Five defendants sentenced in North Staffordshire’s courts this week

Here are the latest cases from North Staffordshire Justice Centre: BURSLEM: Disqualified driver Declan Marshall has been jailed for 14 weeks after he gave a false name to police. North Staffordshire Justice Centre[1] heard the 32-year-old was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, on April 5 last year.

But at 10.15pm on November 21 police stopped a white Range Rover in Keele[2]. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: “The driver was the sole occupant. He was spoken to by the police and asked for his details.

He said he was Mohammed Aslam. Checks were completed and the driver was allowed to continue. “The following day he was arrested.

He made full admissions.” READ: Novice biker, 35, died in Longton A50 crash just days after buying motorcycle Jason Wysoczan, 35, of Biddulph, had only bought the machine days earlier and was an inexperienced rider[3] READ: Posh village rocked by one-man crimewave who fell in with bad crowd Joe Blowers, 27, has been a chance by a judge after he was caught carrying out four crimes in just two weeks in the same small village[4]

Marshall, of Lancashire Court, Burslem[5], pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified; wilfully obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty; and driving without insurance. Andrew Turnock, mitigating, said Marshall had been engaging with probation and attending appointments. He said it would be unjust to activate the suspended sentence.

Declan Marshall, aged 32, admitted driving while disqualified, obstructing a police officer and driving without insurance.

He said Marshall, an accounts manager, is capable of hard work and added he provides financial support to his two children and their mother.

Magistrates disqualified Marshall from driving for eight months and seven weeks. BLURTON: Drink-driver Jordan Lee failed to stop after crashing his car when more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit.

The 28-year-old dad rowed with his partner and despite being told not to drive by a friend he got in his vehicle and reversed into a grey Vauxhall Corsa. He carried on and collided with a blue Corsa. But he drove off before abandoning his damaged car and walking back to the scene.

Now he has been banned from the roads for 22 months at North Staffordshire Justice Centre. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said police received a report that the defendant had driven a silver Volkswagen Touran in Greenfield Road, Tunstall, while drunk at 11pm on October 28. Miss Swindail said: “He had collided with another car before driving off.

Police carried out a search. The vehicle was found abandoned in Greengate Street, Tunstall[6]. There was damage to the vehicle and it had a flat tyre.

“The defendant returned to Greenfield Road at 11.45pm. He was detained and arrested. He appeared to be heavily intoxicated and had to be restrained by officers.

He was taken to custody where an evidential sample of breath was taken with the lowest reading being 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.” He told police he was told to leave and he got in his car. A friend tried to convince him not to drive but he got in the car and reversed into a parked grey Vauxhall Corsa.

He drove down Greenfield Road and collided with a blue Vauxhall Corsa. He abandoned it before returning on foot.” He admitted having too much to drink.

He did not recall hitting the other vehicles but accepted he did. He added he was disgusted with himself. Lee, of Pembridge Road, Blurton[7], pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Alan Dawson, mitigating, said Lee had been decorating at his partner’s address and had no plan to leave. Mr Dawson said: “He and his partner had an argument. He got in the vehicle and drove away.

He accepts there was a collision. Through pure panic he left the vehicle at the roadside. He co-operated with police at the roadside.

He is of previous good character. The reason he did not stop was pure panic.” Mr Dawson added that Lee’s previous partner has recently died and he now has his daughter to care for.

Magistrates fined Lee GBP320 and ordered him to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP128 surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 22 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course. BENTILEE:

Former Royal Navy sailor Craig Bentley crashed his car when more than three-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit. The 51-year-old gave his details to the victim and left the scene to take his dogs home. But he was located nearby by police and was taken to custody where he was breathalysed and gave a reading of 128 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than three-and-a-half times the legal limit of 35.

Now Bentley has been sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, and hit with a 40 month driving ban at North Staffordshire Justice Centre. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said police received a call at 5.30pm on November 19 from a man who said he believed a drink-driver had crashed into his parked car in Beverley Drive, Bentilee[8]. Police arrived and were told by the victim that the driver had left the scene.

He was a tall man and was walking three dogs. Officers found him 150 metres away. He identified himself.

Miss Swindail said: “They saw he was staggering and they could smell liquor. He was taken to custody. An evidential sample of breath was taken, giving a reading of 128 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than three-and-a-half times the legal limit of 35.”

In his police interview Bentley said he did not realise he would be over the limit. He said he drove on Beverley Drive and crashed into a vehicle. He admitted drinking a couple of bottles of wine.

Bentley, of Dereham Way, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. The court heard he has a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2017. Alan Dawson, mitigating, said Bentley fell asleep.

He said: “He felt groggy. Because he had slept he thought he would not be over the legal limit. “He got in the car with the dogs with a view to taking them for a walk.

He concedes on route there was a collision with a motor vehicle. “He remained at the scene. He spoke to the owner of the vehicle.

He said his concern was for the dogs and he went to return them home. He did give his details to the witness at the time. He co-operated at the roadside.”

Mr Dawson said Bentley has abstained from alcohol for five weeks. He said: “He accepts there is an issue. This flows from nine years in the Royal Navy.

Since leaving the forces he has not lost that.” As part of the suspended sentence order Bentley must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 10 days. He was ordered to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP154 surcharge.

LEEK: Serial shop thief Jacob Campbell has been fined GBP50. The 33-year-old former soldier stole goods from Aldi, Leek, on three dates, worth a total of GBP120.

He stole items from Home Bargains, Leek, on four occasions worth a total of GBP177.86. And he stole goods from the Co-op, Leek, on two occasions worth a total of GBP134.15. Campbell, of Stanley Street, Leek[9], pleaded guilty to nine charges of shop theft.

Callum Morris, mitigating, said Campbell began using drugs and his mental health and drug addiction spiralled out of control. He said there was no planning and Campbell just wanted something he could sell to buy drugs. Magistrates sentenced Campbell to a 12-month community order with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 15 days.

As well as the fine he was ordered to pay GBP120 compensation to Aldi, GBP177.86 to Home Bargains and GBP134.15 to the Co-op. KEELE: Motorist Jack Carter has been banned from the roads for 37 months after he was caught drink-driving for the second time in three years.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Carter was stopped by police at Keele Services[10] at 11.30pm on November 22. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said officers believed he had been drinking and requested a roadside breath test. He gave a positive reading and was taken to custody where he was breathalysed and gave a reading of 68 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, nearly twice the legal limit of 35.

Carter, of Browns Lane, Coventry, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without insurance. The court heard he was convicted of drink-driving on November 27, 2020. Alan Dawson, mitigating, said Carter was using alcohol to help with his anxiety.

Magistrates sentenced Carter to a 12 month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 10 days and 60 hours unpaid work.

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

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References

1. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ Keele (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Novice biker, 35, died in Longton A50 crash just days after buying motorcycle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ Posh village rocked by one-man crimewave who fell in with bad crowd (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ Burslem (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ Tunstall (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
7. ^ Blurton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
8. ^ Bentilee (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
9. ^ Leek (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
10. ^ Keele Services (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
11. ^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email (data.reachplc.com)
12. ^ alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)