THE following cases were heard by South Durham Magistrates sitting at Darlington Magistrates’ Court:

ASSAULT CHARGE: Stephen Degnan, 54, of Haxby Road, Middleton St George, near Darlington, faced a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court. He was granted unconditional bail after entering no pleas. Magistrates committed the case to Teesside Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

TRIAL DATE: Samuel Geddes, of Cyclamen Grove, Darlington, admitted two charges of criminal damage but denied one charge of assault. He was granted conditional bail ahead of a trial at Darlington Magistrates’ Court on September 19. Magistrates agreed to delay sentencing the 21-year-old for the criminal damage charges until after the trial.

CHOCOLATE THEFT: Geoffrey Baker, 34, of Zetland Street, Darlington, admitted stealing a Dairy Milk chocolate bar worth £2.39 from a shop in Darlington on January 1 this year. The town’s magistrates heard staff at the shop had seen Baker acting suspiciously in the chocolate aisle and he was later found to have put the large bar in his pocket and leave the shop without paying. Magistrates gave him a six-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £45 costs, £15 victim surcharge and £2.39 compensation to the shop.

GARAGE BURGLARY: Craig Swainston, of Bowman Street, Darlington, returned to town’s magistrates’ court for sentencing after was found guilty of burgling a garage in Darlington on November 11 following a trial. Prosecutor John Garside told the court 11 fishing scale packs, some canvas bags and a lawnmower were stolen in the break-in after the 24-year-old gained entry via an insecure window. Magistrates gave him a 12-month community order with 130 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay a £60 victim surcharge. Mr Garside requested Swainston paid £600 costs to cover the cost of the trial, but, as he already owes the court £487 in outstanding fines, magistrates ordered him to pay £200.

NO INSURANCE: Ying Lin, of Amberley Grove, in Faverdale, Darlington, admitted driving with no insurance and driving without the correct licence. The 27-year-old was caught driving a BMW 3 Series on Alverton Drive, in Darlington, on April 13 this year. She was fined £110 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Six points were also added to her licence.