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

MICHAEL SMITH, 40, who is currently serving time at Durham Prison, on Old Elvet, broke into Aldi in Peterlee, on December 27, 2020. Smith stole hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol from the store. He indicated a plea of guilt at court and was handed an eight-week consecutive prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay £202.97 compensation. Smith also appeared in court charged with beating a female police officer on March 27, of this year. He was given a four-week concurrent prison sentence and ordered to pay £30 compensation. On the same day he damaged a Durham Constabulary interview room.

SEAN CASSLEDEN, from Seaham, stole £56.49 worth of fuel on January 5, 2021. Cassleden, 27, of Stabordale Street, was discharged conditionally for 12 months and made to pay £56 compensation. A week later he did the same thing and stole fuel on two occasions at Sunderland.

DAVID JOHN SMITH, 26, was caught driving whilst over the legal drink drive limit on March 13, 2021. He pleaded guilty and was banned from driving for 30 months. On the same day the Fallsway, Carrville resident, was caught in a public place with a lock knife and fined £120. He was also made to pay £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service and £34 to fund victim services.

ALEX LYNN, of Baron Street, Darlington, assaulted a man by beating him on September 16, 2019. He changed his plea to guilty and was given a ten-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. The 31-year-old was also ordered to pay £100 compensation.

MICHAEL BOSLEM, 31, of Skippers Meadow, Ushaw Moor, was caught in possession of cannabis on September 1, 2020. He indicated a plea of guilt and was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. Boslem was also made to pay a £34 victim surcharge and the drugs were confiscated.

CHRISTOPHER ROBERT SIMPSON, 36, of Stratton Street, Spennymoor, was fined £200 after he assaulted a police officer by beating him on March 7, 2021. He indicated a plea of guilt and was made to pay £100 compensation.

THOMAS DAVID RICHARDS, of Ullswater Avenue, Jarrow, drove a van on August 30, of last year, whilst unfit to drive through drugs. He pleaded guilty and was banned from driving for 14 months and fined £120. The 38-year-old was also given an £85 fee by the Crown Prosecution Service.

JAMES EDWARD RAYMER, 36, was handed a community order after using threatening, abusive or insulting words of behaviour towards a person on April 5, 2020. The Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery resident, was made to pay £90 to fund victim services and £400 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

MICHAEL GEORGE JOHNSON, 41, of Third Street, Stanley, was fined £40 after he failed without reasonable excuse to surrender to custody at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on March 29, of this year. He was also made to pay £34 to fund victim services.

KAREN ROBSON, from Houghton-le-Spring, was banned from driving for 36 months after being caught behind the wheel whilst over the legal drink drive limit. On March 3, 2021, she was caught driving in Darlington with 77 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres on breath, which exceed the prescribed limit. The 41-year-old Waterhouses resident pleaded guilty and was fined £255 and made to pay £34 to fund victim services. She was also given a £85 fee by the Crown Prosecution Service.

CRAIG FOWLER, 36, was fined £80 and given six penalty driving points after he was caught behind the wheel driving without due care and attention on September 12, of last year. Fowler, of Studley Drive, Spennymoor, pleaded guilty and was made to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

JOSEPH SAMPLE, 41, of Coniston Road, Ferryhill, was ordered to pay £90 compensation after he damaged a double glazed front window on December 10, 2019, with intent to destroy or damage. On the same day he was also caught at Ferryhill in possession of diazepam, a controlled drug of class C. He pleaded guilty to both charges and was fined a further £40. The drugs were confiscated by officers at Durham Constabulary.