The latest court cases Tameside magistrates have heard

Making indecent photographs of a child, driving whilst being banned, and possessing cocaine are just some of the offences that people appearing before Tameside magistrates lately have been found guilty of.

Here's the latest round-up...

Motorcyclist banned from the road

Motorbike rider Benjamin Stamper has been banned from the road for 12 months by Tameside magistrates for being over the drug drive limit.

The 37-year-old, of Market Street, Droylsden, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before the court.

Magistrates heard the offence had been discovered when he had been stopped on Park Parade in Ashton on May 17 last year.

He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34.

For a further charge of not having insurance cover and driving a vehicle other than in accordance he was fined a further £70.

For a separate offence of riding a scooter along Darnton Road in Ashton on February 21 this year without insurance and also other than in accordance with his licence he was fined a total of £140.

Twice over the drink drive limit

Christopher Finegan was two times over the legal drink drive limit when stopped in Droylsden, Tameside magistrates heard.

The 28-year-old, of Park View, Mossley, admitted the offence which had happened on Edge Lane on January 31 this year. 

He was found to have 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Appearing at Tameside magistrates he was banned from the road for 18 months, fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 court costs plus pay a £34 victim surcharge.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by 18 weeks if a driving course is successfully completed.

£120 fine for motorist

A Mossley motorist has been banned from the road for 18 months by Tameside magistrates for drink driving.

Paul Bishop, 39, of The Larches, admitted being over the legal limit on February 1 this year when stopped at Ashton Moss.

The court heard he was found to have 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He was fined £120, plus ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34.

Paying the penalty

Dukinfield man Keith Quigley failed to provide a specimen of breath when suspected of having been in charge of a vehicle, Tameside magistrates heard.

The 56-year-old, of Hope Street, pleaded guilty to the offence which had happened in Ashton on September 29 last year.

He was fined £440 plus ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £44. 

His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

Guilty of assault

Daniel Wall denied assaulting a police constable but was found guilty of the charge and has been ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work.

Tameside magistrates were told the 21-year-old, of Seymour Road, Clayton, had committed the offence on February 8 last year in Manchester.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £100 compensation, plus pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34.

Drug discovery

Tameside magistrates have given Liam Gray a 12 months conditional discharge.

The 37-year-old, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a charge of being in possession of a quantity of diazepam in Ashton last December 22.

He was instructed to pay a victim surcharge of £22.

180 hours unpaid work for making indecent photographs

Jason Mackintosh appeared before Tameside Magistrates’ Court charged with making indecent photographs, namely level B and C, of a child.

The court heard the offences had happened between October 2011 and March 2019.

Pleading guilty, the 44-year-old of Holmlea Road, Droylsden, was ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work, plus pay court charges of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Magistrates ordered that two laptops be forfeited and destroyed.

He must register with the police in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act for the next five years.

Lengthy driving disqualification and hefty fine

Tameside magistrates have banned Robert Gormley from the road for three years.

The 32-year-old, of Oakfield Road, Gorton, was charged with failing to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so after being stopped in Stockport on September 11 last year.

He initially denied the charge but later changed his plea to guilty.

Magistrates fined him £916, plus ordered him to pay £300 court costs and pay a £92 victim surcharge.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by nine months if a driving course is satisfactorily completed.

Disqualified for 19 months

Tameside magistrates heard that a Glossop driver was more than twice over the legal drink drive limit when stopped in the town.

Appearing before the court, Suzanne Penny, 48, of Cliffe Road, admitted the offence which had happened on Charlestown Road on January 30 this year.

The court was told she had 87 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Magistrates disqualified her from driving for 19 months, fined her £120 and ordered her to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by 19 weeks if a driving course is successfully completed.

Driving licence endorsed

Tameside magistrates have fined Mary Luby £120 for being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal drink drive limit.

The 59-year-old, of Grey Street, Stalybridge, admitted the offence which had happened on French Street in Manchester on January 16.

The court heard she was found to have 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35, although she was not actually driving the vehicle.

She was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge. Her driving licence was endorsed with 10 penalty points.

Already disqualified

Austin Mitchell appeared before Tameside magistrates for sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of driving when already disqualified from the road.

The 37-year-old, of Meadow Close, Dove Holes, had been stopped on August 28 last year on Werneth Low Road in Hyde.

The borough’s magistrates ordered him to carry out 100 hours unpaid work, plus banned him from driving for a further six months for the offence.

He must pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Banned motorist kept on driving

Disqualified driver Azahir Hussain was stopped behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris on New Year’s Day motoring along Lord Sheldon Way in Ashton, Tameside magistrates heard.

The 48-year-old, of Jackson Close, Oldham, pleaded guilty to the offence, which had happened this year on January 1.

Magistrates handed him an eight weeks jail term, suspended for 12 months, for his blatant disregard of court orders, after hearing he had driven on the same day he had appeared in court for a similar offence.

The court heard he had been  back behind the wheel again just two weeks later, having been stopped on Minto Street in Ashton on January 14 driving a VW Polo. He also pleaded guilty to driving when already disqualified. 

As well as the suspended jail term, the court handed him a 16 weeks curfew order, meaning he must remain at his address between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

He was banned from the road for a further 18 months plus ordered to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £128. 

Three-year ban for catalogue of offences

Droylsden driver Kelly Reeve has been banned from the road for three years by Tameside Magistrates’ Court for a series of driving related offences.

Magistrates heard she had been stopped on April 6 last year, but failed to provide a breath specimen when required to do so.

The 29-year-old, of Medlock Street, initially denied this charge, but later changed her plea to guilty. 

However, she did admit to a further three charges relating to an incident on May 29 last year, which had happened on Manor Road, Droylsden.

She was charged with drink driving, driving without due care and failing to stop after causing damage to other cars in an accident. 

The court heard that on that occasion she was found to have 112 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - more than three times the legal limit which is 35.

The court fined her £80,  plus ordered her to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £95.

The driving disqualification can be reduced by nine months if a driving course is successfully completed.

Almost twice over legal limit

Lee Whittaker has been banned from the road for almost two years for being over the drink drive limit.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence after being stopped on Stockport Road, Marple, on October 24 last year and found to have 90 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to the charge at Tameside magistrates and was disqualified from driving for 22 months, fined £120 plus ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge. The disqualification can be reduced by 22 weeks if a driving course is successfully completed.

His address was given as Buxton Road, Stockport.

Found with drugs

Tameside magistrates have fined Oldham man Behman Hosseini £70 after he was found in possession of a quantity of cocaine in Ashton on November 22 last year.

The 29-year-old, of Hillside Avenue, pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was also ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge.

Magistrates ordered the cocaine be forfeited and destroyed.

Burglary charge

A 19-year-old man has been charged with burglary and aggravated vehicle-taking in Stalybridge. 

Rhys Jackson, of no fixed abode, is charged with offences in relation to a burglary on Carrbrook Crescent on Friday, February 26. 

He appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday and is due to appear next at Minshull Street Crown Court on March 26.

Main image:

Tameside Magistrates' Court in Ashton.