The latest defendants in North Staffordshire’s courts
Here are the latest cases from the region’s courts:
MEIR: Drunk driver Jonathan Price has been sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work. The North Staffordshire Justice Center heard police were informed by staff at McDonald’s in Lysander Road, Meir, that two customers appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
The vehicle stopped nearby and officers examined Price. He failed the roadside test and was taken into custody, where he was given an alcohol analysis and found to be 94 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath, more than two and a half times the legal limit of 35.
Price of Hartwell Road, Meir, pleaded guilty to drunk driving.
Joanne Corbett said mitigatingly: “He did someone a favor by taking him home. He took a risk. He fully accepts that his actions were reckless.”
The judges banned Price from driving for 23 months. He was fined £135 in costs and £114 in surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 23 weeks if he completes a drunk driving rehabilitation course.
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ALSAGER: Drug driver George Brereton has been banned from driving for 15 months. North Staffordshire magistrates heard the 20-year-old was stopped by police on the A500 at the junction with the M6 on October 1.
Prosecutor Lee Stone said: “It was pulled over because of its speed. The police could smell cannabis. One of the passengers admitted to smoking cannabis. Behind the driver’s seat was a small bag containing cannabis vegetation.
“He admitted it was his and that he had smoked cannabis. He was taken to the police station and subjected to the drug driving procedure. He gave a value of 4.9 micrograms of cannabis in 100 milliliters of blood, against the limit of 2.”
Brereton of Sinclair Avenue, Alsager, pleaded guilty to drug driving.
Tacarat Hussain said mitigatingly that Brereton had smoked the drug the day before and one of his passengers had smoked in the car.
Mr Hussain said: “He accepts that it was a very foolish decision for him to drive.”
The judges fined Brereton £120 and ordered him to pay £135 in costs and a £48 surcharge.
BIRCH HEAD: 36-year-old John Duncan, formerly of Turner Street, Birches Head, admitted willful strangulation; two charges of assault with actual assault; dangerous driving; attack by hitting; and driving without insurance. His case was adjourned for a prejudice report to be made on him. He has been remanded in custody and will know his fate at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on April 28.
NEWCASTLE: Jacob Arnold, 23, of Hemsby Way, Newcastle, has been acquitted of two charges after a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court over concerns he had supplied a Class A drug. He denied both charges and was found not guilty by a jury on both counts.
GOLDENHILL: Gareth Eardley, 43, of Lewisham Drive, Goldenhill, is denying three historic rape charges. His trial will take place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 8 January 2024 and his bail has been extended.
TUNSTALL: Wajid Mahmood, 27, of New Hayes Road, Tunstall, denied possession of a disguised firearm, namely a Taser, on 25 January 2021. His trial will take place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on October 2 and his bail has been extended.
BLURTON: Shaun Kesic, 37, of Garsdale Crescent, Blurton, denied charges of sexual assault and cruelty to a person under the age of 16. His trial will take place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on December 4.
His bail has been extended.
STOKE ON TRENT: Kei Reynolds, 32, denied sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or fear between September 10 and 13, 2021. His trial will take place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on November 27. It is expected to last five days. Reynolds bail has been extended. There is an order preventing the publication of his address.
Hartschill: Stuart Allen, 56, of Steel Street, Hartshill, has been fined £80 by North Staffordshire magistrates after admitting to criminal damage. He was ordered to pay £185 in costs and a £32 surcharge.
BURLEM: Mohammed Ali, aged 22, of Barnfield Road, Burslem, denied two charges of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug in October and September 2020. His trial will take place at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on October 30 and his bail has been extended.
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