Chester Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 78 verdicts at Chester Magistrates' Court (Chester, Chester). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

August 2024 3 cases

John Armitage

Sexual Assault *

Sentence

12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months

On November 1, 2024, John Armitage sexually assaulted a woman on a bus in Blacon, Chester. He grabbed her backside while intoxicated, leading to an argument and threats. The victim reported the incident, stating it caused her anxiety, vulnerability on public transport, and the need for medication, counselling, and leave from her university course and work.

Convicted at trial on July 25. Initially denied the offence but later apologised. The offence was aggravated by being drunk. Ordered to pay £250 compensation, register as a sex offender, complete 20 rehabilitation days, and comply with a 12-month restraining order not to contact the victim.

15 Aug 2024

Thomas Connelly

Possession of a bladed article in a public place *

Sentence

26 weeks imprisonment

Thomas Connelly, 18, of Regency Square in Warrington, was arrested on 7 August 2024 around 5.40pm on Orford Lane while acting suspiciously ahead of a planned protest in the area. He was searched and found to have a folding pocketknife in his pocket. He admitted awareness of the protest and was charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place. Found acting suspiciously near a planned protest. Claimed he forgot the knife from work but no lawful excuse.

14 Aug 2024

Shane Mcgarr

Possessing offensive weapons *

Sentence

6 months imprisonment

Shane McGarr was caught carrying a meat cleaver, an air pistol, and another knife on Crown Street in Warrington town centre on August 4, 2024. During a stop and search by Cheshire Police at 8.20pm, he assaulted a police officer and was found with a quantity of cannabis. He has previous convictions for possessing offensive weapons in public places.

Pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place, possessing a loaded air weapon in public, assaulting a police constable, and possession of a controlled class B drug. Previous criminal record for weapon offences; mandatory minimum term due to prior convictions; no exceptional circumstances to avoid imprisonment.

6 Aug 2024

July 2024 5 cases

Elias Williams

Using threatening behaviour to provoke fear of violence *

Sentence

Fined £120, ordered to pay £85 court costs, and a £48 victim surcharge

Elias Williams punched and kicked a man to the ground outside the Quayside pub on Witton Street in Northwich on February 1, 2024, which was his first night out after turning 18. The incident was captured on CCTV, and the victim was part of a group of men from Northwich. Williams was with a woman at the time and was later arrested at the Witton Chimes pub. The victim did not come forward, so the extent of injuries is unknown.

Pleaded guilty to the charge. No previous convictions; incident occurred after consuming alcohol and not taking ADHD medication. The chairman of the bench described it as an unsavoury incident and hoped it would not be repeated.

25 Jul 2024

Simon Jones

Assaulting a police officer with racial aggravation *

Sentence

12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days and £100 compensation

On July 17, 2024, at around 4.15am, police were called to a property in Donnington Place, Blacon, Chester, where Simon Jones was trying to enter the homeowner's door. He was found drunk in the garden, very intoxicated, and believed the address to be his own. Upon arrival, he told officers to 'f*** off d**kheads'. When more officers arrived, he inquired if they were Wrexham or Cheshire Police, and upon confirmation of the latter, called them 'English c****'. He assaulted the officers during the incident.

Admitted two charges of assaulting a police officer, being drunk and disorderly, and racial aggravation. Early guilty plea. Alcoholic who relapsed due to job loss and personal issues. Expressed deep shame and remorse. No uplift applied to racial aggravation as it was the lesser offence. No costs or surcharge ordered, prioritising compensation.

19 Jul 2024

Sandra Taker

Causing death by careless driving *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for 12 months

Sandra Taker was driving a Toyota Rav-4 that pulled out into the path of Kenneth Harper's Citoren C3 on A56 Hoole Road in Chester on October 22, 2024, at around 5pm, causing a collision that resulted in Harper's death.

Pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

18 Jul 2024

Paula Barlow

Being the owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury *

Sentence

12-month community order, 25 days of rehabilitation activity, and £500 compensation

Paula Barlow's XL Bully dog attacked Stephen Lewis during a chance meeting in Joan Bartlett Close/Marbury Gardens on August 15, 2023. Barlow was present and tried to restrain the 60kg dog, which caused significant physical injuries to Mr. Lewis's hands and psychological upset, including anxiety and the need for ongoing physiotherapy and medication. The incident had a profound impact on the victim and his family.

Found guilty after trial; no similar convictions for 10 years; attempted to restrain the dog; dog was euthanised in January 2024; judge noted she was not truly sorry and that owning the dog had benefited her life.

