THE following cases were among those heard at Newton Aycliffe and Peterlee Magistrates’ Court during the last week.

JOSEPH POCKLINGTON, of Marshall Street, Darlington, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog after he repeatedly punched the animal in its head and dragged it by its neck on December 22, 2019. The 29-year-old was given a 12-month community order and banned from keeping animals for two years. He was also ordered to pay £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

LIAM HUGHES was given a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 24 months after he inflicted grievous bodily harm on a man on January 25, of this year, at Consett. The 27-year-old Dukes Way resident indicated a plea of guilt and was ordered to pay compensation. Hughes, from Darlington, was also given a £85 fee for court costs.

MARC LEIGHTON, 39, of Kings Mews, Easington Village, was convicted of breaching a restraining order following an incident on January 29, of this year. He indicated a plea of guilt and was handed a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. He was also made to pay £100 compensation and £85 court costs.

SAMANTHA SHAW, of Bryony Walk, Shotton, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in Seaham on February 8, of this year. The 32-year-old was handed a community order and ordered to pay £100 compensation. The court also gave her a restraining order and £85 court costs fee.

BRIAN LEE ALAN BRUNSKILL, 41, was fined £80 after he attempted to steal four bottles of whiskey from Aldi in his hometown of Consett on March 11, of this year. The Cleadon Street resident also ordered to pay £32 to fund victim services and £85 court costs.

CHANTELLE COLLINS, 35, of West View Road, Hartlepool, was handed a four week prison sentence after she stole meat and alcohol from Aldi on February 20, of this year. Collins pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £122 to fund victim services.

ANTHONY BASEY wad fined £80 after he assaulted a woman in his hometown of Consett on December 22, 2019. The 24-year-old Derby Crescent resident pleaded guilty and was made to pay £50 compensation and £85 court costs.

DANIEL JAMES BINKS, 23, of Fenby Avenue, Darlington, was up in court for carrying a blade in a public place on March 31, of this year, at 11.30pm. Binks indicated a plea of guilt and was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £122 victim surcharge.

EVE BROWNING, of Melllanby Crescent, Newton Aycliffe, appeared in court after she assaulted a police office on March 5, of this year, by punching and kicking him. The 23-year-old was given a community order and ordered to pay £250 compensation.

DAVID BRUCE, 26, was convicted of stealing two crates of Budweiser from the Co-op in Bowburn on February 8, of this year. He pleaded guilty and was discharged conditionally for 12 months ordered to pay £19 compensation. A month later the Laburnum Crescent, Trimdon Station resident was again caught stealing alcohol from the same shop.

JUSTIN BURDON, 21, of Henley Avenue, Pelton Fell, was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months after he stole £2163.90 from Planet Leisure, in Newton Aycliffe, on March 1, of this year. He then stole £562 from the company on March 8 and on the same day took £943.30 from Hotel 52 in Stanley. Burdon was ordered to pay £85 court costs and £122 to fund victim services for his crimes.

GLEN WILKINSON, 29, was in the dock after he stole meat from Aldi in Peterlee, on January 13, of this year. The Avon Street, Horden resident pleaded guilty and was discharged conditionally for 12 months and ordered to pay £21 to fund victim services. Wilkinson was all made to pay £85 court costs.

LIAM ARMSTRONG, of Boucher Court, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on July 22, 2020 and was handed a community order. The 27-year-old was ordered to pay £100 compensation

STUART ANDREW CURTIS, 27, was discharged conditionally for 12 months after he stole air fresheners and toiletries from Wilko’s in his hometown of Darlington. The Wilson Street resident was made to a pay a £21 victim surcharge.

TODD COUSINS, of Filby Drive, Durham, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police office on July 12, of this year, in Durham. The 30-year-old was handed a community order and made to pay £100 compensation. Cousins was also ordered to pay £85 court costs.

NEIL MARTIN, 51, of Portman Street, was given a four week consecutive prison sentence for beating a man on February 12, of this year, in his hometown of Middlesbrough. Martin pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by the court and ordered to pay £128 to fund victim services.

JORDAN AARON RANSOM, who is serving at HMP Durham, was fined £180 after he stole a woman's bag and its contents in Stockton-on-Tees on December 27, of last year. The 26-year-old indicated a plea of guilt and the courts ordered him to pay £100 compensation.