Man avoids jail after biting police officer
THE Weekly News has compiled a collection of some of the latest sentencing hearings involving Runcorn and Widnes cases in magistrates’ court in Warrington, Cheshire.
The cases involve biting police officers, threats via Facebook and phone, and drug driving.
All of the hearings took place from March 1 to 3, and cases include the court sitting as North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court and one as Merseyside.
● A Runcorn man has been handed a suspended prison for assaulting police officers including biting them in late 2019.
Wasir Ahmed Ali, 29, of Shepherds Row, pleaded guilty on February 9 to three counts of common assault against three separate constables and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against one of them.
All the incidents happened on November 5, 2019, in Canterbury, Kent.
At North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on March 3, Ali was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was also made subject to a curfew to run for six months and run from 5pm to 5am, and ordered to pay £200 in compensation.
Court papers described the incident as a “prolonged unprovoked attack”.
The sentence was suspended due to Ali’s previous good character and remorse. ● Breaching a non-contact order has resulted in a fine and curfew for a Widnes man.
Andrew John Priestley, 38, of Stewards Avenue, pleaded guilty on March 3 to the breach and failing to comply with his supervision requirements.
The offences occurred the day before his court appearance before magistrates in Warrington.
Priestley was placed under a curfew to run for eight weeks, 7pm to 7am, and ordered to complete up to 35 days on a rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR).
He was fined £80 and told to pay £180 to victim services and prosecution costs. ● A Warrington man was handed a suspended prison sentence for harassing a woman in Widnes.
Andrew Freeman, 37, of The Park, Penketh, pleaded guilty to the offence on February 8.
Court papers said the harassment took place between December 26 and February 3.
Freeman was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and made subject to a restraining order.
He must also complete a
RAR and pay £213 to victim services and prosecution costs.
● Driving at nearly twice the legal cannabis limit has landed a Runcorn man with a £160 fine and a 12-month road ban.
Craig James Newby, 33, of Brackendale, Halton Brook, pleaded guilty at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court on March 2.
Court papers said his blood contained 3.9 micrograms of active cannabis compound THC per litre while behind the wheel of a Volvo on Leaside on September
18.
The legal limit is 2 micrograms per litre.
Newby was ordered to pay £119 in victim surcharge and prosecution costs in addition to the fine.
● A drug driver has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Michael Hardman, 26, of Crofton Road, pleaded guilty on March 2 to having excess ketamine and benzoylecgonine in his blood while driving on Aigburth Road on July 7.
He also admitted possessing the Class B drug ketamine. Hardman was dealt with by Merseyside Magistrates’ Court sitting in Warrington.
He was fined £80, told to pay £119 in costs and surcharge and banned from driving for 12 months.
● Threatening two Runcorn women via Facebook and a phone call has landed a Warrington man with a curfew and community order.
Connor Hurn, 22, of Wellfield Street, Warrington, pleaded guilty on February 5 to sending a threat via Facebook on August 3, and sending a racially aggravated threat via phone to a separate victim on December 10.
He was given a community order with a curfew to run for 12 weeks.
Hurn was ordered to complete the Building Better Relationships course and a rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) of up to 35 days.
He must also pay £95 to victim services and £85 in prosecution costs.
● A Runcorn man has received a restraining order for assaulting a woman.
Sami Mokhtar Toumi, 56, of The Uplands, pleaded guilty to Section 39 assault by beating on March 2 following the incident on December 27.
He was made subject to the restraining order, fined £40, and told to pay £119 in costs and surcharge.