Five criminals at North Staffordshire magistrates this week

Here are the latest cases from the region's courts:

CHEADLE: Thirty-six-year-old Gary Parker refused to give police a sample of breath after they found him asleep in a hotel car park. North Staffordshire Justice Centre ^[1] heard police received an anonymous call on September 15 to say there was a vehicle parked at The Stone House Hotel car park, in Stone ^[2], and the driver was not a guest.

Prosecutor Shakeel Hussain said: "Police attended and saw the defendant in the driver's seat. He was asleep. They roused him and could smell alcohol on him. They asked for a roadside breath test. He did not comply. He was arrested and taken to the police station. At the station the request was made again for an evidential breath test to be provided. He again refused and said he wanted to speak to a solicitor. There was a failure on his part to provide a sample of breath."

The court heard Parker has a previous conviction for drink-driving.

Parker, of Hales Hall Caravan Park, Cheadle ^[3], pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath when in charge of a vehicle.

Tacarat Hussain, mitigating, said Parker was sleeping in the vehicle.

Mr Hussain added: "He was having work done at his caravan. He had to leave the park. He parked at the hotel. There is no suggestion he was driving the vehicle in the car park. He had been asleep. He had not been drinking. The reason he refused was because the officer prodded his face. The manner they were prodding him annoyed him. That is why he refused. He wanted to speak to a solicitor. He did not know where he stood. He failed to provide. He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity."

Magistrates handed Parker 10 penalty points on his licence. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

HANLEY: Drink-driver Tracey Stewart was caught over the limit after a crash. Police were called to the incident on Old Bucknall Road, in Hanley ^[4], on February 9. The 47-year-old had injuries to her head and blood on her clothes.

Prosecutor Shakeel Ahmed told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: "She had slurred and incoherent speech. Because of her injuries the blood procedure was undertaken. A sample of blood was taken for analysis and it returned a result of 220 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The company which owned the vehicle the defendant was driving said she did not have permission to drive and she had no insurance."

Stewart, of Northwood Court, Ringland Close, Hanley, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, and driving without insurance.

Joanne Corbett, mitigating, said alcohol has been a problem for Stewart. She said Stewart was driving the works van at the time and the company washed their hands with her when she was caught drink-driving.

Miss Corbett added: "She accepts responsibility. She did not intend to drive once she got to her partner's pub. She could have taken a taxi home. At the time she just wanted to get away."

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement. She was banned from driving for 28 months. She was fined £138 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

SILVERDALE: Thirty-eight-year-old Darren Davies has been handed a 12-month restraining order after he harassed his ex-partner. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the defendant attended his ex-partner's home uninvited after they split up.

Prosecutor Shakeel Ahmed said: "The defendant attended her address and spat on her with the spittle landing on her. She answered the door and stepped out as she did not want the defendant to enter her property. The defendant spat at her from about 40cm away. The spit hit the side of her cheek."

The victim said Davies attended her address uninvited and abused her calling her 'spotty, scummy, fat and a slag'. He also texted her, saying, 'I hope you die you scummy little c***'.

In a victim statement the woman said she is in constant fear for her safety and for the safety of her family. They moved address to get away from him. She added she feels sick and anxious all the time.

Davies, of Droitwich Close, Silverdale ^[5], denied harassment and assault by beating but was convicted of both matters after a trial.

Representing himself, Davies, who has no previous convictions, said there were issues in the relationship. He added he does not want any contact with his former partner.

Magistrates sentenced Davies to an 18-month community order with a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation, £650 costs, and a £114 surcharge.

PENKHULL: Mum-of-four Susan O'Neill has been handed a 12-month community order after she assaulted three police officers. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 40-year-old was arrested after an incident in Manchester on March 12.

Prosecutor Shakeel Ahmed said: "Police were called to disorder taking place and a number of women fighting. Officers attended and nobody wanted to make a complaint. The defendant was under the influence of alcohol. She refused to provide her name and address which resulted in the officers arresting her. She struggled with them. She assaulted three officers at the custody block. She lashed out at one with her hand. The officer pushed her back and she fell to the floor. She punched two officers in the back with her left hand."

O'Neill, of Princes Road, Penkhull ^[6], pleaded guilty to three charges of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Mark Sheppard, mitigating, said O'Neill had consumed a lot of alcohol and has little recollection of what happened.

Mr Sheppard added: "Her actions were entirely stupid. She is very remorseful for what took place."

He added O'Neill's mum has dementia. He said his client is on benefits but would be able to pay compensation to the officers. He added the officers' injuries were minor.

The community order includes a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. She was fined £40 and must pay £50 compensation to each officer as well as £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

NEWCASTLE: Drug-driver Kieron Hollins has been banned from the roads for 12 months. The 32-year-old drove an Audi A3 on Brunswick Street, in Newcastle ^[7], on March 22 when he had cannabis in his system.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard a sample of blood was taken and Hollins gave a reading of 2.6 micrograms of THC (the cannabis breakdown) per litre of blood, against the legal limit of 2.

Hollins, of Hillwood Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

Osman Mahmood, mitigating, said Hollins regrets his actions. He said the reading was not the highest seen by the courts.

Mr Mahmood added: "He has smoked cannabis on a regular basis for 18 years. He uses it to medicate for anxiety and depression. He is in the process of obtaining a cannabis card to smoke it medically."

Magistrates fined Hollins £313 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £125 surcharge.

Get all the latest news from court here ^[8]

References

^{^} North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Stone (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Cheadle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Silverdale (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Penkhull (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Newcastle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Get all the latest news from court here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)