Cop beaters and other thugs among 18 criminals sentenced in Cornwall recently
It's the weekend and therefore time for a look at the cases that have recently come before Cornwall's magistrates. Everyone who has been charged with an offence, from the least to the most serious, appears initially before the magistrates.
The most serious cases are then sent to the crown court. If a defendant pleads guilty, they could be sentenced straight away or have the matter put back for a pre-sentence report. If they deny the allegations against them, the case will be adjourned for a trial.
The courts are open to anyone and our reporters attend just like any other member of the public. As most people have jobs and cannot spend their time in court, the media has always acted as the eyes and ears of the public to ensure that justice is seen to be done.
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Here's who has been sentenced at the magistrates' court in Bodmin and Truro recently.
Mark Bryant
Age: 32
Crantock Street, newquay
On May 25 at Newquay used a motor vehicle on Henver Road without a car insurance and again without a valid driving licence in place.
On the same day in Camborne, when suspected of having driven a vehicle and having been required to provide a specimen or specimens of breath for analysis by means of a device of a type approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in the course of an investigation into whether you had committed an offence under section 3A, 4, 5 or 5A thereof, failed without reasonable excuse to do so.
Community order, Mental health treatment with We Are With You for 12 days. Rehabilitation activity: 10 days. Unpaid work. Requirement to be completed within 12 months. - Number of hours: 120 Hours.
Disqualification period: 48 months.
Garon Whichelow
Age: 50
NFA
Criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. On July 12 at Sainsbury's, Alma Place, Newquay, without lawful excuse, destroyed large quantity of alcohol stock, and caused store to have to close, to the value unknown belonging to Sainbury's intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
On the same day at Alma Place in Newquay used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by him whereby that person was likely to believe that such violence would be used, or it was likely that such violence would be provoked.
On July 16 in Reeds Way in Newquay were guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour.
Compensation: £500. Imprisonment period: 14 weeks.
Jack Yeates
Age: 28
Bassett Road, Camborne
On August 11 at Penzance Bus station resisted a constable in the execution of duty. On the same day at Penzance Bus Station without reasonable excuse you contacted a woman which you were prohibited from doing by a Restraining Order imposed by Truro Crown Court on 02/04/2024.
On the same day and in the same place assaulted a police officer acting in the exercise of first response functions as such a worker.
On or in September 4 at Garswood, Alexandra Road in Penzance having been arrested by a constable for breaking a bail condition, namely EMS tagging, being a person released on 13/08/2024 by Truro Magistrates' Court being under a duty to surrender into the custody of a court.
Suspended sentence order - imprisonment - Total custodial period: 8 weeks, suspended for 18 months. Alcohol treatment - Under direction of: We are with you for 6 months. Rehabilitation activity - Offender to comply with any instructions of the responsible officer to attend appointments (with the responsible officer or someone else nominated by them), or to participate in any activity as required by the responsible officer up to a maximum of: 30 Days.
Jake McDougall
Age: 34
Gwel an Nans, Probus
Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction. On August 25 at Hawke Close in Newquay without reasonable excuse, you directly contacted a woman which you were prohibited from doing by a restraining order under section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, imposed by Truro Magistrates Court on 10th October 2023.
Fine: £833.
Harry Buscombe
Age: 20
On October 17, 2023 at Tedder Road in Penwithick assaulted a police officer, an emergency worker, namely a police constable, acting in the exercise of her functions as such a worker, by beating her.
On the same day and in the same place assaulted another police officer acting in the exercise of his functions as such a worker, by beating him.
Amount of compensation: £50 for each of the officers. Fine: £180.
Gary Cooper
Age: 36
12 Rectory Road, Lanlivet
On April 26, at Bugle drove a motor vehicle on the A391 while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence, while also not having insurance place.
On May 4, in Bodmin drove a vehicle on Rectory Road in Lanivet while disqualified and also without any insurance in place.
Fine: £200. Suspended sentence: 18 weeks suspended for 24 months. Cornwall Magistrates' Court. Programme - Number of days: 19 days, Additional information: Thinking Skills Programme. Rehabilitation activity: 20 days. Unpaid work: 200 hours. Disqualification period: 12 months.
Matthew Gifford
Age: 34
Woodfield Road, Bude
On May 19, at Greenaway Garage, Newport Square, Launceston, drove a motor vehicle on the B3254 and Greenaways Garages while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence and without any licence.
Suspended sentence order: 12 weeks for 18 months. Rehabilitation activity - Offender to comply with any instructions of the responsible officer to attend appointments (with the responsible officer or someone else nominated by them), or to participate in any activity as required by the responsible officer up to a maximum of: 30 days. Disqualification period: 6 months.
