POLICE in Torridge have had a busy week dealing with crude penis graffiti, cameras shot with air rifles and stones thrown through windows.
In a report sent to the Torridge District Neighbourhood Watch by the area's policing teams all the cases of criminal damage, burglary and theft have been outlined for the period between Thursday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 18.
In that period 12 crimes were committed in Torridge, five of which were in the Bideford area.
There were three incidents...
↧
'Crude penis graffiti' and cameras shot with air rifles - all in...
↧
Prisoners 'told to head to Devon', claims mayor
Ex-prisoners are being recommended to move to Devon, according to a senior politician.It was claimed that some areas of Devon are being "recommended" to former convicts because of the amount of accommodation available.But Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver said it could not afford to house "everyone from outside our area".He made the claim during a debate on how the homeless are cared for in some areas of the county.Mr Oliver said: "We have a number of prisons in the South West...
↧
↧
Around the Courts: Criminals convicted in North Devon this week
A rundown of the concluded cases at North Devon Magistrates' Court, allowing you to see justice served in your community.This week we summarise court activity between January 27 and January 31. The defendant's age follows his name and a G or NG denotes a guilty or not guilty plea. Not guilty pleas mean the conviction followed a trial.NP indicates no plea was taken and the charge was proved in the defendant's absence. NG/G denotes a change of plea.January 27Michael Andrew Arrowsmith, 30, of New...
↧
Locked up in January 2017: North Devon criminals taken off our...
THE following criminals were jailed in January for crimes relating to North Devon.James SowdenA single father has been jailed after he ignored a warning that he must choose between his love of his sons and his love of drugs.James Sowden was given a chance to carry on bringing up his two boys, aged seven and nine, when he was given a suspended sentence for drug dealing in 2015.Within seven months Sowden had returned to taking amphetamine and had started stealing from sheds and outhouses all over...
↧
North Devon dog owners given fine for not picking up their pets'...
TWO North Devon dog owners have been slapped with a fine after failing to pick up their dog's faeces.North Devon Council's Neighbourhood Officers caught the dog owners in the act following reports from members of the public in Lynmouth and Combe Martin.They were each issued with fixed penalty notices of £75, reduced to £60 as they were paid within 14 days. North Devon Council's Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Rodney Cann, said: "Dog owners who don't pick up their...
↧
↧
Boozy Bideford stag night ended with guest kicking groom...
A drunken stag night party ended with the groom in hospital after he was kicked senseless by one of his guests.Thomas Berry became angry after groom-to-be Dominic Syvret blamed him for the group being refused entry to a pub in Bideford.The CCTV at the Crabby Dick's bar filmed him head butting Mr Syvret and then aiming a full force kick at his temple, leaving him in a deep coma.Mr Syvret was taken to North Devon Hospital unconscious with a level of coma rated at just three on a scale of one to 15...
↧
Customs intercepted North Devon man's large package of cannabis
A NORTH Devon man has admitted importing a large package of cannabis which was intercepted by customs en route to his home. Paul Barraclough was also found with a stun gun when police raided his premises in Chivenor in August, Exeter Crown Court was told. Barraclough, 27, of Torridge Drive, Chivenor, admitted smuggling 441 grams of cannabis into Britain from Canada and possession of a stun gun. Judge Erik Salomonsen, QC, adjourned his case at Exeter Crown Court to give the prosecution time to...
↧
Public toilet torched in suspected arson attack in Ilfracombe
POLICE have been informed of possible arson in a public toilet in Ilfracombe last night.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue were called to Beach Road in Ilfracombe just after 8.30pm.Two teams from Ilfracombe's fire station were sent to the incident.The emergency services were called after someone reported a fire in a cubical of a public toilet.Police have been informed of this suspected arson which completely destroyed the toilet. Read next:Customs intercepted North Devon man's large package of...
↧
Man found guilty of spitting on his mother during North Devon...
A MAN who spat on his mother has been told to pay more than £600 court costs after he was found guilty of assault following a trial. Richard Francis Kerr, 27, of Babbacombe Road, Torquay, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday for sentencing. Kerr had originally pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault. However, he was found guilty on Tuesday, January 31 following a trial. During Friday's court appearance Kerr still maintained that he did not spit on his mother. The...
↧
↧
Ilfracombe man in court after emailing his ex-wife a semi-naked...
SENDING his ex-wife a semi-naked picture of herself has landed an Ilfracombe man in court. Paul Stuart Bird, 48, of Capstone Crescent, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday. He was charged with harassment, breach of a restraining order. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge but then pleaded guilty during a court appearance on January 17. The court heard that Bird had sent a photograph to his ex-wife via email on April 25, 2016 when he was prohibited from doing so from...
