Wigan court round-up

A young tree surgeon who was jailed for stabbing his long-suffering girlfriend in the arm breached a restraining order by trying to contact her, a court heard. Dean Challis was locked up for 27 months following the attack on Jodie Makin in 2017, one condition of his eventual release being that he didn’t go anywhere near his victim. But Wigan magistrates were told that on October 23, the 28-year-old of Enfield Street, Pemberton, broke the order by trying to contact his ex. He was also caught driving on Severn Road, Norley, that same day without insurance or a licence. The bench decided on a community sentence, ordering that he complete 140 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also banned from driving for six months and must pay £180 in court costs and a victim services surcharge. At the 2017 hearing Bolton Crown Court was heard the final straw for Ms Makin came when Challis tried to break up a consultation with a social worker at Wigan’s Civic Centre. Without warning Challis punched her in the face, in the grounds of Wigan Parish Church, and shoved a pram, containing their infant son down some nearby steps. She feared the child would be injured but the youngster escaped unhurt, the court heard. His counsel told the court his mindset had been affected by an addiction to the former legal high spice, which he had began taking after his partner suffered two miscarriages. Challis admitted to two offences of assault and perverting the course of justice. Prosecutors said the couple’s relationship was marred by the defendant’s continuing drug misuse problems, which would lead to him threatening her with violence or resorting to self-harm. Within a few months of them getting together, the pair were walking through fields near their home when he suddenly turned nasty. Mr Close said he dragged her into some nearby bushes and produced an army knife, calling her “fat and ugly” before plunging the knife into her arm, through her jacket. He apologised and started crying and even accompanied his victim to Wigan Infirmary, where she had to undergo eight or nine stitches for her wound, the court heard. But the prosecutors said she failed to disclose to doctors the real reason behind the injury, claiming she had caught herself on barbed wire.

They said the second incident occurred shortly after Challis had been released from prison over another offence.

A Wigan 65-year-old who admitted having indecent images of children has been given a 12-month community order. Keith Nunn, of Bryn Road, Ashton, had two films which fall into the gravest category of “child porn” (A), seven category B and 27 in category C. Appearing before a Bolton Crown Court judge, his community order included 25 days of rehabilitation activities. Nunn must also sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and has a sexual harm prevention order against him for the same length of time.

A man who refused to tell police who was at the wheel of a van which committed a motoring offence has been fined and banned from driving. Wigan magistrates heard that Thomas Shaw, 27, of Engineer Street, Ince, failed to inform officers as to the identity of a Ford Transit’s driver who was wanted for an infringement on November 19, 2019. The bench therefore disqualified Shaw from the road for six months while a fine, victim services surcharge and court costs mean that he also has £237 to pay.

A Wigan motorist who three times broke the speed limit on the same stretch of motorway within a few days has been banned from driving for six months. Keith Welsh, 57, of Spawell Close, Lowton, appeared before borough magistrates to admit to the three infringements on the M62 at Salford between junctions 11 and 12 when it was subject to a 50mph smart motorway restriction. The first was on May 2 last year when his Mercedes was clocked at 71mph. Three days later the same vehicle was flashed by the cameras on both the outward and inward journeys on the same stretch, this time doing 59 and 69mph respectively. As well as the ban, Welsh must also pay £844 in fines, costs and a victim services surcharge. Last year nurse Hayley McDonald was spared a ban for breaking the speed limit five times on that same section of motorway between September and November because she was a Covid life-saver at a Manchester hospital. The speeds at which the 35-year-old of Wennington Road, Highfield, was caught were also lower than Welsh’s.

A motorist has admitted driving while banned for the second time. Wigan magistrates heard Andrew Stretton plead guilty to being at the wheel of a Kia Venga on Gower Street on October 29 while disqualified from doing so and also to being uninsured and refusing to give a sample when police suspected he was driving under the influence. The 39-year-old of Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, had previously denied these three allegations but changed his pleas. Stretton had already pleaded guilty to a further charge of driving while banned and doing so under the influence of cocaine when at the wheel of a Peugeot on Bradshaw Street, Whelley, on June 21 last year after which a further interim disqualification had been handed down. Further disqualified, Stretton was released on unconditional bail pending his sentence at the same court on March 3.

A woman is facing a large court bill after admitting she assaulted a man. Joanne Burns, 51, of Lynton Avenue, Beech Hill, stood before Wigan magistrates to change her previous not guilty plea to assaulting Simon Todor by beating on July 28, 2019. With a victim services surcharge and court costs added to a £660 fine, she has £861 to fork out in total. Other charges of twice breaching a non-molestation order and assaulting Mr Todor again were dismissed.

A Wigan man who damaged a cage at Bolton’s Range store has been fined. Carl Quigley, 43, of Alfred Street, Platt Bridge, appeared before borough magistrates to admit causing £500 damages at the Crompton Way outlet on January 23. He was ordered to pay the company £100 in compensation, an £80 fine plus another £85 in court costs.

A Wigan motorist has denied responsibility for a collision after which a Wigan woman died. Brendan Boby, 50, of Chatham Street, Ince, is charged with causing 63-year-old pedestrian Alice Lewis’s death by careless driving when she and a van collided on Frog Lane last November 25. The casualty was said to have been taken to hospital with a minor injury but her condition later deteriorated and she died. Appearing before a Bolton Crown Court judge, Boby pleaded not guilty to the charge and he was released on bail pending a trial at the same court set to begin on August 10.

