Wigan's Week In Court

A 62-year-old has been accused of benefit fiddling. Ian Cronin, of Wensley Road, Lowton, is charged with failing to notify the DWP of a change of circumstances because he knew it could cut his carers’ allowance and income support and also failing to inform Wigan Council that he had an income besides his benefits. The offences are alleged to have taken place between April 2016 and June 2018. Cronin was released on bail by Wigan justices who will look at the case again on September 23.

A man and woman have been accused of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. Terri-Anne Griffin, 25, of Kirkhall Lane, Leigh, and Nathan Hogan, 29, of Peel Grove, Manchester, appeared before Wigan magistrates on the single charge. Griffin has pleaded not guilty to the offence and both were sent by the bench to appear before a Bolton judge on July 29.

A man has been accused of claiming more than £2,430 in benefits to which he wasn’t entitled. Owupele Godsgift Jack, 32, of Wordsworth Avenue, Whitley, faces six charges of knowing that wrongful credits had been paid into his account between November 2018 and July 2019 and that he did not take steps to cancel it. Jack has yet to plead and Wigan and Leigh justices adjourned the case until September 23.

A man has been charged with assaulting three police officers. Jamie Bray, 32, of Miners View, Up Holland is alleged to have attacked PCs Wheeler, Cox and Philips during an incident on October 14 last year. Wigan magistrates remanded him on unconditional bail until September 23.

A criminal newly released from prison immediately returned to his bad old ways and stole a woman’s make-up and spare change, Wigan magistrates heard. And when Clifford Faulkner was arrested by police for the theft, he was also found to have cocaine with him. Admitting drug possession and theft, the 36-year-old of Marsh Green, Marsh Green, was sent back to prison for 20 weeks. The chair of the bench told him: “You have a history of repeatedly offending almost as soon as you are released from prison and you have also offended once again on licence.” Faulkner was ordered to pay his victim, Shawna Crossland, £100 in compensation.

A man found in possession of drugs while subject to a conditional discharge for a similar offence has been hit with a £357 bill. Keith Rodgers, 33, of Gidlow Lane, Beech Hill, appeared before Wigan magistrates to admit having amphetamine with him on May 29. This took place during a conditional discharge period imposed on him by the same court in March for possessing the same drug. Rodgers was fined £120 for each offence and was also ordered to pay court costs and a victim services surcharge.

A man has been charged with being armed with a pair of scissors in Wigan. Billy Bibby, 24, of no fixed address, is alleged to have committed the crime on June 2. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, borough magistrates adjourned the case until September 23. He has yet to plead and was released on unconditional bail.

A teenager has been accused of attacking two people, issuing threats and trespassing on the railway line. Amy Lowe, 19, of Stanley Road, Platt Bridge is alleged to have assaulted Philip Jones and emergency worker Rebecca Whittaker, used threatening language and being on the train tracks at Atherton station on September 1 last year. Wigan magistrates ordered that she appear before them on July 21.

A man has been accused of animal cruelty by forcing his dog to wear a pronged collar. Peter Hargreaves, 57, of Elmers Green, Skelmersdale is also charged with not seeking veterinary treatment for his boxer dog Kevin when the collar caused lesions to his neck. The case was adjourned by Wigan magistrates to September 22. Hargreaves has not yet pleaded to the two charges.