These five defendants appeared before the courts this week

These are the latest cases from the region's courts: HARTSHILL: Sixty-year-old John Scanlon has been hit with a GBP162 court bill after he admitted being drunk and disorderly. North Staffordshire Justice Centre[1] heard Scanlon made inappropriate comments to two 16-year-old girls at Hanley Bus Station[2] at 6.15pm on October 18. Prosecutor Clare McGowan said: "He was clearly intoxicated.

The police arrived. They noted the defendant was intoxicated. He could barely stand.

He was shouting but not a lot made much sense. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly." Representing himself, Scanlon, of Convent Close, Hartshill[3], said: "I came out of Wetherspoons.

It was raining. I walked towards the bus station. I took my walking stick down and put it in my bag.

I walked through the doors. "I had a stroke not so long ago. I was looking at the monitors.

The next moment there were two police. They arrested me. It was a miserable night.

They wanted to get down to the station." Magistrates sentenced Scanlon to a 12-month conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP26 surcharge.

AUDLEY: Teenager Luke Butler broke his leg after crashing his car when over the drink-drive limit. The 19-year-old crashed a Dacia Sandero into a wall on High Street, in Alsagers Bank[4], on May 3. Prosecutor Clare McGowan said: "Officers were called to reports of a road traffic accident where the defendant had crashed into a stone wall after mounting the pavement.

He was sitting in the driver's seat with the keys in the ignition. Airbags were deployed. "Some force was applied to open the door.

A specimen of breath was taken at the wheel. He failed. A blood sample was later taken at the Royal Stoke University Hospital[5] and it gave a reading of 97 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, against the legal limit of 80."

The car was written-off by insurers. Butler, of Meadowside Avenue, Audley[6], pleaded guilty to drink-driving. James Hulse, mitigating, said: "He accepts it was all his own fault and the person who suffered was him.

He lives half-a-mile away. They had been drinking. His friend said, 'Don't get in the car'.

He did. He fractured his leg. His car was written-off."

Magistrates disqualified Butler from driving for 13 months. He was fined GBP350 and ordered to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP140 surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 13 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.

BURSLEM: Thief Nathan Campbell has been handed a 12-month conditional discharge at North Staffordshire Justice Centre. The 35-year-old stole a pair of grey shorts from TK Maxx, in Hanley[7], at 3.30pm on August 22. Prosecutor Clare McGowan said: "He concealed them in his shorts and exited.

He was identified by CCTV." Campbell, of Scotia Road, Burslem[8], pleaded guilty to theft from a shop. Joanne Corbett, mitigating, said Campbell had been experiencing problems following his release from prison.

But he has now managed to stabilise his life. Miss Corbett added: "He is remorseful." Magistrates ordered Campbell to pay GBP10 compensation to TK Maxx, GBP135 costs, and a GBP26 surcharge.

MILTON: Fifty-seven-year-old Sharon Plant, of Downfield Place, Milton[9], has denied drink-driving. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard she was stopped driving a Mercedes on Fell Street, in Smallthorne[10], on October 17. She was breathalysed and gave a reading of 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.

Plant denies the offence and her trial will be held at the same court on October 15. Her bail was extended. STAFFORD: Forty-two-year-old Martin Bolton, care of Brocton Road, Stafford[11], has been fined GBP120 after he admitted failing to comply with post-sentence supervision. North Staffordshire Justice Centre[12] heard Bolton was jailed for six months on April 21 for having a bladed article in public.

He was released from custody on September 29 but did not attend his appointments with the probation service on October 4 and October 11. And he has not attended any appointments since October 18. As well as the fine Bolton was ordered to pay GBP60 costs to the probation service.

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References

1. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ Hanley Bus Station (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Hartshill (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ Alsagers Bank (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ Royal Stoke University Hospital (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ Audley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
7. ^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
8. ^ Burslem (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
9. ^ Milton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
10. ^ Smallthorne (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
11. ^ Stafford (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
12. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
13. ^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email (data.reachplc.com)
14. ^ alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)