Bodmin Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Michael Richards was recorded by Cornwall Council covert surveillance cameras using his van to illegally dispose of tyres and roofing tiles on Minorca Lane in Bugle, near St Austell, on two separate occasions. He claimed he had allowed another individual to rent the vehicle at the times of the offences, but the council's community protection team was unable to trace that person. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates' Court.

James Sharratt was found in possession of four category A indecent images of children and one high-end category B indecent image, as well as images of bestiality involving a person performing oral sex on a dog and a horse. The offences took place on May 15, 2023. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child, four category A photographs of a child, one category B image of a child, and one charge of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying intercourse/oral sex with an animal.

David James Etchells, 24, of Dymond Court, Bodmin, failed to provide an appropriate diet to his Staffordshire bull terrier cross, Roxy, for several weeks, possibly months, resulting in her severe emaciation, extreme muscle loss, ulcers on wrists, tail damage, and skin irritation. Roxy was discovered collapsed in his home, with a body condition score of one out of nine, unable to stand, and close to death. She suffered pain, distress, hunger, stomach cramps, and emotional stress. The condition was life-threatening and obvious to the owner. Following an RSPCA investigation, Roxy was rescued and has since recovered, gaining over 8kg in three months and been rehomed.

Nicholas Rawlings, 53, of St Breward, Cornwall, committed four offences of harassment between December 2024 and May 2025. The actions interfered with the peace and comfort of the tenant and were intended to pressure her into giving up occupation of her home. These included writing to the tenant in December 2024 claiming he would move back into the property without a valid Section 21 notice, sending a letter in January 2025 stating a new tenant would move in at the start of March 2025, undermining formal tenancy advice from Cornwall Council's Tenancy Relations Officer by copying the tenant into challenging emails, and issuing an invalid Section 21 eviction notice during the tenancy. The communications caused the tenant significant distress, leading her to seek help from Cornwall Council.

Patricia Upwood, 84, pulled out of a side road into Belle Vue in Bude in December 2024 and knocked down a pedestrian due to a momentary lapse of concentration. The victim, a farmer and holiday cottage owner, suffered life-changing injuries, spending significant time in hospital, now with impeded mobility, shuffling instead of walking, and unable to garden or walk her dog. Upwood was driving slowly but did not see the victim.

Paul Restall targeted Boots, Mountain Warehouse, Osbournes Stores, and Co-Op between December 15, 2025, and February 14, 2026, stealing over £500 worth of goods including vapes, steaks, electric razors, and items of clothing.

Tony Sailsbury stole alcohol, meat, razors and other goods worth over £1,000 from several retail stores in Camborne on 11 occasions between June and October 2025, leaving without paying. In December he also broke into a local business, causing over £300 in damage and stealing £260 worth of goods.

Andrew Greenwood, 34, from Carlton Way in Liskeard, Cornwall, was on a GWR service at Exeter St Davids on April 29, 2025, when he exposed his penis and urinated on the public seating areas of the train in full view of fellow passengers, outraging public decency. He also damaged a coat and a tote bag belonging to a woman. He was arrested after Devon and Cornwall Police were called.

Adam Prosser exposed his penis to a fellow traveller at Camborne train station on December 16, 2024, intending to cause alarm or distress. He was arrested, charged, and sentenced with various prohibitions to prevent further incidents.

Martyn Boyns engaged in a series of shoplifting incidents in Penzance, stealing items such as nappies, perfume, meat, booze, and a water butt, with the total value exceeding £1,200. He also assaulted two police officers during his arrest. A Criminal Behaviour Order was issued against him, banning him from certain streets and shops for five years.

Drew Boyle failed to provide a breath specimen for analysis, drove a vehicle without third party insurance, drove dangerously, and drove while disqualified on May 3 at Camborne Police Station and Treswithian Downs, Camborne.

On March 15 at Tintagel, Jake Reynolds attempted to drive a motor vehicle on Bossiny Road with 113 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit.

On 08/05/2026 at Liskeard, Aaron Coton pursued a course of conduct amounting to racially aggravated harassment of a man. Later the same day at Charles Cross Police Station in Plymouth, having been required to provide a specimen of breath in an investigation into a driving offence, he failed without reasonable excuse to do so.

