News Beat
People sentenced at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court
Among those being sentenced were violent men and women along with bad drivers who all landed themselves in court.
Pub abuse
A woman who threw her high heels at two door staff when she was asked to leave a pub landed herself in court.
As well as throwing her shoes at the men, Zoe Patterson hurled racist abuse at them before kicking a police officer in the shin.
The 35-year-old lost her temper after being told to leave the Bar Bianco pub in Chester-le-Street, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday, November 20.
John Garside, prosecuting, said: “She was asked to leave due to her behaviour. She threw a high heel at one member of the door staff before punching him in the face – he suffered no injury during the incident.”
Patterson, of no fixed abode but from the County Durham area, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and two charges of racially aggravated assault.
It happened on February 22.
She was also ordered to pay £275 in compensation to the victims.
Banned driver
A young driver who ‘panicked’ and sped off from police when they spotted him on his phone has been banned from the roads.
Lee Franklin reached speeds in excess of 80mph through Chester-le-Street before police chose to give up the chase for safety reasons after taking note of his registration number.
The 25-year-old also failed to tell the truth when paperwork was sent to his home by the police to determine who was behind the wheel of his VW Polo at the time on October 14 last year.
Adam Scott, prosecuting, said: “The officer saw him using his mobile phone while driving so activated their blue lights and siren to get him to pull over but unfortunately, he has increased his speed.
“He increases his speed to 80mph and the defendant is still increasing the distance between them.”
Franklin, of Bessemer Street, Consett, was convicted of dangerous driving, using a mobile phone when driving, failing to stop for police and failing to give information to the police.
Franklin was also banned from driving for 18-months and ordered to pay £1,239 towards court costs.
Banned builder
A builder is facing losing his home improvement business after he was caught driving a newly bought van without insurance.
Calvin Knighton was spotted behind the wheel of the Ford Transit, and when police pulled him over, two occupants jumped out, and he was seen trying to climb into the rear of the van.
Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard how the 23-year-old was the only member of staff who held a valid driving licence, and magistrates were being urged not to impose a ban under exceptional hardship guidelines.
The court heard how the defendant had a previous conviction for driving without insurance and already had nine points on his licence.
Knighton, of Surrey Crescent, Moorside, County Durham, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance following the incident on Dickens Wynd, Langley Moor, on October 10 last year.
Lucy Redshaw, representing the father-of-one, said a driving ban could result in the 23-year-old having to close down his home improvement business and let his staff go.
He said: “We have found that you decided to drive the vehicle when it wasn’t insured. You know what happens, as you have had penalty points for no insurance before.”
Urinating thug
A thug who grabbed his pregnant partner by the hair, dragging her to the ground and repeatedly punching her in the face has narrowly avoided prison.
Lee Corrie flew into a rage when his partner told him to get out of the house when he started urinating on the carpet when he was drunk, a court heard.
The 31-year-old then attacked the victim’s sister when she came to her aid in their Darlington home.
Paul Doney, prosecuting, told Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court that Corrie had previously been abusive towards his partner during their three-year relationship before he attacked her on July 12.
Mr Doney said the victim’s mother and sister came and he still refused to leave before grabbing hold of his partner’s hair again but she then hit him with a broom in an attempt to get him off her.
Corrie, of Severn Way, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating.
Corrie was ordered to attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, pay £200 in compensation and £239 in court costs.
He was also issued with a three-year restraining order.
Drunken violence
A drinker who smashed a glass into the face of a woman trying to calm her down has been ordered to pay the victim compensation.
Chloe Nicholson became agitated and angry while she was drinking in the Marquis of Granby in Pity Me when the violence erupted.
The 27-year-old attacked the woman outside the County Durham pub at 11.15pm in May this year, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard.
Adam Scott, prosecuting, said the victim took Nicholson outside in an attempt to calm her down, but it had the opposite reaction.
He said: “The defendant has grabbed her collar and hit her with a glass to the side of the face.
“The woman suffered a 1cm cut to her face and went to hospital however, she left before she was treated.”
Nicholson, of The Crescent, Nettlesworth, Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on May 2 this year.
She was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the victim.
