Seven people who appeared in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire criminal courts

Here are the latest cases from the region’s courts:

CHESTERTON:

Pensioner Nigel Adnams has been hit with a six-month driving ban after he was caught behind the wheel when disqualified. The 72-year-old was banned for six months last June for driving while disqualified.

But he was caught driving his Volkswagen Golf in Chesterton on September 18. Prosecutor Clare McGowan told North Staffordshire Justice Centre police stopped the vehicle on Loomer Road after receiving intelligence he was a banned driver.

Miss McGowan said: “He confirmed he was disqualified and was taking his dog to the vets. He was disqualified until December 2023.”

The court heard Adnams has previous convictions for drink driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Adnams, of Brutus Road, Chesterton, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Neil O’Driscoll, mitigating, said: “He is 72. He should have known better. He was taking his dog to the vets. He drove because it was a distance to the vets. There was no suggestion of any bad driving.”

Magistrates sentenced O’Driscoll to a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 10 days. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £114 surcharge.

NORTON:

Drink-driver Karlis Vilks has been banned from the roads for 20 months. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 33-year-old called the police after he sold a phone and the buyer only gave him half the cash.

But when officers located Vilks in Ford Green Road, Norton, they could smell alcohol on his breath. He failed a roadside breath test and was taken to custody where he was breathalysed and gave a reading of 82 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.

Vilks, of Longroyd Avenue, Leeds, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Paige Morgan, mitigating, said: “He contacted the police to report an incident. He had sold a mobile phone and the buyer had only given him half the money.

“They attended and noticed a strong smell of alcohol. He was arrested. He made full and frank admissions.”

Magistrates fined Vilks £415 and ordered him to pay £135 costs and a £166 surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 20 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.

FEGG HAYES:

Forty-seven-year-old Thomas Ward, of Oxford Road, Fegg Hayes, denied failing to stop when required by the police and driving without insurance on November 1. His trial will be held at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on May 2. Ward’s bail was extended.

CLAYTON:

Thirty-six-year-old Nicholas Lambert, of Earls Drive, Clayton, denied using threatening words or behaviour and resisting a police officer in the execution of her duty on January 6. His trial will be held at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on May 30 and his bail was extended.

COBRIDGE:

Thirty-nine-year-old Nico Khalid, of Bromley Court, Bromley Street, Cobridge, denied using threatening or abusive words or behaviour at Morrisons on January 9. His trial will be held at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on May 2 and his bail was extended.

WERRINGTON:

Thirty-seven-year-old Ricci Brown, of Ash Bank Road, Werrington, denied burglary with intent to steal at an address in Lyneside Road, Knypersley, on April 8. He also denied making a threat to kill on the same date.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre sent the case to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and Brown will appear there on March 8. His bail was extended.

LEEK:

Twenty-year-old Mikey Isaacs, of Tittesworth Avenue, Leek, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on January 3, 2022. His trial will be held at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in the week commencing November 4. His bail was extended.

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