Wigan's Week In Court

A man has been spared a jail term after finally admitting to being armed in the street with a Samurai sword.

Mark Falla had initially denied the charge of brandishing the razor-sharp weapon in Norley Hall Avenue, Norley, on May 16. But on his latest appearance before Wigan and Leigh magistrates when he was due to stand trial, the 41-year-old of Norley Hall Avenue changed his plea to guilty. The bench imposed a 12-month custodial sentence but suspended it for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay court costs and a victim services surcharge totallnig £278.

A man has denied stealing batteries from a Wigan vehicle spares centre.

Michael Ashurst, 29, of Saddleback Road, Norley is accused of snatching the property from Euro Car Parts on Clayton Street on December 28 last year. Magistrates adjourned the case until September 21 and he was released on bail until then.

A Wigan man first accused of a £14,500 benefit fiddle last August will have to wait until June next year before he can try to prove his innocence.

John Hamilton made another appearance before a Bolton Crown Court judge last week facing two counts of fraud to which he had already pleaded not guilty when standing before Wigan and Leigh magistrates 10 months ago. It is alleged that in November 2015 the 63-year-old of Crompton House, Scholes, failed to make a true account of his mental and physical health, intending to make a gain for himself. Hamilton’s trial date has now been set for June 15 next year.

A trial date has been set for a man who denies going on a car-wrecking spree which cost the owners thousands of pounds.

Matthew Smith, 47, of Pepper Lane, Standish, faces no fewer than eight charges of criminal damage to cars. He returns to the court on August 26 for his trial. He is on unconditional bail until then.

A man accused of driving dangerously in Wigan has walked free after the case against him collapsed.

Lewis Jennings had always denied the charge of driving a Citroen Berlingo van dangerously on Liverpool Road, Wigan, on June 8 last year. The 24-year-old, of Borron Road, Newton-le-Willows, had the option of trial by Wigan magistrates in September last year but elected for Bolton Crown Court which meant having to wait until June 29 this year. But the prosecution offered no evidence and the judge dismissed the case.

A man accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm will have his case heard by a judge and jury.

Andrew Cunliffe, 40, of Brindley Street, Pemberton, denies assaulting Alfred Bullough on or around May 29. He is also charged with sending an indecent or grossly offensive Facebook message to David Bullough on the same day. The trial date was set for June 1 next year.

A Wigan man, 21, accused of collecting extreme Islamic material will appear before a Manchester Crown Court judge later this month.

Liam Fenn, from Ince, faces nine charges of possession of a document or record likely to be useful to a person preparing, or committing, an act of terrorism. He is also charged with three counts of encouraging acts of terrorism. He was arrested in March after officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West executed a warrant at a property on Harrow Place, Wigan. Fenn is accused of having a video on how to build a suicide vest and publishing a tape of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. He first appeared at the Old Bailey in April but the case was transferred to Manchester where a judge has now ruled that he should appear in court on July 15 for a pre-trial preparation hearing. A provisional date of September 28 has been set for a trial.