In the dock: 15 people who have appeared in court in Bury

A MAN found in possession of a stolen mountain bike has been jailed for eight weeks.

The Overdrive brand bicycle, worth £100, was stole from Amile Majid in Bury on May 16.

Anthony Cosgrove, aged 40, of Manley Park Avenue, Salford, appeared before magistrates on May 24 and admitted dishonestly undertaking to assist in the removal of stolen goods.

Cosgrove was jailed at the same hearing and also ordered to pay £115 court costs.

Magistrates said the offence was serious because of his previous record of offending.

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A BURY woman was contacted by a man even after police had told him to stop.

Keith Doyle, aged 33, of Devonshire Street, Salford, appeared before Bury magistrates on April 25 and admitted harassing the woman by contacting her in various ways between January 1 and April 11 this year when he had been told to stop.

At a further hearing on May 24, Doyle was ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work and to stay away from the woman for at least two years.

He must also pay £145 court costs.

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A SHOPLIFTER who stole rings worth £3,500 from Argos in Bury has been spared jail.

Joseph Davies, aged 20, of Perth Road, Rochdale, admitted to Bury magistrates on May 23 that he committed the offence on February 25.

He was given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for a year and ordered to pay £3,500 compensation to Argos and £200 court costs.

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A SERIAL shoplifter who targeted Bury shops has been jailed for eight weeks.

Gavin Backhouse, aged 39, of Wetherall Street North, Salford, stole meat, television and aftershave from Boots, Tesco and Marks and Spencer in Bury on April 22, May 12 and May 20.

He admitted five counts of shoplifting to Bury magistrates on May 23 and was sentenced.

Magistrates said the offence was serious because Backhouse had many previous convictions for dishonesty.

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A THUG who used a weapon to attack a woman in Bury has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Steven Biggs, aged 64, of no fixed address, assaulted the woman on February 5.

He admitted one count of assault to Bury magistrates on February 8 and was sentenced at a further hearing on May 19.

Magistrates said the offence was serious because a weapon was used during the assault.

The bench also ordered Biggs to pay £80 compensation to his victim and made a restraining order, which prevents Biggs from contacting the woman until at least November 19.

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A DRINK driver has been banned from getting behind the wheel for two years.

Stephanie Wilkinson, aged 32, of Chesham Road, Chesham, drove a Rover 25 in Walmersley Road, Bury, on April 27 while over the legal alcohol limit.

She admitted the offence to Bury magistrates on May 20 and was also ordered to do 50 hours of unpaid work and to pay £170 court costs.

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A WOMAN is £230 out of pocket after driving in Bury without a licence.

Ruby Jaffery, aged 56, of Vernon Street, Bury, drove a Nissan Almera in Angouleme Way on May 1 without a licence and without due care and attention.

She admitted two driving offences to Bury magistrates on May 20 and was given five penalty points and ordered to pay £230 in fines and court costs.

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A SHOPLIFTER from Ramsbottom has been warned to stay out of trouble in the next year.

Darren Amos, aged 41, of Garnett Street, stole meat worth £91 from Aldi in Bury on March 22.

He admitted one count of theft to Bury magistrates on May 20 and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay Aldi £91 in compensation.

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A WOMAN who admitted drink driving has been given a 12-month road ban.

Cathy Renshaw, aged 36, of Wash Lane, Bury, drove a Honda Civic in Brandlesholme Road, Bury, on April 27 while over the legal alcohol limit.

She admitted the offence to Bury magistrates on May 20 and was also ordered to pay £235 in fines and court costs.

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GOING to Radcliffe in breach of a court order left a man £235 out of pocket.

Stephen Field, aged 39, of Newcombe Drive, Little Hulton, had been told in June 2013 that he was unable to go to Queen Street in Radcliffe under the terms of a restraining order.

However, on April 26 this year, Field went to the street

He appeared before Bury magistrates on May 16 and admitted breaching the order and was fined £120.

Field must also pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The court ordered that, while Field does not have to pay compensation to his victim, the restraining order will now last until June 2, 2017.

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A RADCLIFFE man who sent unwanted text messages to a woman has been given a curfew.

Simon Castle, aged 32, of Lowton Street, admitted to Bury magistrates on May 19 that he sent the messages on May 4 and, in doing so, caused the recipient distress or anxiety.

He must stay home from 9pm to 6am daily until July 13 and pay £85 court costs.

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EIGHTY hours of unpaid work was the punishment for a Radcliffe man who attacked a woman.

Lee Pennington, aged 37, of Rupert Street, assaulted the woman in Bury on April 5.

He admitted the offence to Bury magistrates on April 25 and was sentenced at a further hearing on May 19.

Pennington must also pay his victim £50 compensation and £145 court costs.

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A WHITEFIELD man has been given a curfew after he harassed a woman.

Richard Gavin Platt, aged 35, of Abingdon Close, made threats to harm the woman between May 1 and December 21 last year and, in doing so, was pursuing a course of conduct that amounted to harassment.

He appeared before Bury magistrates on January 25 and denied harassment but was found guilty on May 23 after a trial.

At a sentencing hearing on May 24, Platt was given a community order which means he must stay home from 7pm to 7am daily until August 23.

He must also stay away from the woman for at least two years, and pay her £50 compensation and £260 court costs.

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A VANDAL who attacked two cars and abused a police officer ended up in court.

Mark Skinkiss, aged 29, of Hill Crescent, Blackley, was in Prestwich on February 28 and damaged the wing mirrors of two cars.

When police were called, Skinkiss used threatening or abusive behaviour to harass an officer.

He appeared before Bury magistrates on March 18 and admitted harassment and two counts of criminal damage.

At a further hearing on May 19, Skinkiss was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay £100 compensation to the police officer and £200 compensation each to the vehicle owners.

He must also abide by the terms of a community order.

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TWO men have admitted poaching fish from Drinkwater Park in Prestwich.

It follows an incident last October, in which members of Salford Friendly Anglers Society spotted Mariusz Foks and Dariusz Grzyb fishing in the park without a licence.

They called police and, as Mike Duddy, of the society, said: "Ten minutes later, we received a call from a police officer who had apprehended two people fishing with multiple rods, no licences, not members of the club and with dead fish in a bag."

Foks and Grzyb, both of no fixed address, admitted fishing without a licence to Bury magistrates and were each fined £431.

Mr Duddy said: "We consider it to be a great result."