A PENSIONER found with indecent images of children, a drug dealer who threw evidence into a river and a prolific shoplifter are amongst the Cheshire defendants to appear in court across the county in the past seven days.

Here is our weekly court round up:

A DRUG dealer who tried to dispose of evidence by throwing it into the Mersey will serve more than six years in prison for his role in a ‘commercial, well-established drugs supply operation’.

Darren Jones, of Clifton Street in Latchford, Warrington, was handed an 81-month sentence at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, June 22, after being caught in the supply of cocaine three times in 18 months.

The 29-year-old – who was also linked to a property in Northwich – was first arrested after being stopped by police on July 1, 2019.

Read more.

Knutsford Guardian: Darren JonesDarren Jones

A WINSFORD man has been jailed after drunkenly getting behind the wheel of a car he had taken without consent.

Kenneth Russell, of Nixon Drive was stopped by police in the early hours of Saturday (June 18) on London Road in Davenham.

Not only was the 38-year-old more than twice over the legal limit, but officers also discovered he was a disqualified driver.

Russell appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, June 20, where he was jailed for three months.

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A DRINK driver was caught behind the wheel of a 1.5 ton mini digger while more than twice the legal limit.

Hughie Fury, of Stanneylands Road, Styal, appeared at Crewe Magistrates Court on Monday, June 20, to face two charges of drink driving and one of using a vehicle without insurance.

The charges relate to an incident on May 22 this year when 26-year-old was got behind the wheel of a mini digger, as well as a car, in Stanneylands Road while over the limit.

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A WOMAN has been fined and must muzzle her 'dangerous' dog Scooby after it injured someone.

Rose Tommons, of Sandy Lane, Weaverham, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, June 17, where she pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.

The incident took place at the Sandy Lane Equestrian Centre on September 19, 2021, when the 65-year-old's dog Scooby attacked a woman.

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A PROLIFIC shoplifter has been hailed as 'a success story' despite being convicted for trying to steal steak from a Tesco Express in Northwich.

Sam Taggart, of Chapel Street, has multiple convictions for theft which have all been fuelled by his struggles with alcohol.

The 37-year-old was appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 21, where he was made the subject of a fresh community order.

Read more.

Knutsford Guardian: Sam TaggartSam Taggart

A 54-YEAR-OLD man has been banned from the roads after driving while almost twice over the alcohol limit.

Ion Rujan, of Hadfield Street in Rudheath, was driving a Ford transit van along Nicholas Avenue in the area when he was stopped by police.

He was breathalysed at the scene and gave a reading of 68 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Rujan pleaded guilty to the offence at Chester Magistrates Court, which was taken into account when he was sentenced on Friday, June 17.

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A MAN claims he was 'confused' as to what constituted a pub, after entering a Northwich bar, despite a court order telling him not to.

Craig Lee Howman, of Stones Manor Lane in Hartford, is no stranger to court and was back in the dock on Tuesday, June 21, just one week on from his last appearance.

The 30-year-old had been told by Chester magistrates he was not allowed to enter any public house in the CW8 and CW9 postcodes.

Read more.

Knutsford Guardian: Craig Lee HowmanCraig Lee Howman

A NORTHWICH teen is set to appear in court after failing a roadside breath test.

Daniel Beckingham, of Eaton Lane in Davenham, was stopped by police in the early hours of Saturday, June 18.

The 19-year-old had been driving a black Vauxhall Astra on Chester Way in the town centre just before 2am.

He has since been charged with a drink driving offence and will appear before magistrates at Chester on Friday, July 8.

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A MAN accused of stalking a woman has been remanded in custody after turning up at his alleged victim's place of work.

Michael Clarke, of Townfields Road, Winsford, had previously been granted conditional bail while awaiting a court date over charges of stalking and harassment.

But the 39-year-old breached the conditions of his bail by going to his alleged victim's workplace at the Winsford Industrial Estate on June 16.

Clarke was arrested by police and was hauled back to Chester Magistrates Court on June 18 where he admitted the breach.

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A WINSFORD businessman has been bailed after appearing in court on a serious assault charge.

Jamie Anderson, of Grange Lane, is alleged to have punched another man so hard in the face he suffered several fractures and had to have a metal plate fitted in his jaw.

The 36-year-old was appearing from custody at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 21, having been arrested at the city’s crown court the day before.

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A MIDDLEWICH man who damaged a number of items at a Premier Inn and racially abused an individual on the same day has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

John Smith, 38, of Moss Drive, appeared in Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 17, after pleading guilty to the offences.

They date back to August 31, 2021 in Crewe, where Smith used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour which were racially aggravated, intending to cause another person harassment, alarm or distress.

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Knutsford Guardian: Chester Magistrates' CourtChester Magistrates' Court

A PENSIONER who was found with more than 80 indecent images of children was not handed a prison sentence, after a three-and-a-half-year delay for his case to come to court.

Barry Chapman, of Woodlands Park in Allostock, appeared in Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, June 22, for possessing 81 indecent images, including 56 category A images, 20 category B and five category C.

Judge Steven Everett admitted if the 76-year-old had been sentenced three years ago, he would have been handed a suspended sentence, but the severe delay in the case had to be taken into account.

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