THE following cases were heard at Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Courts in the last week.

SCOTT ANTHONY PHILIP ROWNEY was fined £120 after being caught in possession of a weapon. The 26-year-old was carrying a pfefferspray KO jet on November 20, 2020. The device is designed to release a harmful gas. Rowney, of Tithe Barn Road, Stockton, indicated a plea of guilt and was made to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

LUKE KNIGHTON was caught carrying a Class A drug in his hometown Bishop Auckland, November 11, 2020. The 43-year-old was discharged conditionally for possessing diamorphine - a strong opioid. Knighton, of Norfolk Place, indicated a plea of guilt and was made to pay £22 to fund victim services.

MARY DELANEY, 38, of Guthrum Place, Newton Aycliffe, was given a two-week prison sentence for stealing various products from Aldi including bath toys and a chainsaw. The incident took place in Bishop Auckland on June 24, 2020. Delaney was ordered to pay £64.66 compensation.

DAVID MATTHEW GERARD, 33, assaulted a woman in Chester-le-Street, on December 18, 2020. The Fredrick Street, Hendon resident, pleaded guilty and was given a community order requiring him to undergo rehabilitation. Gerard was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

THOMAS WARDLE from South Hetton, was fined £200 after he participated in telephone calls which were grossly offensive, indecent of obscene/ menacing. The 63-year-old pleaded guilty to the incident which happened on October 12, of last year. Wardle, of Palmer Street, was made to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

MARK ANDREW BURNETT, 36 of no fixed adress, sent an image of his penis to a child between May 6 and July 15 of last year. He indicated a plea of guilt and was given a community order and sexual harm prevention order. Burnett was also made to pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

RYAN GEOFFREY ASHTON contacted a woman via social media on August 2, 2020, making her feel harassed and breaching a non-molestation order made by the court months prior. The Yarm Road, Darlington resident, was handed a community order requiring him to undergo rehabilitation. Ashton, 26, was ordered to pay a £95 victim surcharge and £300 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

PHILIP MATTHEWS, 46, of Arnold Road, Darlington, was discharged conditionally for 12 months after assaulting a woman by beating her, on July 9, 2020. He pleaded guilty and has been banned from contacting the victim by a restraining order.

MATTHEW ALAN STOBIE, 36, threatened a woman on Christmas Day 2019, in breach of a non-molestation order made be the court. The Greenbank Road, Darlington resident, indicated a plea of guilty and was given a community order. He was also made pay £95 to fund victim services and £85 the Crown Prosecution Service.

ANTHONY SAWLEY, 36, of Quinn Crescent, Wingate, was fined £40 and given three penalty driving points after driving without due care and attention on October 14, 2019. He pleaded guilty.

IAN WILKINSON, 28, of Cragston Avenue, Newcastle, drove on December 5, 2020, whilst banned from driving. He pleaded guilty and was disqualified from driving for 22 months.