This week's round-up from Tameside Magistrates' Court includes a bride-to-be who falsely claimed she had cancer to pay for her wedding, a man who launched an attack at a health centre and another man who refused to wear a mask on public transport.
Here are the latest cases that have been heard...
False cancer claim to pay for wedding
Bride-to-be Julie Parker falsely claimed she had terminal cancer to swindle those touched by her plight out of more than £1,000.
The 54-year-old, from St John’s Drive, Hyde, appeared before Tameside magistrates charged with fraud, dishonestly claiming to have terminal cancer and receiving a sum of £1,292 for her wedding, presents and a holiday as a result.
The funds came from donations by kind-hearted individuals who wanted to help her.
Despite pleading not guilty to the charge she was found guilty by the court.
She must carry out 200 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay compensation of £1,292, court costs of £500 plus a victim surcharge of £85.
Guilty of growing cannabis plants
David Roberts has been ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work by Tameside magistrates for producing cannabis plants.
The 46-year-old, of Ashley Road, Droylsden, admitted two separate charges.
The first concerned growing 16 plants at an address in Manchester and the second of producing six to eight plants in Tameside - both incidents were discovered on January 9 this year.
Magistrates instructed him to pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge, plus ordered the cannabis plants be forfeited and destroyed.
Charges follow attack at health centre
A man has been charged following an incident at a health centre in Woodley on Friday.
Michael Brannigan, 50, of Parry Mead, Stockport, has been charged with four counts of possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, criminal damage, assault by beating and affray.
He appeared before Tameside magistrates on Monday to face the charges.
Police were called to Woodley Health Centre on Hyde Road at midday on Friday following reports of a man behaving aggressively.
In three separate incidents that happened in quick succession, a man was assaulted through his car window, health staff were threatened to hand over medication and staff inside the patients’ waiting room were confronted with knives.
Acting Chief Constable Ian Pilling, said: “This incident clearly demonstrates the danger that my officers run towards on a daily basis and thanks to their quick actions, they were able to prevent anyone from coming to any harm.
“The incident clearly left a number of people very shaken and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the officers of Greater Manchester Police who work incredibly hard 24/7 and act with the utmost bravery to keep our communities safe.”
Threat of prison
Millbrook man Steven Jones has been given a suspended jail sentence for three offences directed against the same individual.
The 33-year-old, of Fitzroy Street, Millbrook, Stalybridge, pleaded guilty to charges of assault, plus to stalking and also causing damage to a car belonging to the victim to the tune of £460.
Tameside Magistrates’ Court handed him a 16 weeks jail sentence in total, suspended for 24 months.
He was also issued with a restraining order, meaning that he must not have contact with a named individual and must not go near their address.
Stay at home order and pay back for damages
Graham Wright, 57, has been ordered to pay £2,490 compensation for damaging property belonging to the same individual on three separate occasions.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of destroying property, but not guilty to a third.
He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of being threatening and abusive.
However, he was found guilty of all of the charges relating to an incident in Stockport on March 9.
He was handed a curfew order for 28 days, meaning he must remain at his address between the hours of 7pm and 7am each night for the duration of the order.
He was also issued with a restraining order meaning he must have no contact with the victim and must pay £310 court costs.
His address was given as Stockport Road East, Bredbury.
£100 fine for driving offence
Louise Brookes, 34, of Dingle Drive, Droylsden, has been fined £100 by Tameside magistrates for driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence.
She admitted the offence plus driving without insurance when stopped on November 25 on Ashton Hill Road, Droylsden.
Her driving licence was endorsed with eight penalty points and she must pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £95.
Not in control of her vehicle
Tameside magistrates have fined a woman from Openshaw £170 for driving a car when not having proper control of the vehicle.
Olivia Scott, 26, of Carbis Avenue, admitted the offence which the court heard had happened on December 14, 2019, on the A441 in Worcestershire.
Magistrates ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge, plus endorsed her driving licence with three penalty points.
Fined £660 for failing to wear face mask in public
Tameside magistrates have fined a Manchester man £660 for failing to wear a face mask/covering without reasonable excuse on public transport.
Richard Taylor, of Rockdove Avenue, did not appear before the court, however he was found guilty in his absence of the offence in connection with an incident on November 4 last year.
The 30-year-old was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £66 victim surcharge - a grand total of £811.
Assault charge
Ashton man Matthew Latchford pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in Glossop when he appeared before Tameside magistrates.
The 26-year-old, of Bromley Crescent, had committed the offence on September 27 last year, the court heard.
He was ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, plus pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Motorist banned from the road for nine months
Denton driver Craig Atkinson has been banned from the road for nine months by Tameside magistrates.
The 33-year-old, of Walton Way, admitted charges of driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence and driving without insurance.
He pleaded guilty to both offences after being stopped on Worthington Way, Denton, on December 23 last year.
Magistrates ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, plus pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Drunk and disorderly
Jaqueline Cooper, 39, of High Street, Stalybridge, has been given a six months discharge for being drunk and disorderly in Dukinfield on March 31 last year.
She initially denied the charge but later changed her plea to guilty.
Tameside magistrates also ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £21.
Catalogue of driving offences
Manchester man Mohammed Koudsi has been banned from the road by Tameside magistrates for being over the drug drive limit.
He was stopped on February 1 last year on Manchester Road, Denton, behind the wheel of a Transit van.
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence, plus charges of not having any insurance cover, driving other than in accordance with his licence and wilfully obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty.
Magistrates fined him £120, plus ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
His address was given as Northmoor Road, Manchester.
150 hours of unpaid work
A 39-year-old Ashton man has been ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work for three separate charges of assault.
Artur Sultanbekov, of Rodney Street, had pleaded not guilty to the offences, but was found guilty by the court.
Magistrates heard the incidents had happened back on three separate dates in October 2019.
The court also issued him with a restraining order, meaning he must have no contact with a named individual.
He must pay £100 compensation and £100 court costs.
Out of order
Nathaniel Jones, 20, of St Annes Road, Denton, has been fined £40 by Tameside magistrates for failing to comply with court orders.
He admitted being in breach of the orders and was also ordered to pay £60 court costs.
Kenneth Cole, 31, of High Street, Godley, also admitted being in breach of court orders and was also fined £40 and ordered to pay £60 court costs.
Behind bars
Tameside magistrates have jailed Ethan Curran for 28 days for breaching previous court requirements.
The 23-year-old, of Cedar Drive, Droylsden, admitted the offence when he appeared before the court.
Main image:
Tameside Magistrates' Court in Ashton.
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