18 Jul 2024

Mohammed Ashraf

Theft *

Sentence

4 weeks imprisonment

Mohammed Ashraf stole various items from Tesco Express on London Road, Alderley Edge, on July 15, and stole cheese and chocolate from Sainsbury's Local on Canute Place, Knutsford, on May 28. He has a history of similar thefts and was of no fixed address at the time.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a shop. The custodial sentence was due to his previous poor record. He was previously ordered to pay £273.20 in compensation for other thefts.

16 Jul 2024

June 2024 4 cases

Aidan Callaghin

Dangerous Driving *

Sentence

2 years imprisonment, suspended for 3 years, 300 hours of unpaid work, and 2 years supervision

Aidan Callaghin led police on two high-speed chases, reaching speeds over 100mph on the A50 in Knutsford and Lymm. The first pursuit began on May 31, 2024, when he failed to stop for police on Tabley Road, accelerating in a silver Vauxhall Astra and overtaking vehicles while disregarding speed limits and solid white lines. He continued through residential areas, and the chase ended when his vehicle crashed into a police vehicle. A second incident occurred on June 1, 2024, where he again failed to stop, driving at excessive speeds, including 89mph in a 30mph area, until stopped by police tactics.

Pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving and other traffic offences. Magistrates noted the offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified, due to two counts of dangerous driving resulting in a collision with a police vehicle. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

30 Jun 2024

Ian James Mcintyre

Shoplifting *

Sentence

18 weeks imprisonment

Ian James McIntyre, a prolific shoplifter with no fixed abode in Crewe, targeted stores across Nantwich, Shavington, and Crewe, leading to his breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Breached his Criminal Behaviour Order.

13 Jun 2024

Carl Edwards

Recklessly causing a public nuisance *

Sentence

6 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 20 hours rehabilitation activity, £85 costs, and £154 victim surcharge

Carl Edwards initiated a six-hour stand-off with police outside the Portal in Ellesmere Port on March 17, 2024. He called 999, identifying himself and stating his intent to set himself on fire using a jerrycan of petrol and a lighter inside a white Vauxhall Insignia parked to block a car park on Wellington Road. He was protesting the Department for Work and Pensions removing his benefits and had additional items in the car, including other lighters, a box of matches, and a baseball bat. This caused the evacuation of the Portal, considerable disruption, and endangered emergency workers due to petrol vapours.

Pleaded guilty to the offences. Was in a mental health crisis, expressed genuine remorse, and has a light criminal record with three historical convictions. The court noted the seriousness of the incident but acknowledged he is now seeking help.

10 Jun 2024

Jonathan Hughes

Driving while disqualified *

Sentence

Extended driving ban until September 2026, fined £120, costs of £85, and victim surcharge of £48

Jonathan Hughes drove a car on April 30, 2024, while disqualified from driving until July 2026 and without insurance. He was spotted by police on Rossmore Road and Westminster Road, attempted to switch seats with the passenger upon being stopped, and gave a 'no comment' interview. At the time, he was helping a pregnant friend transport a second-hand washing machine.

Had 39 previous convictions including significant vehicle offences. Was recalled to prison and served four weeks. Defence stated he was helping a pregnant friend and drove a short distance foolishly.

6 Jun 2024

May 2024 1 case

Harry Newton-Jones

Drink-driving and drug-driving *

Sentence

4 months driving disqualification, £600 fine, £240 victim surcharge, and £85 costs

Harry Newton-Jones was found in the back of his broken-down vehicle on the A55 in Chester on February 22, 2024, with a breath alcohol reading of 83mcg per 100ml, more than twice the legal limit, and drugs in his system (cocaine at 25mcg per 100ml of blood and cannabis at 3.4mcg). Police also discovered six white bags of powder on his person. He had recently split from his partner, which led to his actions, and he works in construction seeking a promotion.

Pleaded guilty to all charges. Defendant is remorseful, has been drink and drugs free since the incident, and was described as a 'complete idiot' by his defence. Judge noted it was a serious offence requiring punishment to balance remorse and the threshold for disqualification.

27 May 2024

March 2024 1 case

Daniel Curtis

Begging *

Sentence

two-year Criminal Behaviour Order

Daniel Curtis, a 35-year-old from North Wales, persistently approached members of the public in Chester city centre and a nearby retail park, stopping strangers to beg for cash by claiming he would repay them via bank transfer, though no payments were ever made. Police gathered evidence of this pattern of behaviour.

Handed the order for persistent begging by approaching strangers and requesting money under false pretenses of repayment.

