Taunton Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 17 verdicts at Taunton Magistrates' Court (Taunton). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

August 2026 1 case

Leslie Roper

26 Aug 2026

Theft *

Sentence

Eight-month conditional discharge and £50 compensation

Leslie Roper pleaded guilty to stealing a number of items from Aldi in Chip Lane, Taunton, in November 2024. He was sentenced at Taunton Magistrates' Court to an eight-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 compensation. The court also imposed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order, including restrictions on entering Glastonbury except for pre-arranged medical appointments and on possessing or consuming open alcohol in public places in Somerset.

Pleaded guilty. The court also imposed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order with a number of restrictions.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Checked against source, except the date 7 Sep 2026

June 2026 3 cases

Gary Maughan

11 Jun 2026

Going equipped for theft *

Sentence

24 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with £100 costs and £154 victim surcharge

On 4 March 2026, Gary Maughan was stopped by police while driving a grey Ford C-Max on Notaro Way, Bridgwater. Checks revealed the vehicle was displaying false registration plates and additional plates were in the car. His driving licence had been medically revoked and the vehicle was uninsured. A search of the vehicle uncovered tools associated with vehicle theft, including a trolley jack, reciprocating saw and impact drill.

Pleaded guilty to all offences.

somersetlive.co.uk

Source last checked 10 Oct 2026

Francis Siyachitema

8 Jun 2026

Driving while over the prescribed limit for alcohol *

Sentence

32 month driving ban, 100 hours unpaid work, £85 costs, £114 victim surcharge

On the evening of Monday 4 May 2026, Francis Siyachitema drove his Toyota Yaris on the wrong side of the A38 dual carriageway near Walford Cross, Taunton, forcing other motorists to take evasive action to avoid a collision. Police brought the vehicle to a controlled stop. Siyachitema smelled strongly of alcohol, appeared confused, unsteady on his feet, and was slurring his words. A roadside breath test indicated he was more than four times over the legal limit for alcohol.

Pleaded guilty.

avonandsomerset.police.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Peter Norman Francis Siyachitema

8 Jun 2026

Drink Driving *

Sentence

32-month driving ban, 100 hours of unpaid work, £85 costs, and £114 victim surcharge

On the evening of Monday, 4 May 2026, Peter Norman Francis Siyachitema drove his Toyota Yaris the wrong way on the A38 dual carriageway near Walford Cross while more than four times over the legal alcohol limit. A patrolling police officer forced him to a controlled stop. Other motorists had to take evasive action. He was unsteady, confused, and slurring his words, and a roadside breath test confirmed his high blood alcohol level.

Pleaded guilty to driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit. He was more than four times over the legal alcohol limit and drove the wrong way on the A38 dual carriageway.

uknip.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

April 2026 3 cases

Wayne Greggory

20 Apr 2026

Hunting a wild mammal with dogs *

Sentence

Fined £250

Wayne Greggory, 48, from Huish Champflower, was involved in a hunt in Chilton Trinity, Somerset, on 26 November 2025, organized by The Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Hunt. The incident followed an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police into suspected illegal hunting of a wild mammal with dogs.

Pleaded guilty early on, reducing original fine from £375. Ordered to pay £185 in costs. Described as a man of previous good character.

bbc.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Wayne Gregory

20 Apr 2026

Hunting a wild animal with dogs *

Sentence

Fined £250

The 48-year-old, of Huish Champflower, was arrested and charged following a six-month investigation into an incident in November 2025, when dogs were not called off from hunting a fox during a Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers hunt event, in Chilton Trinity.

Pleaded guilty under the Hunting Act 2004. Ordered to pay £185 in costs.

somersetleveller.co.uk

Checked against source 10 Oct 2026

Simon Calby

14 Apr 2026

Assault on a police officer, criminal damage, using threatening behaviour *

Sentence

6-month community order with 120 hours unpaid work; 6 months alcohol and mental health treatment; rehabilitation activity order (up to 10 days); £400 compensation; 12-month restraining order

Simon Calby smashed a window in a woman’s home at an address in Wellington on February 17, 2026, causing damage valued at between £2,000 and £3,000. During the incident, he assaulted PC Sam McAllister while the officer was carrying out his duties and used threatening or abusive words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

Pleaded guilty to all offences. Guilty pleas taken into account by Chairman Nick Allan.

wellington-today.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

January 2026 1 case

Trevor Nex

28 Jan 2026

Driving while above the alcohol limit *

Sentence

63 months driving ban, 100 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation activity requirement

Trevor Nex, 43, of Baytree Farm in Watchfield, Highbridge, was arrested at Hellings Cross, Bathelton in West Somerset, on November 29, 2025, after reports of a vehicle being driven under the influence of alcohol. Police found him exiting the driver seat of a 4x4 with an open bottle of port inside. He admitted to having 'a couple of ports' and no driving licence due to a previous ban. He claimed the vehicle was not his.

Pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while above the alcohol limit, driving while disqualified, and using a vehicle on a road without third party insurance. Ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

somersetlive.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

September 2025 2 cases

Michelle Powell

15 Sep 2025

Animal cruelty *

Sentence

12 months custody suspended for one year, ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, banned from keeping animals for ten years, and costs of £250

Michelle Powell and Daniel Powell neglected their 11-year-old Labrador, Daisy, by not seeking veterinary treatment for a chronic neck wound, overgrown nails, a mammary tumour, sore eye, and other health issues over three years, leading to unnecessary suffering and the dog's eventual euthanasia

Admitted to neglecting their dog and failing to provide veterinary care

somersetlive.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Daniel Powell

15 Sep 2025

Animal cruelty *

Sentence

12 months custody suspended for one year, ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, banned from keeping animals for ten years, and costs of £250

Admitted to neglecting their dog and failing to provide veterinary care

somersetlive.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

August 2025 1 case

Jake Atkins

4 Aug 2025

Assault causing actual bodily harm *

Sentence

52 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months

Jake Atkins assaulted a person, causing actual bodily harm, along with three other assaults by beating and four counts of criminal damage to property valued under £5000. The criminal damage included a car wing mirror, a mobile phone, and a car windscreen. These offences led to his sentencing.