A woman has denied assaulting two emergency workers by beating. Collette Smith, 32, of Laurus Mews, Worsley Hall, appeared before Wigan magistrates to plead not guilty to the attacks on mental health worker Jill Smith at Atherleigh Park Hospital and occupational therapist David Cooper on April 10 last year. Several alternative assault charges had previously been brought then withdrawn for amendment before these were put to Smith. She will appear before a Bolton judge on February 22 and is on unconditional bail until then.

A snatch thief who took a man’s jacket and its contents has been ordered to pay the victim compensation. Mark Mayern, 34, of no fixed address, admitted to Wigan and Leigh magistrates that he snatched the coat, containing a mobile phone, e-cigarette and keys valued at £120 and belonging to Jack Crook in Wigan on January 18. He was ordered to pay back the full value of what was stolen, a fine, court costs and a victim services surcharge which meant a bill of £319.

A Wigan jail prisoner has been given an extra two and quarter years behind bars after admitting battering a fellow inmate. Bolton Crown Court heard Callum Tombs was repeatedly hit in the head and face with a flask by James Muldoon, while accomplice Dean Lee pinned him down. They had set upon their victim in a corridor at Hindley Prison October 8, 2019, the court was told, and he suffered facial injuries that required hospital treatment. Police were called to the institution and the pair were arrested. Muldoon, 41, of HMP Risley, and 27-year-old Lee, of Almond Drive, Ellesmere Port, had both pleaded guilty to intending to cause Mr Tombs grievous bodily harm - the most serious form of assault after attempted murder. Muldoon was given 27 months in prison and ordered to pay a victim services surcharge of £181. Lee was given a 24-month prison sentence but it was suspended for the same period. He was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities and observe a three-month curfew. He has to pay a £149 victim surcharge.

A man is awaiting sentence after being convicted for a domestic violence attack. David Threlfall, 33, of Cinnamon Avenue, Hindley, had denied assaulting Lucy Birch by beating on July 14 last year in Wigan. But following a trial by borough magistrates he was found guilty. He was released on conditional bail pending sentence at the same court on February 26.

A man has denied hoarding indecent images of children. David Murphy, 58, of Short Street in Pemberton, appeared before a Bolton Crown Court judge to plead not guilty to possessing 44 images that fall into the gravest category of abuse (A), 68 category B and 280 category C. A trial date of January 11, 2022 was set although there will be a pre-trial hearing held on April 22 this year.

Two Wigan men have denied wilfully damaging, topping or lopping trees in such a manner as to be likely to destroy it. William Dodd, of Warrington Road, and William Grundy, 77, of Lee Lane, appeared before Wigan magistrates to plead not guilty and the case was adjourned until February 25 for a case management hearing. It is alleged they twice damaged trees on June 10 and July 7 in breach of preservation orders.

A man has denied possessing animal and child porn. Nathan Greeley, 28, of Blackberry Drive, Hindley, appeared before Wigan magistrates to plead not guilty to having 10 images of grossly offensive images of a human having intercourse with animals, and creating one image of child abuse which falls into the second gravest category of seriousness. He was released on unconditional bail until a trial at the same court on May 24.

A man who broke his next door neighbour’s fence panel, threatened her and said he would smash her CCTV camera has been given a community order. Stephen Banks, 44, of Trent Road, Norley, stood before Wigan magistrates to admit menacing Aurelija Jurkoityte on November 25, criminal damage, threatening to cause criminal damage and using abusive words or behaviour. He was hit with a restraining order preventing him from entering the neighbouring property or approaching Ms Jurkoityte or Roman Jurkoityte until January 19 next year and was ordered to complete 20 hours of rehabilitation activities. A fine, court costs and a victim services surcharge mean he also has £295 to pay.

A man convicted of attacking a woman and smashing her phone has been given a community punishment. Ivan Marsay had denied assaulting Stephanie Gaskell on February 10 and causing £400 damage to her Samsung S10 mobile the same day. But following a trial by Wigan magistrates the 59-year-old of Anthorn Road, Goose Green, was found guilty. His punishment includes attending a Building Better Relationships programme and paying £600 including compensation and fines. A restraining order also prevents Marsay from contacting Ms Gaskell or entering Snowden Avenue, Goose Green for a year.

A Wigan man has been accused of aggravated burglary. Matthew Fillingham, 26, of Battersby Street, Ince, appeared before borough magistrates charged with entering a home as a trespasser and attempting to steal items during which time victim Stephen Crehan was subjected to violence. He was released on conditional bail pending a first appearance before a Bolton Crown Court judge on February 19. Fillingham has yet to plead.

An inmate who finally admitted to a vicious attack at Hindley Prison has been given an extra eight months behind bars. Wayne Jones had previously appeared at Bolton Crown Court to deny causing Nathan Powell grievous bodily harm on April 23 2019. But the 32-year-old, currently of HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, then changed his plea as a trial approached. The judge added eight months to his existing sentence and also ordered the confiscation of a phone the prisoner had also admitted to having illegally in his possession.

A convicted sex offender has been fined for not informing the authorities that he was going on a foreign holiday. Dean Oakes, 28, of Downing Close, Platt Bridge, appeared before Wigan magistrates to admit breaching the terms of a court order by failing to provide seven days’ notice of a 2019 overseas excursion. With a victim services surcharge as well as the penalty he has £112 to pay.