Swindon Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Harrison Cox was seen attempting to evade police in a silver Vauxhall Astra on Whitworth Road in the early hours of 29th July. Officers stopped the vehicle and suspected he was intoxicated. He failed a breath test and was subsequently arrested.

On 25 July 2026, Dominik Pietka was seen driving at speed on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 and was followed as the vehicle exited at junction 16. His vehicle was stopped by specialist operations and he was arrested for driving while disqualified and holding no insurance. He admitted the offences.

Sean Morris, of Walcot, breached a Sexual Risk Order imposed in February 2023 to protect vulnerable sex workers. He was first arrested in August 2023 for violating the order, and breached it again in June 2026, leading to his remand in custody. The court imposed a custodial sentence reflecting the repeated breaches and risk posed.

Ashleigh Witts, 36, a Swindon roofer, illegally dumped construction waste in Latton near Cricklade in March 2025. The waste included roofing materials such as felt, chipboard, and tiles. Wiltshire Council officers traced the waste to his business, ARW Property Services, and found he had failed to produce waste transfer documentation and was operating without a valid waste carrier's licence.

Ellie Watson pleaded guilty on 27 May to drink driving in April and was banned from driving. Hours after sentencing, she was stopped by police on Ocotal Way suspected of driving under the influence. She provided breath samples of 109 and 95 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, almost three times the legal limit of 35. She was charged with drink driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance, and remanded into custody.

Lucy Elango was driving a Toyota Aygo on the B4508 between Watchfield and Highworth in December 2025 when she attempted to overtake a cyclist and struck him from behind after failing to give enough room. The cyclist was thrown onto the grass verge and sustained serious injuries requiring ongoing care. Elango briefly stopped while bystanders provided first aid, then left the scene without giving her details and was identified only after a media appeal.

Tracey Manser repeatedly stole items including laundry products and meat from Co-Operative stores in Swindon despite a Criminal Behaviour Order imposed in December that banned her from entering any Co-Operative store in the town. She was caught multiple times and was sentenced for theft and breach of the order.

Arthur Dolan Jnr and his father Arthur Dolan Snr, operating under A & D Home Improvements Ltd, misled customers in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area with dishonest claims about necessary roofing work. At one property, they persuaded a homeowner that a full roof replacement was needed instead of a simple cavity tray repair, escalating the quote from £3,000 to £12,000. The work was unnecessary, poorly executed with defects, and left debris on the roof. At a second property, they charged £12,450 for a full re-roof that was so substandard it required complete redoing, costing the homeowner an additional £17,000 in repairs. The properties were left in worse condition, with misleading claims and lack of reasonable skill or care confirmed by independent surveyors.

Arthur Dolan Snr and his son Arthur Dolan Jnr, operating under A & D Home Improvements Ltd, misled customers in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area with dishonest claims about necessary roofing work. At one property, they persuaded a homeowner that a full roof replacement was needed instead of a simple cavity tray repair, escalating the quote from £3,000 to £12,000. The work was unnecessary, poorly executed with defects, and left debris on the roof. At a second property, they charged £12,450 for a full re-roof that was so substandard it required complete redoing, costing the homeowner an additional £17,000 in repairs. The properties were left in worse condition, with misleading claims and lack of reasonable skill or care confirmed by independent surveyors.

Henry James was part of a trio arrested near Sevington after a 4x4 was seen entering a field shortly before midnight on October 15. Three males were reported inside with lamps and three dogs. Wiltshire Police searched the vehicle and found three lurcher dogs in cages and seven dead hares. The group was engaged in hare coursing, the illegal practice of chasing hares with dogs under the Hunting Act 2004.

Jamie James was part of a trio arrested near Sevington after a 4x4 was seen entering a field shortly before midnight on October 15. Three males were reported inside with lamps and three dogs. Wiltshire Police searched the vehicle and found three lurcher dogs in cages and seven dead hares. The group was engaged in hare coursing, the illegal practice of chasing hares with dogs under the Hunting Act 2004.

