A MAN who repeatedly stole chocolates from Asda in Radcliffe has appeared before magistrates. Philip Booth, aged 53, of no fixed address, admitted taking chocolates worth £20 from the store on October 27 last year, then a further £20-worth of confectionery the following day as well as chocolate worth £35 on October 30. He also pleaded guilty to stealing £40 worth of meat from Marks & Spencer in Bury on January 9. He was given a community sentence with 15 days of rehabilitation activities and ordered to pay £75 in compensation.

A DRINK driver has been banned from the roads by Manchester magistrates. Awais Mahmood, aged 28, of Prescot Close, Bury, pleaded guilty to committing the offence whilst driving a Mercedes on Prescot Close on January 29. He was banned from holding a licence for 12 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £117 in costs and charges.

A DRINK driver who was behind the wheel of a stolen car has been fined by Manchester magistrates. The court heard how Stewart Pye, aged 32, of Tarn Drive, Bury, had drunk more than double the legal alcohol limit when he was caught driving a Suzuki Swift on Manchester Road, Bury, on February 2. The vehicle had previously been stolen. Pye pleaded guilty to drink driving, having no insurance and driving a vehicle he knew to be stolen. He was fined a total of £425, banned from holding a licence for 18 months and was ordered to pay £117 in costs and charges.

A MAN who assaulted a police officer and another man on February 1 has been ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work. Manchester magistrates heard how Steven Rawlinson, aged 35, of Bell Lane, Bury, pleaded guilty to committing the offences. He was ordered to pay his victims £50 each in compensation and a total of £175 in costs and charges.

A MAN who assaulted two people and damaged a television has been sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court Neil Dawson, aged 42, of Heber Street, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to committing the offences in Bury on March 20. In addition to the unpaid work, Dawson was ordered to participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities and a behaviour programme as well as paying £170 in costs and charges. A restraining order was made banning him from contacting his victim or going to Conniston Drive, Bury.

MAGISTRATES have fined a man £80 after he breached a court order by failing to attend unpaid work. Graham Gee, aged 39, of Horridge Street, Tottington, admitted the breach at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

A MAN who was caught driving a van after drinking more than three times the legal limit of alcohol has been sentenced to do 80 hours of unpaid work. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court Fadil Sulejmani, aged 52, of Mount Road, Prestwich, pleaded guilty to committing the offence whilst driving a VW Caddy on Heywood Road, Prestwich, on Heywood Road, Prestwich, on March 1. He was banned from driving for three years, ordered to participate in a drink impaired drivers’ course and take part in five days of rehabilitation activities as well as paying a £90 victim surcharge.

MAGISTRATES have sentenced a man to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 24 months after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man, causing him actual bodily harm in Bury on August 4. James Collins, aged 31, of Woodman Drive, Bury, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities as well as paying his victim £350 in compensation plus £207 in costs and charges.