19 Mar 2024

September 2023 2 cases

Faye Rochford

Possession of a custody dog *

Sentence

£40 fine and £500 kennel fees

On September 11, 2023, Cheshire Police officers were called to Faye Rochford's property in Ellesmere Port due to reports of an XL-Bully dog living there. The dog, named Luna, was being walked without a muzzle and was unneutered. Rochford struggled to put a harness on Luna in the back garden and admitted the dog was hard to train and control. Luna was later assessed by a police expert as wary but not aggressive, eventually showing a friendly nature. Defence clarified Luna is a pitbull terrier, a banned breed, though Rochford had registered her as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier unaware of the ban.

Pleaded guilty to possession of a custody dog. Contingency destruction order granted for dog Luna, giving two months to register her legally. £16 surcharge. No costs.

15 Sep 2023

Matthew Hill

Drink-driving *

Sentence

Fined £500, £200 surcharge, £85 costs, and banned for 12 months

On August 17, Matthew Hill was driving at speed on the A55, weaving through traffic, and made a last-minute manoeuvre to exit the road. He was pulled over by police, who found him over the legal alcohol limit with a breath test reading of 57mcg per 100ml of breath. He was arrested and has no prior convictions.

Pleaded guilty to driving above the legal limit. No previous convictions. Described as a poor decision by his lawyer. The ban can be reduced by a quarter if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course by September 2026.

9 Sep 2023

August 2023 2 cases

Saman Kaderi

Possession of illegal cigarettes *

Sentence

Fined £107, victim surcharge £42.80, and costs £817, totaling £966.80

On June 14, 2023, officers from Cheshire West Trading Standards and Cheshire Police inspected Kubus Mini Market at 20 Frodsham Street, Chester, where they discovered illegal cigarettes concealed behind a fob-activated shutter. The products included cigarettes without required health warnings and counterfeit items. This followed a test purchase that raised suspicions due to the low price of £5 for a pack of cigarettes.

As the director of SamK Foods Limited, which was also fined £6,600 for related offences. Councillor Stuart Bingham highlighted the risks of illegal tobacco to health and communities.

20 Aug 2023

Benjamin Jones

Assault by beating *

Sentence

Fined £586, costs of £85, surcharge of £234, and £50 compensation to victim

On July 26, 2023, Benjamin Jones, while drunk in the Red Door bar in St John Street, Chester, touched the head of a victim who has alopecia, leading to a confrontation. Door staff intervened, and outside the bar, Jones pushed the victim in the face, causing him to fall onto his partner and the floor, resulting in swelling. Jones was also abusive to police when they arrived, leading to his arrest.

Pleaded guilty to assault by beating and being drunk and disorderly. The chairman noted that the defendant's behaviour was wrong due to the victim's medical condition and self-consciousness.

15 Aug 2023

November 2014 1 case

John Bloor

Possession of a fake firearm *

Sentence

two-year conditional discharge

John Bloor, 49, of Parkfield Road, Northwich, was in possession of a fake firearm (BB gun) in the area around his home on Friday, September 19. He was arrested by armed police following reports of a man on a bike with a black gun. The arrest was a response to protect the community from potential harm.

No further action for possession of a fake firearm. If reoffends within two years, can be sentenced for original offence plus new one. Arrested by armed police in response to reports of a man on a bike with a black gun, which was a BB gun.

19 Nov 2014

Date Not Specified 9 cases

Anthony Peters

Distributing and possessing indecent images of a child *

Sentence

12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months

Anthony Peters, a 52-year-old former resident of Chester, engaged in online communication on 30 January 2023 with an undercover police officer, making explicit plans to abuse the officer's supposed child before withdrawing, claiming it was fantasy. He also distributed a category C indecent image of a child to illustrate his interests. The offences occurred on 5 December 2023. He pleaded guilty at his first court appearance.

Pleaded guilty to two charges. Previous conviction for child sexual abuse offences. Imposed a 7-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, 20 days rehabilitation activity, Building Choices programme, and ordered to pay £239 costs.

1 Jan 0001

Akilathansan Palan

Selling vapes to a child *

Sentence

£164 fine, costs of £75 and victim surcharge of £66

Akilathansan Palan, aged 42, of Campbell Close in Northwich, sold a vape to a young volunteer under the age of 18 during a test purchasing operation carried out by council officers on 29 April 2025.

Business owner fined for selling a vape to a child. Ordered to pay within one month.