Gibson was responsible for a Labrador and a cat that died in her care at a tourist park in Newquay between December 2024 and April 2025. She changed her plea to guilty to causing the animals to suffer unnecessarily, permitting it to happen or failing to prevent another person causing the animals to suffer, and, with a co-defendant, causing unnecessary suffering to the Labrador by failing to obtain prompt and effective veterinary treatment for its head injuries. The Labrador had sustained multiple traumatic head, throat and spinal injuries over several months and died after its damaged trachea collapsed; the cat was acquired later and died after suffering catastrophic chest trauma, multiple rib fractures, severe head injuries, blindness and organ damage.

Between 20/10/2025 and 31/10/2025 at Truro, Jack Brown made indecent photographs of a child: 46 Category A, 35 Category B and 41 Category C indecent images and videos. He also possessed two extreme pornographic images. The court noted the seriousness of the offences against young, vulnerable victims and the extreme nature and amount of images.

On May 31 at Pool, Anthony Randall was in charge of a motor vehicle at McDonald's Car Park, Pool after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion in his breath was 137 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit.

Bismark Kotoko drove a motor vehicle on Falmouth Road on February 9 otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He was fined £178 and his licence was endorsed with 3 penalty points.

Between January 1, 2022, and September 22, 2022, in Bodmin, Callum Pickering made 13 category B, 30 category A, and 12 category C indecent images of a child, possessed 18 prohibited images of a child, possessed extreme pornographic images involving a person performing oral sex with a horse, and had in his possession two category A indecent images of a child with intent to distribute.

Between June 24 and August 8 in Newquay, Daniel Taylor stalked a woman by attending her home address, banging on her door and shouting through her letterbox. Between August 31 and September 25, while subject to bail conditions, he stalked her again by bombarding her with calls and messages and attending her address to monitor who was in the property. On September 26 he assaulted a constable in the execution of their duty. He also sent an offensive/menacing message referring to a gun and bullets on September 23, and on August 23 failed to surrender to custody after breaching a tagging bail condition.

Michael Joseph Richards ran an illegal waste business with his son at their home in Cornwall. An investigation was launched by the Environment Agency following a fire at the site where building and household waste, including plasterboard, timber, cement bags, rigid insulation, electrical appliances, furniture and plastic household objects had been kept. Surrounding the fire was more waste debris including radiators, fridges and a caravan. The fire was close to a gas tank and the main A390 road which meant there was the potential for causing a smoke hazard. Richards failed to supervise what was happening on his land.

On May 13, 2024, at Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, Sarah Cridge intentionally shared a combination of photographs and intimate messages which showed, or appeared to show, another person, a man, in an intimate state without consent and without reasonable belief in consent.

Shaun Prestidge sent a communication threatening death or serious harm in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire on November 20, 2024, causing significant distress to the victim. The offence had racial elements. He was given eight weeks in custody suspended for 12 months and made subject to a restraining order not to contact the victim or attend a specified address in Cleethorpes.

James Thornton engaged in threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour in St Austell on several dates, targeting women and a police constable. He also breached a criminal behaviour order by being drunk with an open container of alcohol and by threatening to stab people. He received a community order with alcohol treatment for 12 months, mental health treatment for 6 months, 10 days rehabilitation activity and 100 hours unpaid work.

Jon Fitzhugh used a vehicle without a valid licence and without insurance, made off without paying for £103 of diesel, drove while disqualified, and fraudulently used a registration mark. On August 28, he drove in Liskeard with 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. He received a 12-week prison sentence suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work, a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a three-year driving disqualification and £103 compensation.

Jonathon Walker was seen taking photographs of young children, including babies and girls, during Bodmin Carnival on August 15. Police received multiple reports from members of the public. He pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order originally made by Plymouth Crown Court in April 2008, including taking part in a leisure activity likely to bring him into contact with a child under 16 and possessing and using a camera-enabled mobile phone capable of recording images.

On July 13, Westley Buckley drove a motor vehicle on Tresawls Road without third party insurance and while disqualified from driving.