being stopped on Park Parade in Ashton, on September 4 when he was found to be over the legal drug drive limit.

Appearing at Tameside magistrates he was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Jail threat for driver

Failing to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so when suspected of having committed a driving offence has landed a Stalybridge man a suspended jail sentence.

Costel Dacu, 53, of Market Street, pleaded guilty to the offence after being stopped on Mossley Road in Ashton on April 12 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and other than in accordance with his licence.

Magistrates were told the motorist appeared to have been drinking when driving and had been obstructive to the breath test procedure.

He was given an eight weeks jail term, suspended for 12 months, plus banned from the road for 30 months.

He was ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work plus pay £85 court costs and a £122 victim surcharge.

Armed with knife

A 13-year-old boy found with a kitchen knife in Dukinfield Park has appeared before Tameside Youth Court.

The teenager admitted having the knife in a public place on January 13 this year and was referred to the Greater Manchester Youth Offender Panel for a period of 11 months.

He also admitted stealing an iPhone from an individual, plus a Canada coat and puma bag.

Magistrates ordered £40 compensation be paid, plus £85 court costs and a £22 victim surcharge. The boys parent / guardian must foot the bill.

The court also ordered the knife be confiscated and destroyed.

Two other teenagers also appeared separately before the youth court - one a 14-year-old girl and the other a 15-year-old lad.

They were also charged with stealing the above items from the same individual on the same date.

Both pleaded guilty and were given ten month referral contracts to Greater Manchester Youth Offender Panel.

They were also ordered to pay the same costs and compensation which must also be footed by their parents / guardians.

None of the youths can be named for legal reasons.

Driver banned

Steven Garside, 55, of Holly Bank Rise, Dukinfield, has been banned from the road for 17 months for an offence of being over the legal drink drive limit.

He admitted the offence after being stopped on Whitelands Road in Ashton on August 14 and being found to have 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Magistrates fined him £250, plus ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by 17 weeks if a driving course is satisfactorily completed.

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