Stalkers, speeding drivers and pervs among 15 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.
Here's who has been sentenced at the magistrates' court in Bodmin and Truro recently.
Keith Hodgson
Age: 41
Meadowside, Newquay
Between February 25 and April 22 at Meadowside in Newquay pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of a woman and which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her in that you sent her multiple emails and voicemails.
Fine: £333. Restraining order not to contact your victim and not to go to a certain address in St Ives.
Lee Toms
Age: 36
Horningtops, Liskeard
On October 8 at Liskeard without reasonable excuse, you sent a social media friend request and had a third party deliver a letter to the aggrieved which you were prohibited from doing by a restraining order under section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, imposed by Truro Crown Court on March 8, 2019.
Steve Edmonds
Age: 37
Meadowstreet Close, Liskeard
On June 1 at Liskeard without lawful excuse, damaged a laptop to the value of £1,800 belonging to Circet Wireless Ltd intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
Between August 10 and 11 at Meadowstreet Close in Liskeard having been arrested by a police constable for breaking a bail condition, namely by calling and texting a woman, being a person released on August 10 by Bodmin Magistrates Court being under a duty to surrender into the custody of a court.
Between June 1 and August 5 in Liskeard 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 sent her unwanted messages, phone and email contact and fixed a tracker to her car.
Remanded on conditional bail until October 4.
Joshua Bailey
Age: 20
Ventonlace, Grampound Road
Between April 1, 2021 and January 19, 2022 at St Austell made indecent photographs, namely 6 Category A images of a child. Also made Category C images of a child, category B images of a child.
Between December 6, 2021 and December 8, 2021 at St Austell distributed indecent photographs, namely two Category C images of a child.
Remand unconditional bail until September 26.
Paul Kitchen
Age: 58
Grimspound Close, Plymouth
On April 5, at Plymouth on the B3214 Old Laira Road, three times, travelled at a speed exceeding 20 miles per hour 'Contrary to the above local traffic order and sections 84 and 89(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
Disqualified for six months. Notional penalty points: 3. Fine: £61.
Ian Annalls
Age: 40
Ash Tree Road, Caerwent
On June 6 at Tiverton drove a motor vehicle on a motorway, namely M5 (JCT 27 Overbridge), at a speed exceeding 70 miles per hour 'Contrary to regulation 3 of the Motorways Traffic (Speed Limit) Regulations 1974, section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.' Measured speed 109 mph.
Disqualification period 28 days. Fine: £461.
Kevin Bolt
Age: 62
Falmouth Road, Truro
Assault by beating, Contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. On January 29 at Redruth assaulted a woman by beating her.
Conditional discharge - Period of conditional discharge: two years.
Simon Brunsden Brown
Age: 64
Little Oaks, Penryn
Between June 2 and June 8 at Penryn pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of a woman and which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her in that you made loud banging noises at night, knocked on her windows, waved a clenched fist at her and poured boiling water on to her patio from your window above.
On June 7 at at Little Oaks in Penryn had with you, without good reason or lawful authority, in a public place an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a large kitchen knife.
Conditional discharge for two years years. Restraining order not to contact directly or indirectly your victim and not to attend an address in Penry, not to bang on the windows at an address in that street and not to pour anything out of your windows.
Sharna Farrell
Age: 25
New Street, Troon.
On June 24 at Camborne drove a motor vehicle on Dolcoath Avenue without a driving licence and insurance in place and 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.
Warrant for arrest without bail.
Jack Yeates
Age: 28
Bassett Road, Camborne
Common assault of an emergency worker, Contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. On August 11 at Penzance Bus Station assaulted a police officer acting in the exercise of his duty.
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.
On August 11 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 date at Penzance Bus station resisted a constable in the execution of duty.
Robert Thomas
Age: 35
Church Road, Pool
Assault by beating, Contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. On December 8, 2023, at Grenville Gardens in Troon assaulted a man by beating him. Also without lawful excuse, damaged a Ford Fiesta belonging to a woman intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.
On the same date, also assaulted a woman in Grenville Gardens, Troon, by beating her.
Curfew with electronic monitoring. Mental health treatment for 12 days. Rehabilitation activity days: 10 days. Restraining order.
Scott Hanlon
Age: 36
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 the total value of £3,860.
Benjamin Hutton
Age: 43
Baytree Hill, Liskeard
On January 15, at Liskeard drove a motor vehicle on Callington Road, Liskeard, otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising you to drive a motor vehicle of that class. Also drove a vehicle when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Benzoylecgonine (BZE), in your blood, namely no less than 539 micrograms per litre of blood, exceeded the specified limit.
Also drove a car without due insurance, and drove a vehicle when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in your blood, namely no less than 8.8 micrograms per litre of blood, exceeded the specified limit.
Vincent Clempson
Age: 67
Barnhay, Tiverton
On March 7 at Honiton, drove a mechanically propelled vehicle, on the A30, without due care and attention.
Adjourned for sentencing until October 7.
Mark Dawson
Age: 30
Alnwick Court, Eynesbury
On June 8 at Camborne drove a motor vehicle on the A30 at Roseworthy Dip at a speed of 103mph exceeding 60 miles per hour 'Contrary to article 3b of the 70 Miles Per Hour, 60 Miles Per Hour and 50 Miles Per Hour (Temporary Speed Limit) Order 1977, section 89(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.'
Fine: £500. Penalty points for this offence: six.