HERE'S a selection of court cases featured in this week's Barnsley Chronicle.
A BARNSLEY dad who helped to steal wagons and scaffolding worth up to £80,000 has been spared immediate prison.
Carlisle Crown Court was told how three HGVs laden with equipment were pinched after a locked industrial yard in Workington, Cumbria, was entered during the night of October 24 in 2016.
Two of the three vehicles had tracking devices fitted. This allowed the owner to trace them to the Middlesbrough area, as criminal attempts were being made hours later to offload some of the loot for £1,000.
Police located 30-year-old Elijah Boswell and 20-year-old partner-in-crime Gary McDonald close to the scene of an agreed sale.
“There was a short chase,” said prosecutor Claire Brocklebank. “They initially ran but were swiftly detained by police.
“As a result, the vehicles and scaffolding were recovered and returned to (owner) Paton Brothers.”
The goods were said to be worth between £70,000 and £80,000. Owner James Paton spoke of having incurred a £6,600 loss despite his property being found.
A police investigation showed internet searches for scaffolding companies had been made by the criminals shortly before the theft.
Neither Boswell and McDonald made any comment when interviewed.
But when they appeared at the crown court on Wednesday, after admitting theft, they had prison sentences of 21 and 12 months, respectively, suspended for 18 months.
The men were also ordered to complete 180 hours’ unpaid work and four-month night-time curfews.
Boswell, of Smithies Lane, Barnsley, must also complete a rehabilitation requirement and pay £6,600 compensation. He was said to have 21 offences on his criminal record.
James Bourne-Arton, defending, said since the theft Boswell had “completely transformed his life” and found religion.
“Perhaps of equal significance he has started a business. He is now running his own roofing company,” said Mr Bourne-Arton. “His motivation is not only as a result of him finding the church but also his two young children.”
Father-of-one McDonald, of Bankside Close, Sowerby, Thirsk, had no prior convictions, the court was told, and “deeply regretted” his role.
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A 16-YEAR-OLD has been banned from entering Barnsley Interchange.
The youngster, who cannot be named due to his age, pleaded guilty to using threatening words with intent to provoke violence after an altercation at the transport hub at around 4.40pm on October 9 - the last in a long line of incidents at the venue.
Barnsley Youth Court was told he was walking through the interchange when a group of youths made a derogatory remark about his girlfriend.
He reacted ‘aggressively’ until police arrived shortly after, according to Phil Stables, defending.
“He took exception to the comment but the threat was minimal and the incident was over and done with in 30 seconds,” he said. “He does have previous convictions which are similar in the respect of them happening at Barnsley Interchange.
“He last appeared in court in ten months ago. While that may not seem like a long time in the grand scheme of things, it’s a big achievement as there was a time when he was here every month.
“The court has seen him a lot in the last few years but he is much more settled, he is looking at starting an apprenticeship in the building trade and this was just a setback.”
The teen, who lives in Darton, has amassed around £2,000 in fines due to persistent offending and was given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order, banned from entering the interchange for a year and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.
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THE trial of a Barnsley man who denies a series of historic sex offences against young girls will start on Monday.
Robert Bedford, of Wakefield Road, Smithies, was charged with nine counts of indecent assault and seven of gross indecency on six females in Barnsley and Wakefield between 1982 and 2002.
The 65-year-old’s trial, which is expected to last for three weeks, will take place at Sheffield Crown Court.
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A TRIAL date has been set for a Barnsley man who was charged with 11 sexual assaults on children and raping two boys.
Jamie Mann, 26, of Dennison Court, is charged with a list of offences on both boys and girls aged between five and 12, which are alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2016.
Mann, 26, was bailed following an appearance at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court in November and entered pleaded not guilty to all charges at Sheffield Crown Court on December 29.
He was bailed until his trial begins on March 12.
