Southend Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 13 verdicts at Southend Magistrates' Court (Southend-on-Sea). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Richard Lewis

Public Order Offences

May 29, 2025

Sentence: Six months imprisonment

Richard Lewis, 38, of no fixed address, was aggressively begging in Southend, targeting vulnerable people including children and the disabled. He escorted individuals to cash points to ensure they withdrew money for him, breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order issued on April 5 that banned him from swearing, intimidating, abusing people, begging, and entering certain areas. He was arrested on May 6 in Southend High Street and charged with the offences.

Admitted to four public order offences, assault, and four breaches of his Criminal Behaviour Order. The Criminal Behaviour Order was extended until 2030. PC Lois Greenlees commented on the public concern and the role of such orders in deterring offenders.

Sources: essexlive.news

Lee Gannon

Burglary

September 4, 2024

Sentence: 28 months imprisonment

Lee Gannon, a 52-year-old from Roebourne Way in Newham, conducted a series of burglaries across Essex from June 12, 2024, to August 11, 2024, stealing goods worth over £10,000 from shops including Boots, Card Factory, and a Co-Op store. He gained access to storerooms by pressing emergency fire release buttons, stole cash, stamps, cigarettes, and other items, and on August 11, 2024, attacked a shopkeeper at Value Food Express in Thundersley with a stepladder, punching and dragging him. His actions were driven by desperation due to homelessness and mental health issues, including paranoid schizophrenia.

Pleaded guilty to six counts of burglary and one count of assault. Has 157 previous convictions, including 88 for theft or dishonesty. Judge Siew Loke noted his extensive criminal record and that the offences occurred shortly after his release from a prior sentence.

Sources: echo-news.co.uk

Georgi Kostov

Possession of a prohibited weapon

August 1, 2024

Sentence: Four months imprisonment, suspended for a year, and 100 hours of unpaid work

Georgi Kostov was found in possession of a machete in a public place on The Leas on April 3, and also in possession of cocaine on the same day. He admitted to both offenses at court.

Of previous good character with a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. Ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £154 surcharge.

Sources: echo-news.co.uk

John Paterson

Child sex offences

July 9, 2024

Sentence: 12 years imprisonment and 5 years extended licence

John Paterson committed a sustained sexual attack on a primary school-aged girl, involving six separate child sex offences over a half-hour period. The victim promptly reported the incident to her mother, and forensic tests confirmed his saliva inside her clothes. He denied the charges at trial, presenting himself as a religious convert and clutching a bible in the dock, but was convicted. The attack occurred prior to his arrest, and he shouted 'I’m innocent' after sentencing.

Denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury. Judge Samantha Cohen imposed a permanent Sexual Harm Prevention Order and stated that he must never be alone with any female child, including his own, due to the risk of reoffending.

Sources: echo-news.co.uk

Kieran Wright

Possession of class A and class B drugs

April 30, 2024

Sentence: 120 GBP fine, 85 GBP costs, 48 GBP surcharge

Kieran Wright, 30, of Lee Conservancy Road, Hackney, was found with 6.74 grams of MDMA (a class A drug) and a quantity of cannabis in Southend on December 30, 2023.

William Hagan

Failing to give information relating to the identification of a driver

April 30, 2024

Sentence: 500 GBP fine, 6 penalty points

William Hagan, 44, of Bramley Way, Mayland, failed to give information to Essex Police regarding a BMW driver accused of an offence in Billericay on March 29.

John Brace

Shop theft

April 30, 2024

Sentence: 18 months ban from entering two BP garages, 6 months drug rehabilitation treatment

John Brace, of The Hyde, Langdon Hills, stole items worth more than 1,300 GBP from BP garages in East Mayne and Nether Mayne, Basildon, on more than 20 occasions between March 24 and April 28.

Charlie Warman

Driving with excess drugs in blood

April 30, 2024

Sentence: 3 years driving ban, 100 hours unpaid work

Charlie Warman, 32, of Crays View, Billericay, was driving a Vauxhall Mokka along East Hanningfield Road in Chelmsford with 32 micrograms of cocaine, 6.3 micrograms of THC, and 652 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood, exceeding legal limits.

Courtney Anderson

Failing to give information relating to the identification of a driver

April 30, 2024

Sentence: 1 year driving ban, 180 GBP fine, 350 GBP costs, 72 GBP surcharge

Courtney Anderson, 30, of Ampleforth Road, Abbey Wood, failed to provide information to Essex Police regarding a BMW driver alleged to have committed an offence in Billericay on April 2.

Found guilty of failing to give information relating to the identification of a driver, despite denying the offence.

Sources: echo-news.co.uk

Luke Carter

Possession of a class B drug

April 29, 2024

Sentence: 80 GBP fine

Luke Carter, 36, of no fixed address, was found in possession of a quantity of cannabis in Southend on April 28.

Kim Weighman

Assault by beating

April 29, 2024

Sentence: 2 weeks curfew with electronic monitoring (7pm to 5am)

Kim Weighman, 34, of Caley Close, Hockley, assaulted another woman by beating her in Southend on March 21.

Marcus Decker

Causing a public nuisance

April 21, 2023

Sentence: Two years and seven months imprisonment

Marcus Decker, along with Morgan Trowland, used ropes and climbing equipment to scale the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on the Dartford Crossing in October 2022. They ascended to a height of nearly 200 feet, unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner, rigged up hammocks, and stayed there, causing the bridge to be closed for approximately 40 hours. This action led to significant disruption, including gridlock, businesses losing money, people missing funerals, and affecting tens of thousands of individuals.

Had one previous conviction relating to a protest. His defence stated that the protest was not his idea and that he was not part of the initial planning, but he was trying to act for the greater good. Judge Shane Collery KC noted no signs of reduced commitment to his causes.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Morgan Trowland

Causing a public nuisance

April 21, 2023

Sentence: Three years imprisonment

Morgan Trowland, along with Marcus Decker, used ropes and climbing equipment to scale the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on the Dartford Crossing in October 2022. They ascended to a height of nearly 200 feet, unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner, rigged up hammocks, and stayed there, causing the bridge to be closed for approximately 40 hours. This action led to significant disruption, including gridlock, businesses losing money, people missing funerals, and affecting tens of thousands of individuals.

Had a leading role in the protest, with six previous convictions relating to protests. Judge Shane Collery KC stated that he must be punished for the chaos caused and to deter others, noting that he believed he knew better than everyone else.

Sources: standard.co.uk

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