The latest court cases in Cumbria and Preston

Man accused making 200 indecent images of children appears in court

A MAN accused of making more than 200 indecent images of children has appeared in court.

John Ward is alleged to have made 209 indecent images of children on October 24.

The 62-year-old, of Sutherland Street in Barrow, did not enter a plea to the three charges he faced at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

He is due to appear for a hearing at Preston Crown Court on February 4.

The defendant has been bailed ahead of that date.

Man accused of stealing digger before crashing it into wall

A MAN accused of stealing a digger and crashing it into a wall is due to appear before a court.

George Pilkington Hall is alleged to have taken a Kubota RW 25 wheeled loader in Ulverston before causing damage to the wall on September 7.

The 25-year-old is also charged with driving the machinery on a public without insurance and driving without due care and attention in another vehicle.

The defendant, of Viney Avenue in Romsey, Hampshire, is to face South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Teenager was drunk in charge of car

A MOTORIST who was drunk in charge of a vehicle has been banned from driving.

Kai Miah committed the offence on Queen Street in Ulverston on October 23.

The 19-year-old, of School Street, in Barrow, would have been three times the drink-drive limit if he was driving.

At South Cumbria Magistrates' Court he was fined £233 and banned from driving for six months.

Verdict reached on five counts in man's trial of alleged sex crimes

A MAN accused of a number of sex crimes against young girls in Barrow has been found not guilty on five charges after a trial.

John Roberts, now of Ridgway Court in Axminster, Devon, was found not guilty on three counts of indecent assault on girls under 16, one count of gross indecent assault on a girl under 16 and one count of gross indecent assault on a girl under 14, Preston Crown Court was told.

The 59-year-old was on trial after it was alleged that he had committed a string of sex offences between 1995 and 2001 involving a number of girls aged under 16 - all of which he had denied.

Man refused to tell police identity of driver

A FURNESS man has been fined for failing to tell the police who the driver of a car involved in an offence was.

Simon Hesketh was said to have failed to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle in Preston on October 27 and November 2.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

Hesketh, of Mansriggs near Ulverston, was fined £150 for each offence.

Man admits 'sustained attack' on woman

A MAN has admitted carrying out a 'sustained' attack on a woman.

Liam Hughes-Johnston pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

The 19-year-old committed the offence in Barrow on January 7.

The court heard it was a 'sustained attack whilst in drink'.

Hughes-Johnston, of Roose Road, has been remanded in custody ahead of being sentenced at Preston Crown Court on February 11.