1 Jan 0001

Andrew Cox

Voyeurism *

Sentence

16 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement, 120 hours unpaid work, £154 victim surcharge, and £300 prosecution costs

Andrew Cox, 38, of Wrexham, placed an unlocked mobile phone hidden under a rag in a toilet cubicle in Ellesmere Port on 16 March 2024, recording the toilet bowl and capturing footage of victims' genitalia on two occasions. He admitted two counts of voyeurism. Upon arrest, police discovered five extreme pornographic images on his devices, which he also admitted possessing. The court heard he had struggled with bullying, the death of his sister, and introversion.

Pleaded guilty. Previous good character. District Judge Ian Barnes acknowledged his 'niche sexual interest in people during private acts'. Sentence suspended considering good character and lack of evidence of sharing.

1 Jan 0001

Sandeep Jarjapu

Failing to comply with a Prohibition Order *

Sentence

fines and costs totalling £5,286

Sandeep Jarjapu and Nattha Gohill, both of Chester, owned and let a flat above commercial premises in Chester. The property was inspected by Cheshire West and Chester Council housing officers in December 2017 and found to have no heating, serious fire hazards, and no windows. A Prohibition Order was served preventing occupation due to severe hazards and risks to health and safety. An unannounced visit in June 2018 found the flat occupied again in contravention of the order.

Entered a guilty plea. Total penalty imposed with co-defendant Nattha Gohill.

1 Jan 0001

Richard Jackson

Possession of indecent images of children *

Sentence

12 months imprisonment

Richard Jackson, 38, of Mercia Grove, Chester, admitted possessing over 120 indecent images of children, including 18 category A, 60 category B, 47 category C, and five prohibited images. The images, collected from September 2005 to April 2024, depicted serious assaults on very young children. Police seized mobile phones, tablets, USB drives, and CDs from his home. The court heard that Jackson used search terms targeting the abuse of very young children.

Pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing child abuse images. First conviction but the offending spanned almost 20 years. A 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed, along with £85 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

1 Jan 0001

Nattha Gohill

Failing to comply with a Prohibition Order *

Sentence

fines and costs totalling £5,286

Found guilty in her absence. Total penalty imposed with co-defendant Sandeep Jarjapu.

1 Jan 0001

Neil Webb

Possessing and making indecent images of children *

Sentence

eight months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months

Neil Webb was convicted of possessing and making indecent images of children.

Subjected to the notification requirements of the Sex Offender Register and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

1 Jan 0001

Sugunarajan Mohanacajan

Selling vapes to a child *

Sentence

£74 fine, costs of £75 and victim surcharge of £30

Sugunarajan Mohanacajan, aged 32, of London Road in Davenham, sold a vape to a young volunteer under the age of 18 during a test purchasing operation carried out by council officers on 29 April 2025.

Employee who sold the vape to a child. Ordered to pay within two months.

1 Jan 0001

Thomas Finney

Breaching a sexual harm prevention order *

Sentence

6 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months

Thomas Finney, 31, breached a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by possessing a hidden mobile phone. In 2022, he had been convicted at Sheffield Crown Court for sending sexual messages and images to a girl aged 13–14, receiving a two-year community order and the SHPO requiring him to register electronic devices. On 23 February 2024, Cheshire Police officers visited an address in Orford, Warrington, and found the hidden phone. Finney was arrested and admitted the breach. Deputy District Judge Roger Lowe deemed the offence so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified but suspended the six-month prison term for 12 months in light of his guilty plea. He also imposed rehabilitation activity and financial penalties.

Pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Ordered to pay £85 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Required to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activity. Sexual harm prevention order remains in effect.

1 Jan 0001

Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from publicly available court records and published media reports. It is provided strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as a definitive record of any individual's criminal history or legal status.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) reflect descriptions used in media reporting and may not correspond to the formal legal charge or indictment. Sentencing details are as reported and may be subject to subsequent appeal, variation, or correction by the courts.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The presence of a name on this page does not imply guilt, and some listed individuals may have had convictions overturned, sentences reduced, or charges withdrawn after the date of publication.

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Magistrates Court

Grosvenor Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2XA, United Kingdom

+443308084407

www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk

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About Chester Magistrates' Court

Chester Magistrates' Court, located in Chester, Chester, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 78 sentencing records in our database, it serves the Chester, Chester area and surrounding communities. Magistrates' Courts handle the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales, with cases heard by a bench of magistrates or a district judge.

The court can be found at Grosvenor Street, CH1 2XA.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +443308084407 or visit the official court website for further information.

All sentencing information published on this page has been sourced from publicly-available records and verified by our editorial team. If you believe any information is inaccurate or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above.