Nathan Wiltshire was involved in a high-speed police pursuit in the early hours of 28 October after officers spotted a Mercedes in Pinehurst, Swindon. Instead of stopping, he accelerated, drove at double the speed limit along Whitworth Road, swerved onto Thames Avenue and crashed into a metal fence. At one point the vehicle mounted a pavement near a pub, damaged a footpath metal fence and deployed the airbags. He admitted failing to stop, dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

On October 14, 2025, Asa Manders was caught shoplifting at Sainsbury's in Chippenham, Wiltshire, with £500 worth of stolen meat, Toblerone bars, and Christmas and Halloween decorations. Police searched his Mercedes Box van and found additional stolen items worth £3,500, including Celebrations chocolates, Galaxy bars, Malteasers, shampoo, cleaning products, Christmas decorations, alcohol, shoes, instant coffee, Lindt and Cadbury chocolates, John West tuna, and plastic skeleton decorations. He was arrested after acting suspiciously at the tills.

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Jake King, 21, of Wincanton, was driving a black Audi and repeatedly tailgated an unmarked police vehicle on the A30 near Ludwell. He overtook the police in a 30mph zone, breaching the speed limit. When pulled over, he initially refused to provide details, then admitted he was disqualified from driving, had no insurance, and was using false plates. A Stanley knife was found on the driver's seat, and the vehicle was unroadworthy due to exposed cord on the front tyres and was seized.

On April 8, 2025, Steven Beeton entered his ex-partner's shed in violation of bail conditions, while intoxicated. He threatened to use gas canisters inside the shed to cause an explosion, leading to police intervention and the fire service spraying a hose through the window to prevent disaster. He was removed from the shed and arrested.

Joshua Moss, 31, of no fixed abode, targeted shops in Swindon and Wiltshire, committing 14 counts of shoplifting and four counts of assault on retail staff between June 8 and August 1, 2025. He attacked staff when challenged, and four other thefts were taken into account during sentencing.

On August 1, 2025, Reuben Brown was driving a black Seat Arona illegally on the M4 eastbound. He was spotted at junction 16, exited onto the A3102, and evaded a police stop by mounting the pavement, narrowly avoiding officers. A pursuit followed, with Brown reaching speeds up to 90mph, driving the wrong way around roundabouts, and travelling incorrectly down streets towards Old Town and Marlborough Road. He crashed into a garden wall while attempting a turn onto Downs View Road, then fled on foot before being detained and arrested for dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Michael McDonagh, 46, of no fixed abode, stole goods worth £434.10 from B&M on June 6, returned to steal £120.93 on June 10, and targeted Co-op branches in Swindon, including stealing £120.93 on June 13, £120 on June 15, £150 on June 18, £360 from Cavendish Square, and £75 from Old Town, totalling £1,380.96. He also interfered with a vehicle on June 30 and has a history of prolific offending.

Mark Rutterford left a horsebox containing tyres, alloy wheels, gas cannisters, cuts of wood, and household waste on a private driveway in Rockbourne near Fordingbridge in October 2024, blocking access for residents. Wiltshire Council enforcement officers identified him via an envelope in the waste. He initially claimed others had taken the waste but later admitted responsibility. The council incurred £1,525.70 to remove the waste urgently. He was prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Wayne Dyke, 61, of Chippenham, was driving a Fiat Punto along Hobley Drive in Swindon and failed to stop at red traffic lights at the junction with Ermin Street. He struck a pedestrian, a man in his 60s, on October 28, 2022, causing serious injuries including a bleed on the brain and inability to use one eye. The victim now suffers from memory loss, headaches, fatigue, and anxiety, and has reported feeling unsafe in crowds and anxious when crossing roads.

Daniel Walker was caught driving at 65 mph in a 30 mph zone on Downton Road, Salisbury. He claimed he was late for work. He pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court.

Aaron Thurston, 35, from Street, illegally fished at the Viaduct Fishery, Somerton, earlier this year without a rod licence. When challenged by Environment Agency Water Bailiffs, he provided a false name and address, which were recognised as incorrect.

Alan Joyce of Frome was fishing at Clivey’s Lake on August 22, 2018 when he was approached by an Environment Agency water bailiff carrying out routine rod licence checks. Joyce refused to state his name and address when requested to do so by the bailiff.