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

JAMES THOMAS GEORGE MCKNIGHT, 27, appeared at court accused of resisting a police constable in the execution of his duty on August 4, of this year. The Frosterley Drive, Darlington resident, pleaded guilty and was fined £50. McKnight was also made to pay £34 to fund victim services and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

KIERAN JACK BARNES, of High Street, Willington, was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months after he was caught driving on February 1, of this year, despite being disqualified. The 25-year-old was given a further disqualification for six months.

NICOLE JONES, 20, of Close House, Bishop Auckland, was fined £250 after attempting to steal hundreds of pounds worth of food and drink from Asda on April 9, of this year. Jones indicated a plea of guilt and was ordered to pay £32 to fund victim services.

KENT LEWIS WALLACE was handed a community order after he stole five pork chops from the Co-op in his hometown of Easington on March 9, 2020. The 29-year-old Glebe Avenue resident indicated a plea of guilt.

IAN CLYDE, 48, appeared in court after he stole a bottle of wine and a can of lager from Baker News on April 20, of this year. The Eden Close, Coundon resident, pleaded guilty and was ordered to be £9 compensation and £90 to fund victim services. Clyde was also ordered to pay £85 court costs.

SIMON JAMES DAWBNEY, of Cornwall Court, Murton, was discharged conditionally for six months after he failed to comply with a community protection notice and rang 999 from a public telephone box when not necessary on February 8, of this year. The 41-year-old also appeared in court accused of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour on July 30, of this year. He received no separate penalty.

SCOTT MCDONALD, 27, of Cottonwood, Houghton-le-Spring, was handed ten penalty driving points and fined £250 after he was caught in charge of a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol on July 31, of this year. McDonald pleaded guilty and was made to pay £34 to fund victim services and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

MARC SMITH, was given a restraining order after he caused fear of violence by sending messages, leaving voicemails, attending a man’s home address and shouting at him in the street demanding money and making threats between June 1, 2018 and June 16, 2019. The 33-year-old was fined £500. Smith of Luttryngton Court, Newton Aycliffe, was also ordered to pay a £50 victim surcharge.

BARTLY JAMES GRAHAM, of Denewood Close, Willington, was fined £40 after he used threatening, or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment. The 32-year-old was ordered to pay £34 to fund victim services.

CHRISTOPHER ENGLISH, 41, was fined £450 after he fished for lobster multiple times in water off Seaham during August 2019, despite being prohibited from doing so under the Lobsters and Crawfish Order. English, of Manor Hall Close, Seaham, was ordered to pay £1420 compensation and a £45 victim surcharge.

TESSA JOSEPHINE HUTSON, 30, of Salem Avenue, Consett, was handed a community order after she stole a cheque from a woman on September 3, 2019. Hutson was ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

COLIN STOUT, 31, was given a 12-week prison sentence after he beat a woman on August 31, of this year. The Milton Lane, Easington resident, pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £128 to fund victim services and £85 court costs. He also was given a further concurrent two-week prison sentence after he remained in contact with a woman despite being prohibited from doing so by a non-molestation order.

MICHAEL LUMLEY, 40, of Braunespath Estate, Durham, was fined £120 after he posted comments on Facebook about a woman on July 4, 2020 which he was prohibited from doing so by a non-molestation order. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £34 to fund victim services and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

JOHN PAUL NIXON, 30, was fined £120 after he entered a building as a trespasser with intent to steal on June 6, of last year. The Bruce Kirkup Road, Horden resident, indicated a plea of guilt and was ordered to pay £32 to fund victim services and £85 court costs.

ARTHUR WATSON, 44, of Hawthorn Road, was handed a community order by the court after he assaulted a woman in his hometown of Spennymoor on May 14, 2020. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £50 compensation.

DAVID EDWARD GILL, 52, of Kennington Grove, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, appeared in court for stalking a woman between July 17 and August 3 of this year. He repeatedly text her and appeared at her home and place of work. Gill was handed a community order and made to pay £200 compensation. He was also made to pay £85 court costs.