↧
Drunk man who stole AND broke ambulance keys receives fine
A drunk man who stole and broke a set of keys from an ambulance on standby has been fined. Luke Stacey had been drinking and was out celebrating a friend's birthday when he spotted the emergency vehicle parked outside of a pub. He was seen on CCTV forcing the door open before snatching the keys and then running down the street. Stacey, 27, appeared in court this week and told the court he couldn't even look magistrates' in the eye as he was 'totally ashamed'. A man dressed in a bright yellow...
↧
Bideford man denied crack dealing
A drug user has denied dealing heroin and crack cocaine from his flat in Bideford.Wayne O'Sullivan, 42, pleaded not guilty to possessing both drugs with intent to supply on August 21 last year. He also denied possessing cannabis on the same day.O'Sullivan, of Allhalland Street , Bideford, admitted two offences of shoplifting at the O2 shop and Tesco Metro in June and September.Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, adjourned his case at Exeter Crown Court for a trial and released him on bail.He urged the...
↧
Council prosecutes South Molton man after he abandoned his car
A MAN from South Molton has been successfully prosecuted by North Devon Council and fined after he abandoned his vehicle.Harvey Welham, 21, C/o Kingsway, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, January 24.He was charged for without lawful authority, abandoned a motor vehicle on land. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.However, Welham was found guilty of abandoning his VW Golf at Higher Woolstone, Bishops Tawton in 2016.He was fined £100, as well as being ordered to pay...
↧
↧
Police seek two men in connection with metal theft from hotel in...
Police are keen to trace the men in these pictures after several metres of metal pipe were stolen in Ilfracombe.The theft from the Epchris Hotel on Torrs Park took place around 4.30pm on Wednesday, January 1.Police said they received reports of two men entering a private garden at the hotel, taking the metal pipes and leaving.It is believed they made of with around £80 worth of metal.The matter is currently under investigation and any witnesses are urged to contact police on 101 quoting...
↧
Having an axe, meat cleaver and carving knife in public lands...
A TEENAGER has appeared in court after having an axe, meat cleaver and carving knife on him while he was in Barnstaple.The 17-year-old boy from Barnstaple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The youth was charged with three counts of having a bladed article without good reason or lawful authority in a public place.He was also charged with one count of assault and one count of joint assault.The first assault took place in Barnstaple...
↧
AROUND THE COURTS: Criminals convicted at North Devon Magistrates...
A rundown of the concluded cases at North Devon Magistrates' Court, allowing you to see justice served in your community.This week we summarise court activity between February 3 and February 7. The defendant's age follows his name and a G or NG denotes a guilty or not guilty plea. Not guilty pleas mean the conviction followed a trial.NP indicates no plea was taken and the charge was proved in the defendant's absence. NG/G denotes a change of plea.February 3Paul Stuart Bird, 48, of Capstone...
↧
Bideford motorist banned from driving after failing to give...
A BIDEFORD motorist has appeared in court after failing to provide police officers with a breath test.Keith Burgess, 65, of Hilltop Road, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday. He pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.The incident took place on January 22 in the Bideford area. Giles Rowden, for the prosecution, said the police spoke to Burgess and informed the opinion that he had consumed some alcohol.Burgess gave a breath test...
↧
↧
Barnstaple alcoholic avoids jail after drink-driving offence
A DRINK-DRIVER from Barnstaple with mental health issues is seeking help for his alcoholism, magistrates have been told.Nicholas Brown, 60, of Willshere Road, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.Brown pleaded guilty to one charge of drink-driving. The offence took place in Barnstaple on October 16 last year.Giles Rowden, for the prosecution, said police received a report that at 7.30pm a collision had occurred between Brown and a moped. Police spoke with Brown who accepted...
↧
Barnstaple man in court after kicking wooden fence
KICKING a wooden fence has landed a Barnstaple man in court.Kristian Paul Maddocks, 39, of Hughes Avenue, Newport, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday. He pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage. The offence took place in Barnstaple on January 22. Giles Rowden, for the prosecution, told the court that police were called to an address in Barnstaple at 8pm.When they arrived they saw Maddocks shouting and swearing and that his behaviour was becoming increasingly...
↧
Ilfracombe man avoids jail after string of assaults
AN ILFRACOMBE man has avoided jail after being convicted of a string of offences including assaults on several people including his girlfriend.Allen Charlton Groves, 27, of Coronation Terrace, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.He was charged with four assaults and one count of criminal damage. Groves had originally pleaded not guilty to assaults which took place on November 3, September 22, and a criminal damage incident on September 22. However, he pleaded guilty to these...
↧