These seven defendants appeared in court in run-up to Christmas

Here are the latest cases from the region's courts: STOKE-ON-TRENT: Three men have admitted two charges of burglary.

Matthew Stevens, aged 22, of Dividy Road, Bentilee[1]; Jack Burton, aged 21, of Dividy Road, Bentilee; and Wade Gibben, aged 21, of Harrowby Road, Meir[2], pleaded guilty to burgling Ali News, Stoke, on March 1, 2021 in which they stole cigarettes, van keys and a Toyota Hiace. They also admitted burgling another shop and stealing cigarettes and GBP70 cash. Burton also admitted a burglary at McColls Store, Abbey Hulton[3], on February 28, 2021 and handling stolen goods, namely a Land Rover.

Judge Graeme Smith adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports to be prepared on the defendants. Their bail was extended and they will learn their fate at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[4] on February 16. READ: Disgraced ex-cop locked up - three years after dodging jail for child-sex crimes Stephen Shaw, 50, from Joiners Square, has been locked up for 20 months[5]

READ: Long-running neighbour row sees grieving man launch savage street attack Brian Barbour was spared jail at North Staffordshire Justice Centre[6] FENTON: Forty-year-old David George, of Foley Street, Fenton[7], denied possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard George was inside a car stopped by police in Clough Street, Hanley[8], on July 20. Prosecutor Clare McGowan said: "He was found to be wearing a buckled bracelet, a pocket knife. One end of the bracelet is a blade.

The dispute is whether it is an offensive weapon. The trial issue is very narrow."

George's trial will be held at Cannock Magistrates Court on April 4. His bail was extended.

TUNSTALL: Fifty-six-year-old Kevin Pankhurst, of Newfield Street, Tunstall[9], pleaded guilty to exposure on August 27, 2022. He will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court[10] after a report is prepared on him by a probation officer and his bail was extended.

MEIR: Drink-driver Jamie Rodgers has been banned from the roads for two years. North Staffordshire Justice Centre[11] heard police saw the 44-year-old driving a BMW across a roundabout in Longton[12] at 9.30pm on October 7. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: "There was significant damage to the front of the vehicle.

Police stopped the vehicle in Normacot Road. The defendant was the only occupant. "He smelt heavily of alcohol, his eyes were glazed and he appeared to be slurring his words.

He was placed in the rear of the police vehicle and he provided a roadside breath test." Miss Swindail said another incident came to light involving the same vehicle. She said: "The same vehicle had crashed into a Mercedes car in Longton Hall Road, Blurton[13], 10 minutes prior to them stopping the vehicle.

"The vehicle failed to stop at the scene and the driver had not passed on any details. He was arrested for drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision. He was taken to custody where he was breathalysed and gave a reading of 94 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly three times the legal limit of 35."

Rodgers, of North Walk, Meir[14], pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident. Simon Leech, mitigating, said the defendant will lose his job as a result of losing his licence. He added that Rodgers was co-operative with the police.

Magistrates sentenced Rodgers to an 18-month community order with 180 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP114 surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 24 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.

ABBEY HULTON: Teenager Tyler Knapper has been banned from the roads for 18 months after he was caught riding a motorbike while over the limit for drugs. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre the 19-year-old was seen attempting to pull a wheelie on a motorbike on Newhouse Road, Abbey Hulton[15], at 7.45pm on April 22.

Miss Swindail said: "It was followed on to Bryant Road. It came to a stop. Police in an unmarked police car stopped.

He went into a back garden before climbing over a fence. Police did a PNC (Police National Computer) check. His bike had no insurance.

"The officer gained access to the back garden and located the defendant. He was sitting next to a crash helmet and keys to the bike. He had a provisional licence but no learner plates on the bike.

"There was a smell of cannabis. He admitted smoking cannabis 30 minutes before riding the motorbike. He provided a sample of saliva and tested positive for cannabis.

At custody he gave a reading of 6.3 micrograms of THC (the cannabis breakdown) in a litre of blood, against the legal limit of 2.0." Knapper, of Bryant Road, Abbey Hulton, pleaded guilty to drug-driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. Simon Leech, mitigating, said: "He is just an adult but behaving like a teenager and engaging in silly conduct.

He had been taking cannabis. There was no suggestion he was impaired." Magistrates sentenced Knapper to a 12-month community order with 50 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP114 surcharge.

COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email[16] alerts direct to your inbox[17]

References

1. ^ Bentilee (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ Meir (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Abbey Hulton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ Disgraced ex-cop locked up - three years after dodging jail for child-sex crimes (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ Long-running neighbour row sees grieving man launch savage street attack (Long-running%20neighbour%20row%20sees%20grieving%20man%20launch%20savage%20street%20attack)
7. ^ Fenton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
8. ^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
9. ^ Tunstall (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
10. ^ Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
11. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
12. ^ Longton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
13. ^ Blurton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
14. ^ Meir (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
15. ^ Abbey Hulton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
16. ^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email (data.reachplc.com)
17. ^ alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)