Devon court cases include car crash pensioner and pub vandal

A 77-year-old careless driver has been convicted of seriously injuring a man in an incident near Exeter. The defendant was one of dozens of people dealt with by magistrates in recent cases across Devon.

Among the other cases in this round-up is a woman who smashed a window of a pub and a South Street drinker jailed for persistently breaking her criminal behaviour order.

All criminal cases start at the magistrates. The most serious are sent to crown court. The majority of defendants are dealt with by fines or court orders but magistrates have the power to send people to prison for up to 12 months.

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This round-up of cases is from the magistrates courts in Exeter, Barnstaple and Newton Abbot.

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MAY 1

Grace Hooper, Lee Mill Bridge, Ivybridge. Age: 24. On 03/11/2023 at The Exchange pub Ivybridge smashed a window to the value of £338. Plea: Guilty. Conditional discharge for six months. Compensation £338.

Joshua Williams, Chatto Road, Torquay. Age: 22. On 31/03/2024 at Torquay drive without licence, test certificate, insurance, fraudulently used a registration mark. Plea: Guilty. Fined £760. Eight penalty points.

Aaron Wilson, Dorchester Grove, Torquay. Age: 44. On 11/06/2023 at St Marychurch Road, Torquay, drove when drug above limit. Plea: Guilty. Community order for 18 months. Thinking Skills programme Disqualified for 28 months.

Haydn Ward, Mead Road, Torquay. Age: 30. On 09/09/2022 at Torquay sent an offensive message. Plea: Not Guilty. Verdict: Found Guilty. Compensation £400, fined £450. Costs £775.

Elizabeth Halstead, Rowley Road, Torquay. Age: 29. On 08/10/2023 at Torquay drove when alcohol above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Disqualified for 12 months. Fined £307.

Sarah Jane Gaffney, Smythen Street, Exeter. Age: 42. On 23 and 24/11/2023 at Lympstone harassment without violence. Plea: Guilty. Fine £150.

Kim Morgan, Lancelot Road, Exeter. Age: 46. On 24/10/2023 at Exeter criminal damage to a Ford Focus. Plea: Guilty. Compensation £300. Fine £50.

MAY 2

Scott Whatley, Carlyon Close, Exeter. Age: 34. On 18/02/2024 at Burnthouse Lane theft from One Stop. Also criminal damage to the door and shoplifting from Boots. Plea: Guilty. Community order for 12 months. Drug rehabilitation. Compensation £530. Fine £100.

Olivia Ditton, Weatherred Close, Tiverton. Age: 24. On 13/04/2024 at Tidcombe Lane, Tiverton drove when alcohol above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Disqualified for 12 months. Fine £346.

Dincher Myursel, The Square, North Tawton. Age: 42. On 13/04/2024 at Exeter drove when alcohol level above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Disqualification for 17 months. Fined £300.

Gary Woolley, Old Fore Street, Sidmouth. Age: 39. On 14/04/2024 at Sidmouth drove when alcohol above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Disqualified for 38 months. Fined £120.

Bethany Carthew, Howell Road, Exeter. Age: 39. On 01/05/204 at South Street Exeter breached a criminal behaviour order. Plea: Guilty. Fined £50.

Matthew Nash, Howell Road, Exeter. Age: 40. On 21/05/2023 at Woodwater Lane, Exeter, drove whilst disqualified, drink driving and breach of bail. Plea: Guilty. 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months. Fine £200. Alcohol treatment. Disqualified for 48 months.

Craig Osman, Beare Farm Cottages, Okehampton. Age: 37. On 06/11/2023 at Okehampton drove when drug above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Custody for eight weeks suspended for 12 months. Disqualified for 30 months. Fine £200.

MAY 3

Shahid Khan, NDA, Exeter. Age: 24. On 13/02/2024 at Mil on the Exe, Exeter were guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour. Criminal damage at the police station. Plea: Guilty. Absolute discharge.

Victor Nelson, St David’s Exeter. Age: 21. On 02/03/2024 at Exeter assaulted a male by beating and assaulted a paramedic by beating. Plus criminal damage to an ambulance. Plea: Guilty. Community order for 18 months. Alcohol abstinence for 90 days. Rehabilitation requirement for 20 days. Compensation £200.

Craig Halls, Doone Way, Ilfracombe. Age 54. On 22/09/2023 drove when alcohol above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Community order for 12 months. Unpaid work for 140 hours. Disqualified for 26 months.

Connor Haydon, Greenbank Road, Barnstaple. Age: 24. On 20/10/2023 at Barnstaple drove when drug above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Disqualified for 12 months. Fined £120.

MAY 4

Bethany Carthew, Howell Road, Exeter. Age: 39. On 04/05/2024 at South Street, Exeter, was in a group drinking alcohol in breach of a criminal behaviour order. Plea: Guilty. Custody for four weeks.

MAY 7

Gavin Prieto, St George’s Road, Barnstaple. Age: 47. On 18/09/2023 at Barnstaple assaulted a male by beating. Plea: Guilty. Community order for 12 months.

Steven Westwood, Shebbear, Beaworthy. Age: 63. On 12/11/2023 at Winkleigh failed to provide a specimen. Plea: Guilty. 14 weeks suspended for 12 months. Disqualified for 36 months.

May 8

Steven Arthur, Broadway, Exeter. Age: 77. On 29/07/2022 at Farringdon caused serious injury to a male by careless driving on the A3052. Plea: Not Guilty. Found Guilty. Community order for 12 months. Unpaid work for 240 hours. Disqualified for two years. Costs £775.

Dominik Belasz, New North Road, Exeter. Age: 40. On 01/03/2024 at Sidwell Street, Exeter, drove when alcohol above the limit. Plea: Guilty. Community order for 12 months. Unpaid work for 150 hours. Disqualified for 26 months.