Taunton Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 31 verdicts at Taunton Magistrates' Court (Taunton). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Daniel Powell

Animal cruelty

September 15, 2025

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

Michelle Powell

Animal cruelty

September 15, 2025

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

H. Mealing & Sons Limited

Breach of Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

September 11, 2025

Sentence: £56,775 fine and £44,000 costs

On 19 March 2019, at a construction site at Swainswick School in Bath, a 1.8m tall retaining wall collapsed on employee Gary Anstey, 57, from Bristol, who was working for H. Mealing & Sons Limited to build a new classroom. The collapse occurred because a large load of aggregate was placed against the incomplete and unsupported wall, due to inadequate planning and supervision by the company.

Pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company failed to properly plan and supervise the construction of the retaining wall, leading to its instability.

Sources: somersetlive.co.uk

Scott Sanders

Criminal damage

September 3, 2025

Sentence: 4 weeks imprisonment

Scott Sanders, aged 42 and with no fixed abode, damaged a door at Lloyds TSB on Wimborne Road, Bournemouth on June 8, 2025. He intended to destroy or damage the property or was reckless as to whether it would be destroyed or damaged. The incident was part of a broader unprovoked attack that included spitting and racial abuse towards an officer.

Indicated a guilty plea. Sentence uplifted due to the serious nature of the offence, including an unprovoked attack involving spitting and racial abuse towards an officer, and the defendant's record of repeated offences.

Sources: bournemouthecho.co.uk

Jake Atkins

Assault causing actual bodily harm

August 4, 2025

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.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Adam Parsons

Burglary

July 14, 2025

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.

Sources: somersetlive.co.uk

Thomas Wilkinson

Burglary

April 16, 2025

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.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Steven John Careslade

Theft

November 26, 2024

Sentence: 12 weeks imprisonment

Steven John Careslade committed five thefts at Coop, Spar (twice), Morrisons in Weston, and BP Clevedon between May 12 and September 27, 2024. He also committed two acts of criminal damage, including damaging a door at Boots in Weston and another door belonging to a named individual. The total value of items stolen and damaged was estimated at just under £600.

Admitted breaching a court order by failing to attend two office appointments without a valid excuse. This was related to a 12-week suspended sentence imposed in September for original offences.

Sources: thewestonmercury.co.uk

Andre Vrona

Drink driving

August 28, 2024

Sentence: Disqualified from driving for 36 months, 100 hours unpaid work requirement, rehabilitation activity requirement, £85 costs, and £114 surcharge

Andre Vrona was driving a Volkswagen Golf nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit on the A358 in Henlade towards Taunton on July 7. A member of the public reported the vehicle, and police pulled him over using automatic number plate recognition. A breath test showed 144 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, leading to his arrest. He was the driver and sole occupant of the car.

Vrona cooperated with the officer, admitted to having a couple of beers after work, and expressed concern about needing his driving licence for employment. The driving disqualification could be reduced if he completes a driving course.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Paige Kettles

Assault by beating

July 30, 2024

Sentence: Fined £450 and ordered to pay £200 compensation

Paige Kettles committed assault by beating, resulting in fines and compensation orders.

Shannon Baker

Theft offences

July 28, 2024

Sentence: 30 weeks imprisonment

Shannon Baker stole various items from Tesco on East Reach in Taunton while a suspended sentence order was in place.

Appeared while a suspended sentence order was in place and was ordered to pay £83.90 in compensation.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Claudio De Carlo

Drug driving

July 15, 2024

Sentence: 18 months driving ban, £1,300 fine, £520 surcharge, and £85 costs

Claudio de Carlo was caught driving at the Dunball Interchange near Bridgwater on Christmas Eve, 2023, with blood tests revealing 39 micrograms of cocaine per litre and 240 micrograms of benzoylecgonine, which were nearly four times and over four times the legal limits respectively. This offence involved driving under the influence of controlled drugs, leading to his arrest and court appearance.

Pleaded guilty. Blood tests showed 39 micrograms of cocaine per litre and 240 micrograms of benzoylecgonine, exceeding the legal limits. His guilty plea was taken into account during sentencing.

Sources: thewestonmercury.co.uk

Aiden Turner

Possession of cocaine

June 19, 2024

Sentence: £120 fine

Aiden Turner was found in possession of cocaine.

David Mitchell

Discharge of polluting matter

June 18, 2024

Sentence: Fined £770, ordered to pay £1,128 compensation and £8,000 costs

David Mitchell discharged silt laden water from a field into Back Stream on September 6, 2022, following a thunderstorm that caused runoff from a 42-acre potato field. The incident affected 520 metres of the stream, disrupting fish spawning grounds temporarily, though no fish or fauna died.

Pleaded guilty to the offence of discharging silt laden water. He cooperated with authorities and implemented recommendations to prevent future incidents.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

James Mitchell

Discharge of pig slurry

June 18, 2024

Sentence: Fined £500, ordered to pay £200 victim surcharge and £4,365.25 costs

James Mitchell discharged pig slurry into Hillfarance Brook before November 9, 2023, due to a leak in the dirty water lagoon. The incident caused no fish or fauna deaths, and subsequent improvements included constructing a new lagoon and covering farmyard manure.

Pleaded guilty to discharging pig slurry. No separate penalty for improper slurry storage. He cooperated and invested in improvements to storage facilities.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Diana Moldovan

Speeding

June 17, 2024

Sentence: £72 fine and three points on driving licence

Diana Moldovan drove at 36mph on a 30mph road.

