A reckless driver who killed a beloved mother, a suspended sentence for a series of serious offences and possession of cannabis have been among the latest cases heard by Tameside Magistrates' Court.

Here's our round-up....

Driving into more trouble

Tameside magistrates have given James Nicholas a suspended prison sentence for a series of serious offences.

The 29-year-old was stopped on Ashton Old Road in Manchester for using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

It was then found that he was over the drug drive limit, in possession of a quantity of cannabis plus had a locking knife with him.

The offences happened on December 1 last year.

He pleaded guilty to all four charges and was given a two months prison term, suspended for 12 months.

Magistrates ordered him to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, plus banned him from the road for 12 months.

He must pay £150 court costs and a victim surcharge of £128.

Magistrates also issues him with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, meaning he must attend set appointments with an officer.

The court also ordered the drugs and knife be forfeited and destroyed.

His address was given as Peterborough Street, Gorton.

Caught in the net after theft

Peter Stringer was caught in the net after stealing fishing bate from Paul Hett Ltd in Hyde.

The 36-year-old, of Port Street, Hyde, was hauled before Tameside magistrates where he admitted stealing bate worth £77.45 on two different occasions from the shop last month.

Magistrates ordered him to pay total compensation of £114.90, plus fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34.

Drug discovery

Connor McShane has been fined £120 by Tameside magistrates after being found in possession of a quantity of cannabis.

The 29-year-old, of Quarry Close, Glossop, pleaded guilty to the offence after being found with the drug on October 1 this year.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34 while instructing the cannabis be forfeited and destroyed.

Costly tickets

Metrolink passengers who failed to buy tickets for their tram journeys have been fined hundreds of pounds by Tameside magistrates.

None of the offenders appeared before the court but were issued with fines of £220 each and will also have to foot bills of associated court costs topping a further £150.

Stealing spree ends in pay back

A Hyde woman must pay more than £270 compensation after a thieving spree in September and October.

Megan Barnes, 27, of Taylor Street, pleaded guilty to six charges of theft from a number of local businesses.

She admitted taking health products from Holland and Barratt, plants and items from a flower shop, plus products from Boots pharmacy, all in Hyde.

Appearing before Tameside magistrates she was fined £50 and ordered to pay £220.78 compensation.

Magistrates issued her with a Community Order and Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, meaning she must attend a set number of appointments with an appropriate officer.

£1,000 damage

Aaron Priestley, 28, of Chunal Lane, Glossop, has been fined £352 by Stockport magistrates for causing more than £1,000 damage to a property belonging to High Peak Borough Council in the town.

He pleaded guilty to the offence which happened on November 21 last year.

The court ordered him to pay compensation of £1,020, plus court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £35.

Expensive habit

Dozens of residents have been ordered to pay out up to £200 for littering by Tameside magistrates.

Most of the fines related to people who had discarded cigarettes in the streets.

The offenders did not appear before the court but will be sent fines of £40 and must also pay court costs of £159.

Town centre ban

Harry Owen, 26, of Hampson Road, Ashton, has been given a 12 months conditional discharge by Tameside magistrates for entering Ashton town centre which he was prohibited from doing on September 16 this year.

He admitted the offence and must also pay £85 court costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

Parents fined

Tameside magistrates have fined dozens more parents for failing to ensure their children regularly attended school.

Fines of up to £440 were issued while additional court costs topping more than £120 must also be paid.

Two jailed for catalogue of store thefts

Tameside magistrates have jailed two people from Droylsden for multiple thefts from two of the town’s businesses.

Jamie Finn, 27, of Cedar Drive, pleaded guilty to ten separate charges of theft from Droylsden’s Wilkos and One Stop shops.

Items taken were valued at some £700 with the thefts taking place from April to July this year.

She also pleaded guilty to one charge of assault in Audenshaw on April 29 this year.

She further admitted a  charge of theft from Ashton’s Poundland store in Warrington Street on September 4 and a charge of assaulting a woman on the same date in Ashton.

Magistrates jailed her for a total of 26 weeks due to the targeted nature of the offending and because of her previous record. She must pay a total of £150 compensation.

Ethan Curran, 23, of Thornhill Road, Droylsden, appeared before the court separately to face 13 charges of theft from Droylsden’s Wilkos and One Stop shop between April and July this year.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for a total of 20 weeks. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £128.

Mum killed by reckless driver

A 27-year-old man from Hyde has been jailed for causing the death of a mother-of-three from Denton through dangerous driving.

Connor Faulkner, of Peak Forest Close, was sentenced on Friday at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court to seven years in jail for causing the death of 49-year-old Joanne Whyte through dangerous driving earlier this year.

You can read more on this here. 

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