Wigan's Week In Court

Two young women who stole almost £400 worth of food and clothing on two visits to a Wigan supermarket have been given community punishments. Geanina Mustafa, 22, of Baytree Road, Beech Hill, and Florina Muti, 20, of Acton Street, Swinley, appeared before Wigan magistrates to admit to stealing £258 of meat and clothing on one thieving spree at Asda and £132 more of garments on another.

The bench ordered that they each pay compensation and court costs totalling £279 and that they carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

A Wigan borough man has made his first appearance before a judge accused of being armed with an automatic firearm with intent to endanger life.

Terence McDonough, 29, of Thorncroft Avenue, Astley, is charged with possessing an AK47 self-loading rifle plus ammunition on June 6. Appearing at Bolton Crown Court by video link from prison, Mc Donough was further remanded in custody until a plea and directions hearing on August 12.

A young man has been spared an immediate jail term for forcing his way into a home, making threats and drug possession. Ryan Rochester, 25, of Golborne Place, Scholes, appeared before Wigan magistrates charged with using violence to get into a house in Derwent Road, Hindley, threatening Shannon Grace and having cocaine and cannabis on his person when arrested by police.

He was given a total of three months’ custody but the sentence was suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £213 in court costs and a victim services surcharge.

A man has admitted attacking a woman. Kyi Cooke, 24, of Grizedale Drive, Ince, appeared before Wigan magistrates to admit assaulting Michelle Rogerson by beating on May 23. He was given a rehabilitation activity requirement, told to work 100 hours unpaid and ordered to pay costs and a victim services surcharge totalling £180.

A man retained more than £3,000 in credits to which he was not entitled, Wigan magistrates heard. Daniel Ward, 29, of Gordon Close, Wigan, faces four charges of failing to return public money paid in error.

The case was adjourned to September 30.

Two burglars who travelled from Wigan to break into a house in Cheshire were caught when they were spotted by “eagle-eyed” builders, a court heard. David Warburton of Moss Lane, Platt Bridge, and Dwayne Madden, of Sycamore Avenue, Golborne, are beginning prison sentences after pleading guilty to burglary. Warburton was jailed for four years and Madden for three at Chester Crown Court. They must also pay a £181 victim surcharge.