The latest cases heard at Northumberland’s courts this week

The cases appeared in this week's Hexham Courant or online.

1) Haydon Bridge man in court on assault charges

A man has appeared in court charged on three counts of assault.

Jordan Armstrong (19), of Tyne View Close in Haydon Bridge, was accused of racially or religiously aggravated common assault, two counts of assault by beating, and sending a communication conveying false information.

Armstrong pleaded not guilty to all charges. At a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, the trial was adjourned until May 21.

2) Woman accused of assault and theft in court

A woman accused of assault and theft has appeared in court.

Amanda Longstaff (37), of St John’s Road, Hexham, was accused of two counts of theft and one of common assault.

At a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, the trial was adjourned until September 10.

One count of theft is alleged to have taken place on November 21 last year, whilst the second count of theft and common assault are both alleged to have occurred on December 4.

Longstaff denies all charges.

3) 'Frustrated' and drunk man (32) caused damage

A man who was frustrated because he was drunk took his anger out on a rented property, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

John Heslop Westwick (32), of Castle Road, Prudhoe, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 18 to causing criminal damage at a property rented by a woman in the town on December 11 2020.

The court heard Westwick damaged three internal doors belonging to housing association Karbon Homes when ‘intoxicated and frustrated’.

Judge Paul Currer said: “In relation to this case, you behaved very badly in the way you attended the house while drunk and acting out of frustration.

“I accept you pleaded guilty to these charges at the earliest opportunity.”

Westwick was sentenced to pay a total of £300 in compensation to Karbon Homes, £85 prosecution costs, and a £34 victim surcharge.

Westwick was also handed a restraining order against the female complainant. The order prevents him from contacting the complainant directly or indirectly including through digital media and will remain in place for two years.

A separate charge of assault by beating against the same victim was dismissed.

4) Suspended jail sentence for motorist three times over limit

A motorist more than three times the legal drink drive limit has been given a suspended jail term.

At Newcastle Magistrates' Court on May 19, Robert William Blakeburn (49), of Biverfield Road, Prudhoe, was sentenced to 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months, after admitting a charge of driving with excess alcohol.

On October 19 last year, Blakeburn was driving on Wylam Wood Road, in Wylam, with 123 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Blakeburn had denied the charge at an earlier hearing, but changed his plea to guilty.

In addition to the suspended jail sentence, he was ordered to abstain from alcohol for a period of 40 days.

Blakeburn was banned from driving for four years, and he must pay court costs of £400 and a victim surcharge of £128.

5) Man accused of assaulting police officer to stand trial

A man has denied assaulting a police officer after being accused of drink driving.

At Newcastle Magistrates' Court on May 19, Kier James Pearson (28), of Deneside Court, Newcastle, pleaded not guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, drink driving and driving without a licence.

It is alleged that, on April 11 this year, Pearson was driving on the A69 at Hexham when he had 60 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitre of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

It is also alleged that Pearson drove without holding a valid licence.

The defendant is also accused of assaulting a police constable on the same date.

He will stand trial at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on September 30.