HERE'S a round-up of some of the biggest court stories to have taken place in Carlisle and West Cumbria this week.
Supermarket worker stole beauty products and processed fake returns
A SUPERMARKET worker stole beauty products and processed three fake customer returns to make a gain for herself.
Charlotte Miller, 20, admitted fraud by false representation and theft by employee when she appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court.
Coroner to query viaduct safety measures after tragic death
In her concluding statement, the coroner said: “Wetheral Viaduct is certainly on my radar. A further death was reported in the months before Victoria’s death.
“I will take this opportunity to write to Network Rail to ask for an update on the safety measures on the viaduct to ensure suicide prevention measures are made on a regular basis.”
Psychiatric patient's spate of offending triggered by traumatic loss of her brother
A PSYCHATRIC patient repeatedly assaulted nursing staff and police officers - but she was spared punishment after a judge heard she was having a breakdown.
It was triggered by the death of the brother, the person she described as "her rock," Carlisle Crown Court heard. Wigton woman Cheryl Hickman, 57, who has never been in trouble before, pleaded guilty to admitted 24.
Among her crimes were an actual bodily harm assault and three racially aggravated offences, which included two assaults by beating.
Death of pensioner found 'living in squalor' was due to neglect, inquest finds
Daniel Telford, 78, died at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven on February 6.
He had been admitted from his Egremont home three days earlier, where he was found in ‘squalor living conditions’.
His health had been deteriorating and there had been no medical or social intervention, Cockermouth Coroner’s Court heard.
Fan who yelled abuse was 'retaliating to racial abuse' from Carlisle United fan
A FOOTBALL fan who had watched his team play at Brunton Park was seen charging towards Carlisle United fans in the city centre and yelling abuse.
When police arrested and interviewed him, 31-year-old Derby County fan Kyle Ali said he had been reacting a Carlisle fan who had subjected him to racial abuse, Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard.
The defendant admitted using threatening behaviour.
Carlisle shopkeepers being caused 'a lot of aggravation' by thief
A CARLISLE thief has been jailed again by magistrates and told that his offending is causing “an awful lot of aggravation” for city shopkeepers.
Late last year, 29-year-old Kane David Queen was handed a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO).
This banned Queen from entering three city supermarkets and all stores affiliated to Carlisle’s shopwatch scheme.
Drug-driver who made off from police banned for 14 months
A DRUG-DRIVER who made off from police has been banned from the roads for 14 months.
Harvey Robinson, 25, was driving a Volkswagen Polo in Maryport on April 2. One of his lights wasn’t working.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates’ Court said Robinson made off from police and had to be detained.
Justice catches up with predatory child abuser - 50 years after his offending
A PAEDOPHILE whose sickening sexual abuse ruined the lives of three children in west Cumbria has finally faced justice – five decades after committing his crimes.
As he jailed 72-year-old Ronald Wilson for 12 years, Carlisle Crown Court Judge Michael Fanning told him: “You are truly a perverted sexual predator, and your past has caught up with you at last.”
Though he was in his 20s when he preyed sexually on the children, former Workington steel worker Wilson evaded justice.
Good Samaritan helped move stricken boat - and then stole it
A GOOD Samaritan helped a Lake District visitor tow his boat to safety after it broke down on Ullswater - and then he stole it.
The boat’s owner discovered the theft of his £2,000 boat on June 25 as he returned to the area to retrieve it and - purely by chance - saw the vessel was being towed away on the A66 by the man who had earlier helped him, 29-year-old Jamie Brand.
The defendant admitted theft.
Stranger walked into cancer patient's home and asked: 'Do you want some heroin?'
A REPEAT burglar is behind bars after a two week crime spree, during which he threatened to stab two of his victims.
Michael Parker, 36, was identified partly due to the quick thinking of a woman who spotted him attempting to break into a flat at Carlisle’s Higginson Mill in the Denton Holme area of Carlisle on July 10.
He admitted two burglaries, an attempted burglary, an affray, two assaults by beating, and vehicle interference. He threatened one victim - a recovering cancer patient - with a bottle, the court heard.
Teenager assaulted by convicted rapist - because he accidentally bumped into a woman
A CONVICTED rapist attacked a teenager in Carlisle city centre because he had accidentally bumped into a woman while walking past her.
In spite of the teenager immediately apologising to the woman, 35-year-old Billy Rutter began yelling at him and accusing him of “touching the woman’s bottom" before forcefully pushing him.
The victim fell to the ground, breaking his arm.
Shoplifter banned from stores sent back to prison after stealing jumper
A SHOPLIFTER who stole clothing after being released from prison has been put back behind bars for 10 weeks.
Nicola Moore, 39, breached a Criminal Behaviour Order which prevents her from entering shops in Workington town centre, when she stole a jumper and then attempted to steal a jacket the following day.
Outlining the case at Workington Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Pamela Fee said the defendant entered JD Sports in Workington on the morning of October 13. Moore took a Nike jumper worth £60, placed it into a Co-op bag and then purchased two items but not the jumper.
Man denies arson by setting fire to wheelie bin
A MAN has denied arson after being accused of setting a wheelie bin on fire.
Jon-Jay Thompson, 28, of Victoria Terrace, Maryport, entered a not guilty plea when he appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Thompson is accused of committing arson by damaging a wheelie bin by fire in Maryport on May 19.
Drink driver caught after police tipped off about him driving away from pub
A DRINK driver who was more than twice the limit was caught after police were tipped off by somebody who had seen him driving away from a Carlisle pub.
Kieran Bell, 31, who was jailed for a similar offence nine years ago, was caught after he agreed to deliver somebody’s order from a mobile food van that operates out of pub’s car park, Carlisle's Rickergate court heard.
He pleaded guilty to drink driving.
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