Plymouth Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

A 23-year-old man starved his two-year-old XL bully dog to death. The dog lost 43 per cent of her body weight between a June veterinary visit and October last year, and was dead on arrival at a veterinary practice weighing 19.3kg with a body condition score of one out of nine. A postmortem found depleted muscle mass, no fat stores, fleas, dehydration, stomach ulcers, and signs of prolonged stress from undernutrition, with no natural illness to explain the condition. The RSPCA investigation found the dog died from lack of food over a prolonged period and suffered unnecessarily.

Harleigh Chown stole more than £750 worth of goods from Plymouth shops between September 3 and October 12, targeting Co-op and Tesco stores repeatedly. The stolen goods included energy drinks, alcohol and confectionery.

Thomas Brumby handled a 100-year-old carved wooden eagle lectern that was sawn off its pedestal and stolen from a church in Yelverton in May 2025. The theft prompted a public appeal and local enquiries, and the eagle was recovered a few days later after an anonymous phone call about its whereabouts. Brumby was arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage and later admitted handling stolen goods. The eagle was restored by a specialist and returned to the church in July 2025.

Dawn French was caught driving her Mini Clubman Cooper S Sport at 36 mph in a 30 mph zone in Plymouth, Devon, on 11 June 2025. The offence was her fourth speeding matter in three years and brought her licence to 12 penalty points.

On 20 April 2026, on Devonport Road, Plymouth, Stuart Hulme approached two women who were walking to a local school to collect their children. To the first woman, around 3.10pm, he jumped out from a hedge, told her to remove her headphones, and offered her £10 to watch him masturbate in a nearby field while showing a £10 note. About five minutes later, he approached the second woman, offered her £10 'so you can watch me' while gesturing a masturbation motion. Both women were shocked and distressed. The second woman recorded video evidence. Hulme pleaded guilty to two counts under the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 (section 4B, Public Order Act 1986).

On March 21, 2026, Jessie-May Turpin, aged 31, attempted to steal items from the Co-op store on Wilton Street, Millbridge, Plymouth, leading to a disturbance. She damaged £3,005 worth of property belonging to the store, possessed several broken bottles as an offensive weapon, and engaged in affray. Police were called, and she was arrested. Additionally, she had previously assaulted a police officer at Derriford Hospital on November 18, 2025, by spitting on him.

Marek Mirga dumped a huge pile of furniture at George Place in Stonehouse in July 2023 while claiming to clear waste from a flat for his family to move in. He was evasive during investigations, denied connection to the property, and failed to pay a £400 fixed penalty notice. The area is frequently cleared by the council, costing taxpayers money.

Alfie Phillips was recorded riding his motorcycle at 52mph in a 30mph temporary speed restriction on the A390 at Threemilestone on April 25, 2025. He attempted to argue that the signage was inadequate, making the speed limit unlawful, but this was rejected by the court.

Steven Hendry, 40, from Liskeard, trading as Apex Roofing & Property Services, was observed carrying out unsafe roof replacement work on a domestic property without scaffolding. HSE inspector Hatti Shipp served a prohibition notice, but Hendry failed to comply, ignored requests for further information under Section 20 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and continued the unsafe work. He was verbally abusive to the inspector and did not attend court, leading to an arrest warrant.

Ben Frost, aged 37 of Stonehouse, breached a restraining order by contacting a named woman via WhatsApp.

Iain Frew, aged 53 of Plymouth, failed to provide a specimen for analysis at Charles Cross Police Station during an investigation into possible driving offense.

Ben Rickards, aged 28 and of no fixed abode in Plymouth, was the driver of a silver BMW stopped by police in Clowance Lane, Devonport, at around 11am on October 6, 2025. He was charged with driving whilst disqualified and driving without a suitable licence following the stop check.

Ethan Jones, aged 23, of Sherford, was found in possession of indecent images of children on two devices. The offences involved making four category A (most serious), four category B, and 14 category C indecent images, as well as possession of four indecent images. The images were discovered between November 15, 2021, and November 20, 2024.

Mia Fifield failed to attend a required Probation appointment, breaching a suspended sentence related to assaults on three emergency workers.

Nathan Davies committed criminal damage to a store window, a theatre door, and a police station cell, leading to a community order and compensation.

Ryan Dziendziol handled stolen power tools on two occasions, leading to a community order and compensation.

Possession of a bladed item at Torpoint Ferry terminal.

Lee Borda stole fragrances valued at £840.90, £255, £492, and £278 from The Perfume Shop in Drake Circus shopping mall, Plymouth.

Nacanieli Daulako drove a Vauxhall Insignia on Mannamead Road, Plymouth, with 96mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit.

Connor Easton drove a Mercedes A180 on the A392 while disqualified, without third party insurance, dangerously, failed to provide a specimen of blood, possessed a knuckle duster in a public place, and failed to stop when required by a police officer.

James Wickett drove on Union Street, Plymouth, with 98mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, exceeding the legal limit.

Christopher Jeffery used threatening words or behaviour in How Street, Barbican, Plymouth, to cause harassment, and committed multiple thefts from Tesco in Plymouth Road and Marks and Spencer in Exeter, stealing items including chocolate bars and alcohol.

Kendall Scally possessed a zombie knife with a serrated blade measuring 28cm in a public place on The Hoe Promenade, Plymouth.

Joshua Prior was caught on camera repeatedly kicking and slapping his French Bulldog, Ronnie, during a ten-minute incident on August 25 of the previous year. The footage showed him entering a lift with the dog, leaning down over it, kicking it hard enough to lift its back end off the ground, and slapping it. A subsequent vet examination indicated the dog suffered unnecessary pain and psychological abuse, with evidence suggesting this may not have been an isolated event.