Here's our latest round-up of cases which have been heard at Tameside Magistrates' Court.

Arrests in car thefts swoop

Three men have been arrested and a suspected stolen vehicle seized in connection with high-value cars being stolen from homes across the region - including Tameside, say police.

Officers swooped on Wednesday night last week to detain the three suspects - aged 52, 30 and 28 - after they were stopped on Lees Street, Openshaw, at around 11pm.

They were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Detectives launched an investigation last month after a number of reports of burglaries since Christmas were received involving the theft of some 20 vehicles from homes.

It includes one night in January where reports were made in Stalybridge, Harpurhey and Middleton that are all believed to be linked.

Detective Inspector Roger Smethurst, from GMP’s SOCG, said: “These arrests are a result of weeks of work going on behind the scenes and are a huge step in our drive to bring burglaries down and find those responsible.

“This operation is targeting what we believe to be the most active gang of burglaries in Greater Manchester and we know that each of our boroughs has been impacted by this group at least once a week during the past month or so.

“The operation doesn’t stop here and we will work to return stolen vehicles to their rightful owners and bring those responsible to justice.”

The action is part of a police operation called Taurus.

Threat of jail for driving offence

High Peak motorist Dale Rochford was given a suspended jail sentence at Tameside Magistrates’ Court after he had failed to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so.

Magistrates said the offence was serious and complicated by the defendant’s poor standard of driving at the time of the offence, resulting in a collision.

The 32-year-old admitted the offence relating to an incident on December 6 last year in Stockport.

The court sentenced him to a 12 weeks prison term, suspended for 12 months, plus ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

The sentence was suspended because magistrates heard the defendant was genuinely remorseful and there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

As a result he was issued with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement meaning he must attend appointments as required by an officer.

He was banned from the road for 29 months, although the driving disqualification can be reduced by 29 weeks if a driving course is successfully undertaken.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £128. His address was given as Market Street, New Mills.

Banned driver over drug limit

Tameside magistrates gave a banned motorist a suspended jail sentence after he was found behind the wheel of a car over the drug drive limit.

David Yates, 49, admitted driving while disqualified, being over the drug drive limit and having no insurance when he appeared before the court.

The offences had all happened on July 16, 2020.

Magistrates heard he was stopped behind the wheel of a BMW on Stockport Road West, Bredbury.

They sentenced him to a total of 12  weeks behind bars to be served consecutively, suspended for 18 months for the combination of offending.

He must also carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay £85 court costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

Magistrates issued him with a Rehabilitation Activity, meaning he must comply with the instructions of a responsible officer.

He pleaded guilty to all of the charges plus a further separate offence of driving dangerously by riding a Yamaha motorbike on August 3 last year along Chapel Road, Hayfield. 

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for a further six months for the drug driving charge and a further two years for the dangerous driving offence. His address was given as Paythorne Green, Offerton. 

Stole trainers from sports store

Jason May stole a pair of black training shoes from a Sports Direct shop in Macclesfield, Tameside magistrates heard.

The 47-year-old, of Herne Street, Openshaw, pleaded guilty to the offence and taking the shoes worth £49.99 on December 16 last year.

Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

Too threatening

Daniel Greaves, 40, of Clarendon Road, Hazel Grove, was fined £346 by Stockport magistrates for being threatening and abusive in New Mills on July 22 last year.

He must also pay £85 court costs and a £35 victim surcharge. He admitted the offence.

Out of order

Daryl Armitage, of no fixed address, appeared before Tameside magistrates and admitted failing to comply with a previous community order issued by the court. Magistrates ordered him to pay £60 costs.

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