A VAN driver whose vehicle collided with an 80-year-old pedestrian in Swindon earlier this year, resulting in her death, has elected to have the case heard at the crown court.

Stephen Wiltshire, 23, of Witts Lane, Purton, appeared before magistrates in Swindon on Wednesday charged with causing death by careless driving.

Appearing before district judge Simon Cooper, Wiltshire gave no indication of how he would plead to the charge that on January 4 he caused the death of Rhoda Griffiths by driving a 16-plate Vauxhall Vivaro van on College Street without due care and attention.

Judge Cooper released the defendant on unconditional bail to appear at court on November 25.

....

A man who is accused of downloading numerous pictures and films of child abuse has been released on bail by a judge.

Lee Randall faces 13 counts of making and having indecent images of children on a computer, USB stick and mobile phone.

No charges were put to the 35-year-old, of Griffiths Close, Stratton, and he did not enter any pleas during a hearing at Swindon Crown Court.

It is alleged he had 156 pictures and movies, one fifth of which were in the most serious category A.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to a date to be fixed and released Randall on conditional bail until then.

....

Neil Lloyd, 46, of Lilac Court, Pinehurst, has denied charges of making threats to kill Nicholas Knight on the evening of October 20, 2016 and of possessing in a public place a knife which had a blade the cutting edge of which exceeded 7.62 centimetres (three inches). 

He gave not guilty pleas to the charges before Swindon magistrates on Wednesday and was committed to appear at Swindon Crown Court on November 25.

He was released on bail with the conditions that he have no contact directly or indirectly with Mr Knight and that he should not go to a Swindon address.

....

A man was jailed for eight weeks after he showed what magistrates described as “flagrant disregard for court orders” and drove while banned.

Swindon magistrates heard it was the second time Eivanas Saliamonas, aged 27, had committed the offence in the space of 10 years. He had also given police a false name.

He still serving a community order made by Cheltenham magistrates on September 18 last year for driving while disqualified when he drove a Vauxhall Corsa in Broadway on August 29.

Saliamonas, of Chalgrove, Yate, pleaded guity to failing to provide a specimen of breath, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

As well as jailing him at the hearing on October 14, the magistrates banned him from driving for 36 months and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £115 along with £85 prosecuting costs.

....

Magistrates banned a woman from getting behind the wheel for 17 months after she admitted drink-driving in Cavendish Square.

The Swindon bench, sitting on October 14, heard Janine Jenkins, 40, of Blandford Court, was more than twice the legal limit with a reading of 77 microgrammes of alcohol in her breath when she was stopped in her Toyota Yaris on August 30.

She was fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecuting costs of £85 as well as a victim surcharge of £30.

....

Michael Little was banned from driving for 18 months when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court on October 14.

Little, 28, of North Street, admitted charges of using threatening behaviour and drink-driving in Cricklade Road on August 29.

A breath test gave a reading of 83 microgrammes of alcohol, more than twice the legal limit. He was fined a total of £380 and told to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

....

Swindon magistrates imposed a 15-month conditional discharge on Ryan Senogles, of Bathampton Street, after he admitted a charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour on May 24.

The defendant, who has several aliases including Steven Senegal, Steve Senegal-Wells and Mark Wells, was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

.... 

A driver was landed with a £589 bill after he was convicted in his absence of careless driving.

Daniel York, 31, of Warrener Close, was fined £440 by Swindon magistrates after they heard he drove a Ford Fiesta along Marlborough Road on March 6.

They also ordered him to pay £105 prosecution costs, a £44 victim surcharge and added five points to his driving licence.

....

A judge has issued a warrant to get a woman, who is accused of assaulting her disabled partner, before the court.

Mandy Holland is due to face trial by judge and jury on Thursday, November 17, after pleading not guilty to a charge of actual bodily harm.

But when the 50-year-old failed to turn up for a preliminary hearing a judge issued a warrant to bring her before the court, as she had lost contact with her legal team.

At that hearing Judge Tim Mousley QC said Holland, of Turner Street, would be allowed bail to attend court earlier this week.

But when she failed to attend Judge Douglas Filed issued a warrant without bail to bring her before the court in custody. Holland is said to have assaulted Mark Lauder on Saturday, August 8, last year.

....

A Swindon man has appeared before magistrates for non-payment of a fine.

John Lamb, 31, of Mannington Park, had a £265 fine imposed in August 2015 and last month magistrates remitted £115 due to a change in Lamb’s circumstances. 

He was given more time to pay and at a rate of £20 per month from September 17.

....

A man has appeared in court charged with stealing £40 worth of steak from Lidl. 

James Irwin, 37, of Berkley Road, pleaded guilty before Swindon magistrates. He was fined £60, ordered to pay compensation of £40, a victim surcharge of £20 and a further £40 to the CPS for the costs of sentencing.
The theft took place in March.

....

Two men who are accused of being involved in the trade hard drugs across Swindon are to face trial by judge and jury.

Denzel Mattis, 24, and Abdifalah Mohamed, 23, both from North London, each pleaded not guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in spring 2015.

Judge Tim Mousley QC, sitting at Swindon Crown Court, adjourned the case to Monday, April 3, for trial and released the pair, from Tottenham, on bail until then.