Exeter North And East Devon Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Thomas Bounsall, 32, from Princetown, was sentenced for careless driving and intentionally disorderly behaviour involving hunt monitors. In November 2025 at Chulmleigh Beacon, he reversed a quad bike into a busy road; footage showed the vehicle striking a woman’s hand and causing soreness. In January 2026, he was filmed driving a quad bike close to a man before becoming involved in a verbal confrontation during a hunt event connected to the Eggesford Hunt. He was fined a total of £2,185, including court costs.

Laura Dean, a former police officer based at Bridgwater Police Centre, used a police computer system, Niche, to carry out searches on several individuals, including herself. None of the illegal searches related to victims of crime she had contact with in a professional capacity. She resigned from Avon and Somerset Police in September 2025.

On 19 June 2025, police were informed that a man had been in cardiac arrest and had suffered a serious head injury. The victim said he had been assaulted. CCTV showed the victim being approached by Whitcombe outside a pub in Ottery St Mary town centre. After a verbal disagreement, Whitcombe pushed the victim into a wall, causing a significant head injury. The victim suffered a bleed on the brain, a bruise to the skull and a skin laceration, and continued to experience strong headaches and leg tingling. Whitcombe later attended Exeter Police Station and was arrested. A search of his home found Class B drugs, and he pleaded guilty to possession.

Charlotte Taylor attacked a neighbour with a wooden rounders bat, striking her six times during an evening in May last year. The assault followed a two-year dispute over rubbish outside the property. The incident was recorded by the victim and a local man. Taylor was arrested after police recovered the rounders bat from a cupboard in her house. She was said to have acted spontaneously and to suffer from ADHD and anxiety.

Kirsty Keily was stopped in her car by members of the public while drunk at the wheel in the car park of the Cowick Barton pub in Cowick Lane, Exeter, one Friday night last month. She had switched on the engine of her Kia car but was prevented from leaving and reversed back into a parking space. She was arrested by police and blew 90mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Dogs were found living in squalor at the Peters Marland property near Torrington, while sick horses and poultry had not received veterinary treatment. Inspectors found animals including dogs, horses, chickens, ducks and a goat living in unsuitable and squalid conditions, some without food, water or vet care. A stallion named Mid Morning Monkey had an untreated eye ulcer. Horses Symphonies Secret and Summer’s Place Jessica had untreated dental disease; the latter also had deformed legs, swollen knees, uneven gait and chronic arthritis. The case followed complaints about constant dog barking, breached noise abatement notices and a Criminal Behaviour Order limiting dogs to six.

Edward Donovan, of Crediton, turned part of an elderly landowners’ farm at Spreyton into an illegal waste site where he dumped 2,000 tonnes of waste collected from commercial businesses across central and east Devon as EDS (Ed Donovan Services). The waste included furniture, plastics, plasterboard and materials containing asbestos, causing pollution. He operated without a permit from May 2017 in lieu of payment for dismantling and removing 3 caravans. When told to tidy up in November 2017, he set the waste alight instead.

On 16/08/2026 at Okehampton, Isaac Golborne drove on the A30 at Whiddon Down with a breath alcohol reading of 70mg in 100ml breath.

Jack Bennett, 39, from Devon, sent threatening and harmful messages to a Member of Parliament and two other recipients over a nine-month period from April 2024 to January 2025. The messages caused distress, and police investigated, leading to Bennett's arrest. Magistrates considered the threats serious enough to justify immediate imprisonment rather than a fine or community order.

Jason Marles was employed as a huntsmaster by the Eggesford Hunt and was responsible for taking out hounds on an artificial trail. On Boxing Day at Okehampton, drone footage showed Marles and others near a barn with a group of hounds. A fox was seen running from shrub, the hounds chased it, and no attempt was made to stop them.

On 24/02/2026 at Exeter, Jonathan Brothers drove while disqualified on Cowick Street.

Kym Lovegrove harassed a woman from Budleigh Salterton without violence between May 14 and June 13, 2025, following the breakdown of their short-lived relationship. They met at a mutual friend's party and began chatting on a dating site. After a few weeks, the victim wanted space, but Lovegrove repeatedly accused her of cheating, called her a 'slag', used racial slurs and 'bitch', and threatened violence including 'I'm going to rape you'. He contacted her mother and visited her address twice, captured on Ring doorbell footage, to deliver an apology present. The victim received WhatsApp messages every 30 seconds and felt scared for her and her mother's safety.

On 28/11/2025 at Exeter, Adam Fogiel failed to stop after a road accident on Pinhoe Road in which another vehicle was damaged.

On 20/09/2025 at Exmouth, Anton Hyde damaged a Ford Focus valued at £300.

Between 02/01/2025 and 02/01/2026 at Exeter, Christian Colaco harassed a woman without violence.

On 12/09/2026 at South Zeal, Connor Allin drove with a breath alcohol reading of 68mg in 100ml breath.

The victim, aged 36, was working for Daniel Hooper, trading as Hooper Roofing, at a domestic property in Honiton, Devon on 13 June 2023. The victim had been manually carrying old slate roof tiles down a ladder attached to a scaffold platform when he fell from a height of more than 25 feet. He broke five vertebrae, sustained skull and rib fractures, and was put into an induced coma for five days at Derriford Hospital. An HSE investigation found Hooper failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of his employee by not planning or supervising the work at height or supplying suitable equipment such as a pulley system or mechanical conveyor.

On 11/05/2024 at Ashford, Robin Breeds used threatening words or behaviour towards a woman with intent.

On 09/03/2026 at Torrington, Martin Robinson drove with a blood alcohol reading of 132mg in 100ml of blood.

On 06/10/2026 at Exeter, Nigel Treadwell breached a criminal behaviour order by being drunk in public and outraged public decency by urinating in the street.