A MAN has avoided jail after causing £3,500 worth of damage and assaulting police officers.

Lewis Brass (22), of Leazes Terrace, Hexham, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court last Friday where he pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence, racially aggravated criminal damage, two counts of assaulting police officers and possession of cannabis.

The court heard Brass (22) turned up outside a family home in Newcastle, shouting abuse, making threats and damaging a car and the front door of the house. After police were called, he went on to bite a male officer on the arm and put a female officer in a headlock.

The court heard Brass had acted out of character after taking drugs.

He was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 12 months with a community order and ordered to pay £500 compensation.

 

A MOTORIST has been banned from driving for 12 months after admitting to drink driving.

Dagan Wilkin (27), of Main Road, Stocksfield, admitted the charge when he appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

The court heard he was driving on Princess Way, in Prudhoe, on October 25, with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Wilkin was also fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £32.

 

AN HGV driver has been banned from driving for 15 months after being caught drinking behind the wheel.

Anthony Murray, of East Acres, Barrasford, appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court, in Bedlington, last Thursday where he pleaded guilty to drink driving.

The court heard Murray was caught drinking alcohol in his car by members of the public in Hexham town centre in October last year.

His actions were reported to the police and officers located him driving his Seat Leon near his home address.

The 60-year-old was arrested after failing a roadside breath test which recorded 50 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

He was fined £125, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

 

A RESTRAINING order has been extended by a year after a man breached the terms.

At South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, Sean Walker (30), of Umfraville Dene, Prudhoe, pleaded guilty to harassment by breaching a 12-month restraining order starting on December 2 by visiting the house of a woman on Christmas Day.

He was given a 24-month restraining order and an 18-month community order with a curfew. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90, court costs of £85 and £20 in compensation.

 

A MOTORIST has denied being twice over the drink drive drive limit.

Alan Cracknell, of Riding Close, Riding Mill, pleaded not guilty at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on Friday to drink driving on Beaumont Street, in Hexham, on September 25.

It is alleged he had 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Cracknell also denied charges of driving without a licence and without insurance.

A trial at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court has been listed for April 20.

 

A MAN has denied getting behind the wheel while above the legal drug drive limit.

At South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, Michael Johnson (29), of Woodside, Darras Hall, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of tetrahydrocannabinol in his system.

It is alleged the offence took place on Blagdon Lane, in Cramlington, on June 15.

Johnson was released on unconditional bail and will return to the magistrates’ court for trial on March 24.

 

A MAN has been ordered to pay compensation after causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to a car.

James Anderton (33), of Brierley Gardens, Otterburn pleaded guilty at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to causing £625 of damage to a car window.

Magistrates ordered Anderton to pay the car owner £625 in compensation.

He was also fined £270 and ordered to pay court costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £30.