Who's been in court lately?

From a teenager found in public with a six-inch kitchen knife to a man who didn't pay a fine for attending a lockdown party, we round up some of the cases heard by Tameside magistrates recently.

Tameside magistrates have jailed Brian Mulligan for 18 weeks for committing three drink driving related offences within a matter of weeks.

The 51-year-old, of Tree House Avenue, Ashton, had pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis as part of an investigation into whether he was over the drink drive limit on July 25 in the town.

Although banned from the road as a result of that first offence, the court heard he was back behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Zafira car just three days later and this time gave a specimen, which revealed him to be over the drink drive limit.

The court was told he was stopped on John Haywood Road in Clayton and found to have 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on July 28. The legal limit is 35. 

Then on August 10 he was spotted driving again and found to be almost twice over the drink drive limit.

This time he was stopped while driving an Astra van along Oldham Road in Ashton and found to have 67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Magistrates jailed him for the serious nature and spate of the offending, aggravated by his previous record and for committing two driving offences within days of being disqualified. His actions were branded a serious risk to the public.

The court banned him from the road for a total of four years.

He must also pay a victim surcharge of £128.

Lockdown party bill now tops £300

A man has pleaded guilty to not paying a fixed penalty notice (FPN) which had been issued to him after attending a party in lockdown. 

This was during the period where the regulations included no socialisation with anyone outside your household and only being able to go out once a day to exercise or take a walk.

Instead of paying the original fine, issued in April, he now has to pay a total of £319, which includes costs and a victim surcharge. 

If an FPN is not paid within 28 days the case is referred to the courts.

Fines issued before May 13 were £60, but fell to £30 if paid within 14 days. 

Any fines issued after May 13 are £100, but fall to £50 if paid within 14 days. The fine increases significantly for repeat offenders.

GMP Superintendent Andrew Sidebotham said: “We have issued 305 FPNs from March to May, but only 143 people have made payment for these fines.

“This equates to less than 50 per cent of people complying and means a large amount of police resources is taken up taking those who fail to pay through the court system.

“Officers have been policing by consent by using the four Es approach throughout the pandemic and have only issued fines when there has been a clear breach of the regulations.

“Anyone that doesn’t pay the fine issued will face further action, which may result in an increase in the total costs the individual needs to pay.”

Suspended jail sentence

Forty-five-year-old Lee Joinson has been given an eight weeks prison sentence, suspended for two years by Tameside magistrates.

The Ashton man, of Booth Street, Ashton, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault which had happened in the town on June 21 this year.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation.

Teenager found in public with six inch kitchen blade

A Tameside teenager was found with a six inch kitchen knife in the town, the borough’s youth court heard.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted the offence which had happened on Warrington Street, Ashton Market Place, on October 25 last year. He was given a youth rehabilitation order.

Magistrates ordered court costs of £106 - which his parent/guardian must pay.

Magistrates fine man for being a public nuisance 

Tameside magistrates have fined Paul English £50 for being a public nuisance.

The 46-year-old, of Long Meadow, Hyde, admitted the offence which had happened on August 9 at Tameside Hospital. He must also pay a £95 victim surcharge.

Lengthy threat of imprisonment

Lee Lofthouse has been given a suspended jail sentence by Tameside magistrates.

The 35-year-old, of Turner Lane, Ashton, pleaded guilty to having a pair of pliers in his possession - classed as an offensive weapon - at the Asda store on Cavendish Street in Ashton on the afternoon of March 8 this year.

The court heard he had also made threats in a busy public place.

He also admitted a separate charge of stealing clothing valued at £150 from JD Sports in Ashton on March 9.

Magistrates jailed him for a total of six months, suspended for one year.

He was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £122.

More than twice over legal limit

Ashton driver Christopher Hibbert has been banned from the road for 17 months by Tameside magistrates for being more than twice over the legal drink drive limit.

The 35-year-old, of Mellor Road, pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £350 by Tameside magistrates, plus ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £35 victim surcharge.

Magistrates heard he was stopped on Villiers Road in Ashton and found to have 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He also admitted a further charge of having a quantity of cocaine in his possession. Magistrates fined him a further £175 for this offence.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by four months if a driving course is successfully completed.

Fined £100 

Tameside magistrates have banned a teenage woman from driving for 12 months for being over the drink drive limit.

Nineteen-year-old Samia Kamel, of Stanbury Drive, Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to the charge after being stopped on Lower Bennett Street in Hyde on April 8 this year.

She was found to have 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Magistrates fined her £100, plus ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by three months if a driving course is successfully completed.

Failed to stop 

Tameside magistrates have banned Abeed Barry from the road for 12 months for an offence of drug driving.

The 25-year-old, of Gorsey Lane, Ashton, pleaded guilty to the offence which had happened on Buttermere Road, Ashton, on November 4 last year.

He also admitted further charges of failing to stop when required to do so by police and driving without insurance cover.

Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £32.

Car was taken in serious burglary

A Stalybridge man has been given a suspended prison sentence by Tameside magistrates.

Michael Knight, 29, of Hill Top Cottage, Millbrook, admitted a charge of dishonestly undertaking in the retention, removal or disposal of a car knowing it to be stolen.

Magistrates heard the car had been taken in a serious burglary.

They handed the defendant an 18 weeks prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £122.

Three year driving ban

A van driver has been banned from the road for three years by Tameside magistrates for being over the drug drive limit.

Michael Lloyd, 29, of John Kennedy Road, Hattersley, was also fined £570 for the offence which had happened on January 18 in Cambridge.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £57 victim surcharge.

Double trouble 

Tameside magistrates have ordered Anthony Bligh to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work for twice breaking a previous court order.

The 40-year-old, of Berkley Street, Ashton, admitted the offences and was also given a restraining order, meaning he must have no contact with a named individual.

He must pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £85.

100 hours work 

Tameside magistrates have ordered Robert McLarnon to carry out 100 hours unpaid work for a charge of assault.

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence which the court was told had happened in Tameside on August 25 last year.

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

His address was given as Jetson Street in Manchester.

Unpaid work 

Dukinfield driver Lewis Ramsden has been banned from the road for 12 months for drug driving.

The 25-year-old, of Ravensfield Way, pleaded guilty to the charge after being stopped on Crescent Road on October 7 last year.

Tameside magistrates ordered him to carry out 40 hours unpaid work.

For a separate charge of damaging windows to a Ford Transit van on or before February 28 he was ordered to pay £500 compensation.