Michael Williams

Theft

June 14, 2024

Sentence: 10 weeks imprisonment and £225 compensation

Michael Williams, a 30-year-old man of no fixed address, committed a series of thefts by stealing various items from a Co-op.

Kian Webber

Driving while disqualified

May 30, 2024

Sentence: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; disqualified from driving for two years and six months; costs of £85

Kian Webber, a 22-year-old from Staple Fitzpaine in Taunton, was disqualified from driving for two years and six months for driving while disqualified. He appeared at court on May 30 and was given a suspended sentence.

Also a charge for driving without third party insurance with no separate penalty.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Wayne Scothern

Possession of a kitchen knife in public

May 28, 2024

Sentence: Two-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; rehabilitation activity of up to 25 days; costs of £85 and surcharge of £154

Wayne Scothern, a 54-year-old from Abbey Close in Taunton, was handed a suspended sentence for possession of a kitchen knife in public. He appeared at court on May 28.

Lisa Burridge

Failing to comply with a community order

May 24, 2024

Sentence: Fined £40

Lisa Burridge, a 51-year-old from Boltonsborough in Glastonbury, was fined £40 for failing to comply with the requirements of a community order by not attending planned RAR appointments. She appeared at court on May 24.

Mark Cripps

Shoplifting

May 19, 2024

Sentence: 42 weeks in prison

Mark Cripps was involved in seven shop thefts between March 3 and April 30, 2024, stealing items worth £1,768, including electrical items, garden furniture, and cleaning products from stores such as Homesense and B&M. In one incident, he entered a store with another man and took garden furniture worth £699.

Sentenced for involvement in seven shop thefts, including revocation of a previous 18-week suspended sentence, as a prolific offender showing disregard for financial damage to businesses.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Kim Parkhouse

Shoplifting

May 19, 2024

Sentence: 20 weeks in prison

Kim Parkhouse was involved in 10 shop thefts between March 5 and May 18, 2024, stealing items worth £1,962, including cleaning products, garden furniture, and children’s toys from stores such as WH Smith’s, Homesense, and B&M. In one incident, she entered a store with two others and selected a sofa and chairs worth £1,033.

Sentenced for involvement in 10 shop thefts as a prolific offender, showing disregard for financial damage to businesses.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Stephanie Miller

Theft

May 14, 2024

Sentence: Ordered to pay £260.27 in compensation

Stephanie Miller, of no fixed address, committed a series of thefts by stealing items from Sainsbury’s and Superdrug.

William Hale

Breach of community order

May 14, 2024

Sentence: Fined £56

William Hale, of Belmont Road, failed to comply with the requirements of a community order by not attending two scheduled probation appointments.

For failing to attend two probation appointments as required by a community order.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Jack Jones

Failing to provide a specimen of breath

May 12, 2024

Sentence: £1,000 fine and 18 months driving ban

Jack Jones, aged 39, of Brompton Road in Weston-super-Mare, failed to provide a specimen of breath, leading to his conviction.

Kieren Salter

Drug driving

May 12, 2024

Sentence: Banned from driving for three years, community order, fined £150, and alcohol treatment for six months

Kieren Salter, of Laxton Road, was involved in two separate incidents in Taunton, including driving while disqualified, without insurance, drug driving, criminal damage, using threatening behaviour, and possession of cocaine.

Charged with driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without third party insurance, two counts of drug driving, criminal damage, using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, and possession of a Class A drug (cocaine); no order for costs.

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Dean Jones

Theft

May 10, 2024

Sentence: 20 weeks imprisonment

Dean Jones, aged 50, of George Street in Weston-super-Mare, stole various items including coffee, meat, chilled goods, alcohol, butter, olive oil, cheese, fish and more in 10 separate theft offences committed between September 2024 and May 2025.

Sentenced to two weeks in prison per offence for 10 offences, to run consecutively. No order for costs or compensation due to the custodial sentence.

Sources: thewestonmercury.co.uk

Daryl Cottrell

Sending offensive communications

April 16, 2024

Sentence: 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months

Daryl Cottrell, 42, of Old Court Mews, Wellington, sent offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing messages via public communication on five counts.

Ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £70 and a surcharge of £154, participate in a rehabilitation activity of up to 20 days, and given a restraining order

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Rebecca Thirlaway

Drug driving

April 16, 2024

Sentence: 12 months driving ban, community order, £100 compensation for assault, £89 compensation for theft, and a restraining order

Rebecca Thirlaway, 52, of Gay Close, Wellington, drove with 584 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine in her blood, committed assault by beating, and theft.

Miya Williams

Driving without insurance

April 16, 2024

Sentence: 14 days driving disqualification and £80 fine

Miya Williams, 32, of Ginger Place, Bathpool, Taunton, drove a motor vehicle without third party insurance and not in accordance with her licence.

Pleaded guilty to driving without third party insurance and driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty for the licence offence

Sources: somersetcountygazette.co.uk

Corran Wilkinson

Assault by beating of an emergency worker

March 29, 2024

Sentence: Community order with six months non-residential alcohol treatment, up to 25 days rehabilitation activity, £850 compensation, and £50 fine

Corran Wilkinson assaulted emergency workers and committed additional assaults and property damage. The incidents involved beating emergency workers and damaging a car, leading to her appearance in court.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker, two counts of assault by beating, and one count of damaging property.

Sources: thewestonmercury.co.uk

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