Colchester Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 12 verdicts at Colchester Magistrates' Court (Colchester). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

August 2026 1 case

Samantha James

13 Aug 2026

Breach of Criminal Behaviour Order and theft from shop *

Sentence

6 months imprisonment

Samantha James, 39, of Kidderminster, was found guilty at Worcester Magistrates Court of three counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and two counts of theft from shop. She was sentenced to six months in prison for each breach, to run concurrently, and ordered to pay £119.30 in compensation for the shop thefts. Police said the custodial sentence reflected her persistent offending despite being subject to the order.

Found guilty of three counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and two counts of theft from shop. The prison sentences for the breaches were ordered to run concurrently. She was also ordered to pay £119.30 in compensation.

kidderminsterstandard.co.uk

Verified against source 29 Aug 2026

March 2026 1 case

Carl Horsnell

6 Mar 2026

Causing serious injury by dangerous driving *

Sentence

3 years and 10 months imprisonment

Carl Horsnell, of Henniker Road, Ipswich, drove a silver BMW 318i from the Chantry area of Ipswich shortly before 07:22 on 11 December 2025. On Burrell Road, he collided with a female pedestrian, a serving Metropolitan Police officer named the victim, causing her a significant brain injury, fractured spine, and lower leg injuries from which she will never fully recover. Horsnell failed to stop, returned to Chantry just over an hour later, and was arrested after police found his damaged vehicle off Cambridge Drive around 09:00. He was over the alcohol limit at 74 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath (limit 35), exceeded the speed limit, ignored red lights, made dangerous overtaking and undertaking manoeuvres, and was on a video call. He had no insurance or valid licence.

Pleased guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, failing to stop after a road accident, driving with excess alcohol, and refusing to provide a sample for a Class A drug test. Disqualified from driving for seven years. Denied assaulting a police officer; that charge was left to lie on file.

ipswich.co.uk

Verified against source 28 Aug 2026

August 2025 4 cases

Daniel Lloyd Bulgin

19 Aug 2025

Fraud by false representation *

Sentence

Community order requiring 60 hours of unpaid work

Daniel Lloyd Bulgin committed fraud by failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions that he no longer lived at the address where he was claiming rent support, from December 2021 to August 2023.

Admitted fraud by failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions that he no longer lived at an address where he was claiming rent support, between December 2021 and August 2023. Must also pay £114 towards victim services and £85 in prosecution costs.

gazette-news.co.uk

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

Daniel Stephens

13 Aug 2025

Failing to comply with a community order *

Sentence

Community order revoked and new community order made to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, plus costs of £60

Daniel Stephens failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Colchester Magistrates Court on April 28, 2022, by failing to attend unpaid work appointments on March 22, 2025, and April 5, 2025.

Admitted failing to comply with a community order by not attending unpaid work appointments.

gazette-news.co.uk

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

Gary Bateman

13 Aug 2025

Failing to comply with a community order *

Sentence

Original community order extended by 12 months to complete 192 hours of unpaid work, fined £60, and costs of £60

Gary Bateman failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Colchester Magistrates Court on October 1, 2024, by failing to report as instructed on April 30, 2025, and May 14, 2025.

Admitted failing to comply with a community order by not reporting as instructed.

gazette-news.co.uk

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

Keiren Vernege-Wynter

13 Aug 2025

Failing to comply with a community order *

Sentence

Ordered to comply with original community order requirements and carry out 10 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, plus costs of £60

Keiren Vernege-Wynter failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Thames Magistrates Court on February 26, 2025, by failing to report for a planned office visit on March 13, 2025, and failing to report for an unpaid work pre-placement workshop on March 16, 2025.

Admitted failing to comply with a community order by not reporting for appointments.

gazette-news.co.uk

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

July 2025 1 case

Ian Finnegan

11 Jul 2025

Breach of a non-molestation order and assault by beating *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment

Ian Finnegan was given a non-molestation order by Worcester Magistrates Court on June 9 after a history of violence towards his wife. Four days later he was drunk and became verbally abusive and aggressive towards the victim, poking her in the side of the throat. He pleaded guilty to breaching the non-molestation order and assault by beating. The court heard there had been multiple previous assaults and that he had been jailed in December the previous year. He was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently.