Also charged with three assault by beating offences and four counts of criminal damage. Received concurrent suspended sentences of six weeks for the assaults and up to six weeks for the damages. Ordered to undergo alcohol abstinence and monitoring for 120 days, rehabilitation activity for up to 30 days, pay £1000 in compensation, and comply with a restraining order.

somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Source last checked 2 Nov 2026

July 2025 1 case

Adam Parsons

14 Jul 2025

Burglary *

Sentence

8 months imprisonment

Adam Parsons broke into two gardens in the Oakfield Park and Wellesley Park areas on June 28, 2025. At one property, he stole tools and gardening equipment from a shed. At another, he threw paint over the house and car, waking the homeowner around 5am. When the victim interrupted him while attempting to take belongings, Parsons held up a knife, made threats, and fled. Police arrived within 15 minutes, recovered the stolen items nearby, and identified him through community information and his electronic monitoring tag.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, being in possession of a bladed article and criminal damage. Police described him as a prolific offender with no awareness of the impact on victims.

somersetlive.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

May 2025 1 case

Dean Lawrence

24 May 2025

Dangerous driving *

Sentence

12-month suspended prison sentence, 24-month supervision order, disqualified from driving for 18 months

Dean Lawrence led police on a high-speed pursuit through residential areas in Bridgwater, including running a red light, after officers responded to anti-social e-bike riding on Parkway at around 2am on October 27, 2024. Driving a silver Mercedes C220, he failed to stop, contravened the Highway Code multiple times, and was stopped after a stinger burst the tyres near Clipper Close. He attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and driving over the prescribed limit for drugs.

somersetleveller.co.uk

Checked against source 10 Oct 2026

April 2025 1 case

Thomas Wilkinson

16 Apr 2025

Burglary *

Sentence

7 months imprisonment and £100 compensation

Thomas Wilkinson carried out 10 shoplifting offences in Bridgwater, Peasmarsh, and Taunton between August 2024 and February 2025. He also broke into a house in Peasmarsh, near Ilminster, on December 26, 2024, by entering through a window and stealing items including jewellery. He was identified through CSI evidence and a hidden camera in the property, leading to his arrest and conviction.

Pleaded guilty to 10 shoplifting offences and one burglary. He had no fixed abode. PC Jim Card noted the significant impact on victims and the role of forensic evidence and footage in securing the conviction.

somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Source last checked 29 Oct 2026

Sentencing date not recorded 3 cases

We could not confirm the sentencing date for these from the source report, so none is shown. Everything else about them was checked as usual.

James Northcott-Brewer

Burglary *

Sentence

eight-month sentence suspended for two years, £494.45 compensation, rehabilitation order

James Northcott-Brewer went on a burglary spree in Taunton town centre starting in September 2022. He broke into The Victoria Gate in East Reach and stole alcohol and cash of unknown value between 14 September and 6 October. On 21 September, he broke into a home in East Reach. On 3 October, he broke into Mambo in Mill Lane, stealing £2,000-worth of alcohol. He committed two further non-dwelling burglaries on 28 October while on bail. He trespassed in Pitcher and Piano, stealing £75 worth of alcohol, and entered KFC with intent to steal.

Pleaded guilty to six counts of trespassing and burglary. Of no fixed address. Committed further offences while on bail.

somersetleveller.co.uk

Checked against source 10 Oct 2026

Liam Watson

Assault *

Sentence

Fined £700 and 12-month community order

Twenty-eight-year-old Liam Watson punched a woman, assaulted two police officers, and directed racist abuse towards them. He admitted the offences at an earlier hearing in Yeovil.

Admitted the offences at an earlier hearing in Yeovil. Ordered to pay £100 compensation to each victim.

radioninesprings.com

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Mark Gold

Possession of drugs *

Sentence

Fined £120, ordered to pay £40 costs

Mark Gold, 43, from Horton in Ilminster, was driving on the M5 northbound between Junction 23 (Bridgwater) and Junction 22 (Burnham-on-Sea) on August 17 of last year. He was stopped and found in possession of ketamine and cannabis. He appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court and indicated a guilty plea to the offences on June 1.

Indicated guilty plea. Guilty plea taken into account. Drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Source last checked 28 Aug 2026

About these records: Each record is compiled from a published media report or other publicly available source, and reports a sentence as it was published. It is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a criminal record check: it must not be used to make decisions about anyone's employment, housing, credit or insurance.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) follow the wording used in the report and may not match the formal legal charge. A record does not suggest that the person named has committed any other offence. Convictions can be overturned, and sentences changed, on appeal after a report is published. Records that share a name are separate records and may concern different people.

Records are removed once a conviction is likely to be spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and older records are removed in any event after a maximum listing period. Our Editorial and Safeguards Policy explains how records are checked and what we never publish.

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Magistrates Court, St Johns Rd, Taunton TA1 4AX, Taunton, TA1 4AX, United Kingdom

+441823257084

www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk

Wheelchair accessible parking, Wheelchair accessible entrance

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 16:30

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About Taunton Magistrates' Court

Taunton Magistrates' Court, located in Taunton, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 17 sentencing records in our database, it serves the Taunton 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 Magistrates Court, St Johns Rd, Taunton TA1 4AX, TA1 4AX.

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 +441823257084 or visit the official court website for further information.

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.