Each week The Guardian reports on cases at courts across Cheshire. Here are some of the latest defendants to appear in the dock.

Man denies shouting at witness ahead of crown court hearing on assault charges

A MAN from Northwich has denied shouting at a witness ahead of an appearence in crown court on assault charges.

Paul Schofield, of Royle Street, was appearing at Warrington Magistrates Court via video-link on Wednesday April 20.

The 41-year-old was being held at Middlewich custody suite, after being arrested by police for allegedly breaching the terms of his bail.

Schofield is due to appear at Chester Crown Court on May 5 on two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of intimidating the complainant in those matters.

Full story HERE.

Man slapped with restraining order after harassing woman and damaging Audi 

A MAN from Northwich has been slapped with a restraining order after he admitted harassing a woman.

Peter Barlow, of Manor Street, subjected the woman to harassment over an eight-day period between October 21 and 29 of last year.

The 26-year-old was appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, April 13, where he admitted to that charge and another of criminal damage.

More on this HERE.

Man handed nine-month weekend curfew after attacking woman three times

A MAN from Northwich has been told he must stay at home every weekend night for the next nine months as part of his punishment for attacking a woman.

Thomas Southern, of Withington Close, will be electronically tagged for the next 40 weeks, after he admitted to the three assault charges.

The 24-year-old was appearing at Warrington Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 14, where he entered guilty pleas to all the charges against him.

Of the three assaults, the most serious offence took place on November 6 last year when Southern attacked the woman, occasioning her actual bodily harm.

Full story>HERE

Women barred from town after stealing items worth hundreds of pounds from H&M

TWO women are to be sentenced after admitting stealing items worth hundreds of pounds from H&M in Northwich town centre.

Lorraine Matthews and Laura Rushworth, both of Ridgewood Avenue in Manchester, were stopped by police on Friday, April 1. The pair had been in a black Renault Megane on Manchester Road at the time.

Earlier that day, the women, who have previous offences for shoplifting, had helped themselves to items worth £611.74 from H&M and left the store without paying.

FULL STORY>HERE

Passenger in pink Ford Mustang stopped on M6 admits drug offence at court

THE passenger in a pink Ford Mustang stopped on the M6 has pleaded guilty to a drug offence at court.

Robert Dalton, of Old Road West in Gravesend, was in the distincitive vehicle when it was stopped by police between junction 18 and 19 on October 21 last year.

Officers discovered large quantities of MDMA tablets, thought to have a street value of between £250k and £500k.

The 39-year-old denied charges of possession with intent and conspiring to supply class A drugs.

FULL STORY>HERE

Man to face trial after denying he made threats to kill a woman

A NORTHWICH man has denied making threats to kill and is set to face trial later in the year.

Joshua Richardson, of Pimlotts Grove, Hartford, was appearing at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, April 20.

The 28-year-old entered not guilty pleas to a total of five charges, the most serious of those being three threats to kill a woman on March 20 this year.

Richardson also denied a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the same woman on March 15.

FULL STORY

Pensioner, 76, downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children

A PENSIONER will be sentenced next month after he admitted downloading hundreds of indecent images of children.

Paul Harris, of Beechfield in Moulton, was appearing at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, April 21, where he pleaded guilty to four charges.

Between November 21, 2021 and January 23 this year, the 76-year-old downloaded a total of 539 indecent images of children.

MORE>HERE

Winsford man 'facing lengthy jail term' after maliciously trying to harm woman

A WINSFORD man has been told he faces a lengthy prison sentence for maliciously trying to cause a woman grievious bodily harm.

Steven Hunt, of Catalan Close, was appearing at Chester Crown Court to be sentenced on Friday, April 22.

The 47-year-old had already pleaded guilty to the offence, in which he attempted to choke, suffocate or strangle the woman on December 5 last year.

FULL STORY

Knutsford man banned from town while awaiting trial over day of trouble 

A MAN has been banned from Knutsford while he is awaiting a trial over a day of trouble in the town.

Shayne Coad, formerly of Longridge, but now residing at an address in Wigan, was appearing at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, April 20.

The 19-year-old had admitted being in possession of a kitchen knife in Longridge on March 21. Coad also entered a guilty plea in relation to another charge of affray, with both incidents happening on the same day.

FULL STORY>HERE

Driver caught on mobile phone avoids ban because family relies on wages

A DRIVER caught using a hand-held mobile phone has avoided a ban because his family relies on his wages.

Aaron Johnston, of Boothfields, Knutsford, pleaded not guilty at Chester Magistrates court on April 20 to using a hand-held phone shortly before 9am on October 10 last year.

The 44-year-old was caught committing the traffic offence whilst driving a Volkswagen vehicle on Bexton Road, the court heard.

FULL STORY > HERE