Pleaded guilty to breach of a non-molestation order and assault by beating. The two 16-week terms were ordered to run concurrently. He had previous restraining orders and multiple recorded assault incidents against the victim.

worcesterobserver.co.uk

Verified against source 29 Aug 2026

April 2025 1 case

Timothy Howarth

23 Apr 2025

Assault *

Sentence

18-month community order, six-month mental health treatment order, 50 days rehabilitation activity requirement, £600 compensation and £50 fine

On March 28, Timothy Howarth attended Colchester Hospital at around 9pm stating he was in a mental health crisis and demanding immediate treatment. His erratic behaviour led to security being called. He threatened to kill himself, headbutted and punched the wall. He assaulted four security staff members, including pushing one into a wall and causing another to fall and hit his head, leaving him lying lifeless in a pool of blood. A pair of glasses were also damaged.

Supported by mother and grandmother at sentencing. Mitigating factors included mental health issues (anxiety, depression, bipolar and personality disorders). Defendant expressed remorse and is paying privately for therapy.

workingthedoors.co.uk

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

February 2025 1 case

Sharron Lambert

19 Feb 2025

Shoplifting *

Sentence

41 weeks imprisonment

Sharron Lambert, 48, was arrested in Pier Avenue, Clacton, on 5 December 2024 after being recognised as wanted. She admitted six shop thefts and four breaches of a previous criminal behaviour order and was jailed for a total of 41 weeks at Colchester magistrates on 19 February 2025. Magistrates also imposed a new five-year criminal behaviour order banning her from various stores across England and Wales until 18 February 2030.

Admitted six shop thefts and four breaches of a previous criminal behaviour order. Also received a five-year criminal behaviour order banning her from multiple stores.

essexpoliceuk.substack.com

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

Date Not Specified 3 cases

Stacey Price

Date not specified

Animal Welfare Act offence *

Sentence

12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, disqualified from owning or keeping horses for 5 years, 150 hours unpaid work, £154 victim surcharge and £300 costs

The defendant admitted one Animal Welfare Act offence after concerns were raised in November 2024 about the welfare of two horses she owned. RSPCA and World Horse Welfare officers visited a farm in Kidderminster and found the horses underweight, in poor body condition, and suffering from extensive rain scald and high tapeworm burdens. A specialist equine vet certified the animals were at risk, and West Mercia Police took them into possession. Both horses were later put to sleep due to ongoing health issues.

Pleaded guilty to one Animal Welfare Act offence. In mitigation, the court heard she did not intend to harm the horses and expected a third party to be looking after them.

kidderminsterstandard.co.uk

Verified against source 29 Aug 2026

Steven Richardson

Date not specified

Engaging in licensable conduct without a licence *

Sentence

12-month community order with 120-hour unpaid work requirement, victim surcharge of £144 and court costs of £500

Steven Richardson was charged with a criminal offence. His SIA licence was suspended but he failed to return it and continued working as an unlicensed security guard at a school for almost two months. He also failed to notify the SIA of his change of address. Richardson pleaded guilty on 19 January 2024 to the licence breaches and was sentenced on 26 January 2024.

Pleaded guilty to contravening SIA licence conditions by failing to disclose conviction and to engaging in licensable conduct without a licence. Continued working unlicensed at a school after suspension.

workingthedoors.co.uk

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

Jamie Spence

Date not specified

Sounding an unauthorised audible warning instrument on a vehicle *

Sentence

Fined £146

Jamie Spence, 52, from Chelmsford, sounded his Ford Transit van horn a number of times outside Braintree train station in Essex on 4 December last year to attract a friend’s attention. A police officer monitoring the vehicle for possible speeding reported the incident, leading to a charge of sounding an unauthorised audible warning instrument on a vehicle. The matter was brought by police on 29 April.

Pleaded guilty. Offered fixed penalty notice but did not respond. Case dealt with under Single Justice Procedure.

instagram.com

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

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.

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St Botolph's Circus, Colchester CO2 7EF, Colchester, CO2 7EF, United Kingdom

+441245313300

Wheelchair accessible parking, Wheelchair accessible entrance

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About Colchester Magistrates' Court

Colchester Magistrates' Court, located in Colchester, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 12 sentencing records in our database, it serves the Colchester 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 St Botolph's Circus, Colchester CO2 7EF, CO2 7EF.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441245313300.

The sentencing information on this page is compiled from published media reports and other publicly available sources, with automated and editorial checks applied before publication. If you believe any information is inaccurate, out of date, or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above and it will be reviewed by a person.