Marc Sikorski
Age: 29
Anvil Road, Camelford
On or in July 8 at Launceston wilfully obstructed a police constable in the execution of his duty. Between July 7 and August 9 at Launceston pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of a woman and which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her in that you engaged in unwanted excessive social media communications contact featuring love.
On July 8 at Asda Express in Launceston had in your possession 13.6g of cannabis, a controlled drug of class B in contravention of section 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Compensation: £650. Fine: £120. Compensation. Restraining order not to contact directly or indirectly your victim. and not to go to a certain address in Launceston. Suspended sentence order: 18 weeks, suspended period: 18 months.
James Walker
Age: 44
Goonown, St. Agnes
On July 29, at Padstow drove a motor vehicle, on the A389 Winnards Perch after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in your breath, namely 101 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit.
Community order. Mental health treatment: 12 days. Unpaid work: 120 hours. Disqualification: 28 months
Ross Stone
Age: 41
Edgcumbe Road, Trewoon
On December 3, 2023 at St Austell drove a motor vehicle on Penwinnick Road, St Austell, when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibal, in your blood, namely not less than 4.6µg/L, exceeded the specified limit and when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Benzoylecgonine, in your blood, namely not less than 240µg/L , exceeded the specified limit. Also did n't have a valid MOT in place.
Community order. Unpaid work: 200 hours. Disqualification period: 48 months.
Scott Hanlon
Age: 35
Old Hill Crescent, Falmouth
On April 10 at Penzance Railway Station having entered as a trespasser a building, stole therein six mobile phones belonging to Great Western Railways, one data device, one black Samsung mobile phone, £50 and a GWR on track booklet to a total value of £3,860.
Remanded on conditional bail until September 27.
Aaron Sharkey
Age: 22
Holywell Court, Playing Place
Assault by beating, Contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act1988.. On February 19 at St Ives assaulted a woman by beating her.
Remanded on conditional bail until October 8.
Wayne Rolins
Age: 55
Forestreet, Chacewater
On May 18 at Chacewater drove a motor vehicle on a road, namely The Square otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising you to drive a motor vehicle of that class. On the same day and in the same place drove a vehicle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in your breath namely 110 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit.
Remanded in custody until October 8 for sentencing.
Sharna Farrell
Age: 25
New Street, Troon
On or in June 24 at Camborne drove a motor vehicle on Dolcoath Avenue after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in your breath, namely 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit. Also drove a car without any insurance policy in place and without a licence in place.
On or in September 10 at Truro failed without reasonable cause to surrender at Cornwall Magistrates' Court, or as soon after that time as was reasonably practicable, having been released on bail in criminal proceedings on 12th August 2024 at Truro.
Warrant for arrest without bail.
Shaun Prestidge
Age: 30
Trevithick Rd, Camborne
On August 22 at 21 Coronation Road in Hayle without reasonable excuse did an act, namely sent a WhatsApp message which you were prohibited from doing by a non-molestation order made by the Truro Family Court on August 15.
On April 19 at in Sancreed, you stole £290 in coins from an electric meter belonging to Alan Hunt. And on the same day and place, without lawful excuse, you damaged a TV aerial cable estimated to the value of £80 belonging to Mr Hunt intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
Fine: £633. Restraining order in place not to contact your victim. Compensation: £370. Fine: £100.
Mariglent Sefolli
Age: 22
Grants Walk, St Austell
On Sunday April 28 at Trowbridge in Wiltshire used a motor vehicle on Old Farm Road without insurance policy in place, and also while disqualified from driving.
Fine: £120. Penalty points for this offence: 6.
Craig Peacock
Age: 42
Henver road, Newquay
On February 2 at St Austell drove a motor vehicle on Ledrah Road, when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Benzoylecgonine (BZE Cocaine breakdown product), in your blood, namely not less than 241 micrograms per litre of blood, exceeded the specified limit.
Community order. Rehabilitation activity: 5 days. Unpaid work: 60 hours. Disqualification: 36 months
Barry Foulkes
Age: 51
NFA
On August 1 at Greenwood Road in Penryn assaulted a woman by beating. The next day in the same place without lawful excuse, damaged white Mercedes belonging to your victim intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
Between August 1 and 2 at the same address stole NatWest Bank card, belonging to your victim. Also pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of your victim and which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment her by sending numerous offensive and unwanted messages.
Community order. Rehabilitation activity: 30 days. Unpaid work: 200 hours. Compensation: £500. Restraining order not to go a certain address.