Scone Court Report: Feb, 2016

MAGISTRATE Roger Prowse has returned to the Tamworth circuit after sitting in Sydney and once again presides at the Scone local court.

Some key advice Magistrate Prowse gave during the listings on Thursday to people with suspended licences was to ride a bike.

He explained that in Denmark “everyone does it, even the monarch and they have hills there like they do around here”.

Kevin Sales was due to appear for four counts of goods suspected stolen. The matter was transferred to Mudgee court.

Andrew Charles Matthew Bowman appeared on charges of driving with a middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol. He will complete a traffic offenders program and he will reappear in court on April 21.

Scott Michael Brennan presented on charges of drive with middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol. Mr Brennan will undertake a traffic offenders program and is prohibited from driving. He will reappear in court on April 21.

Bradly John Hockley presented on charges of middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol. Mr Hockley is suspended from driving, will complete a traffic offenders program and will reappear in court on April 21.

Lauren Maree O’Callaghan appeared on charges of drive with mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol. Ms O’Callaghan is a provisional driver, charged with passengers not wearing seat belts and not displaying P plates. A pre-sentence report was requested by the Magistrate citing the seriousness and aggravating factors surrounding the offences to “find any alternative to you going to gaol.” He said while Ms O’Callaghan’s solicitor was very capable “he will have his work cut out to keep you out of gaol.” Ms O’Callaghan was directed to complete the traffic offenders program, her licence was disqualified and she is due to reappear on April 21.

Coral Hampson appeared on five counts of common assault and one count of taken action that results in emotional/intellectual damage. The matter will be heard on April 22 in Scone.

Andrew McDonald was convicted of negligent driving, driving unlicensed and drive vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drug. Magistrate Prowse said, “I’m not sure the court wants to send a message out to anyone that that behaviour is appropriate,” adding “this sort of driving just doesn’t get a pat on top of the head and some stern words.” A pre-sentence report was requested by the Magistrate and it was noted that Mr McDonald left his details at the scene of the accident, would be paying for damages and has already completed the traffic offenders program. Mr McDonald is to reappear for sentencing on March 24.

Sharon Maree Stair appeared on charges of drive with high range prescribed level of alcohol which occurred on September 15, 2015. Ms Stair had an unblemished driving record of 26 years, had undertaken a traffic offenders program and a psychologist’s report was requested by the court. The matter was adjourned until March 24.

Sean Bernard Logue pled guilty to drive with middle range prescribed level of alcohol of 0.092. He had already completed a traffic offenders program. The Magistrate said he took into account the inconvenience to others to transport Mr Logue to work and that he had completed the traffic offenders program before appearing in court. Mr Logue was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Courtney Ann Dever appeared on a charge of novice driver drive with novice range prescribed concentration of alcohol. Ms Dever had been on P plates for several years and had not applied for a full licence. The Magistrate encouraged her to apply for a full licence before reappearing in court on March 24, joking that he didn’t know if they had a Guinness book of records for longest held P plate, so she should not vie for the title.

Matthew Miller appeared to appeal against a decision by the Roads and Maritime Services. The matter was adjourned until August 18 and the Magistrate asked Mr Miller if he understood the beauty of the situation, to which Magistrate Prowse further explained it would mean Mr Miller would be “sweating like a pig between now and the 18^th of Aug, you’ll be hoping I don’t get out of the wrong side of the bed that morning and I would be ecstatic if you haven’t committed any further offences.”

Lindsay Keith Jerrick appealed against a decision by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and the matter was adjourned until August 18.

Elizabeth Louise Irwin pled guilty to driving with a middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol of 0.08. Ms Irwin was ordered to complete a traffic offenders program and her license was suspended. Ms Irwin will reappear on April 21 for sentencing.

Zachary Barwick pled guilty to possession of a prohibited drug. The Magistrate noted that Mr Barwick had admitted to police that he was in possession of cannabis stating that there were clearly two dopes in the car that day “you and the weed”. However, the Magistrate said he took into account that he was honest with police and had pled guilty. Mr Barwick was placed on a good behaviour bond with the Magistrate cautioning that “if the bond is breached there will be a one word sentence starting with the letter ‘g’; yes, gaol.”

Zac Cummins appeared on nine charges of receive/dispose of stolen property less than $5,000, eight counts of goods suspected stolen, one count of unlawfully possessing number plates, one count of possess prohibited drug and one count of goods in personal custody suspected stolen. Mr Cummins pled guilty to five counts of receive/dispose of stolen property, four counts of goods suspected stolen, one of unlawfully possess number plates, one of possess prohibited drug and one of goods in personal custody, the other charges were withdrawn. A pre-sentence report was ordered by the Court, bail is continued and Mr Cummins will reappear for sentencing on April 21.

Sonya Grace Tranter pled guilty to possess prohibited drug and not guilty to supply prohibited plant. The matter was adjourned until April 21.

Michelle Maree Farrell appeared on three counts of larceny, two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception and two counts of goods in custody. A presentence report has been ordered by the court and Ms Farrell is due to reappear for hearing and sentencing on April 21.

Raymond Goddard pled guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A pre-sentence report has been ordered, with sentencing scheduled for April 21.

Thomas John Fulljames appeared for driving with a middle range prescribed concentration of alcohol of 0.137. Mr Fulljames had already completed the traffic offenders program. Mr Fulljames was convicted, fined $800 and license suspended for seven months.

Tristan James Wells appeared for exceeding the speed limit by 45 kilometres an hour. Due to not all documents being available to the court, the matter was adjourned to March 24.

Tye King was due to appear in court for possess or use prohibited weapon without a permit. Mr King failed to appear and Magistrate issued what he described as an “irresistible invitation” otherwise known as a warrant for his arrest.

Deanne Patterson v Mathew Basanovic appeared in relation to a dispute involving a horse float. The Magistrate directed them to submit evidence by May 5 and set a hearing date of May 18.

Amy Willard v Rebecca Willard appeared on a civil matter, which was adjourned until March 24.

Ashley Morgan appeared on charges of common assault which were dismissed.

Thomas Leslie Reichel presented on a charge of stalk/intimidate fear physical etc harm. The charges were dismissed.

Andrew Kenneth Woodward pleaded guilty to fail to provide details of the name and address of driver of a motor vehicle. The Magistrate said Mr Woodward not knowing who drove his car “doesn’t cut it”. Mr Woodward was convicted and fined $600.

Leah Mahon pled guilty to one count of possess prohibited drug. Mr Mahon was fund in possession of 0.30 grams of cannabis, while in Scone on January 4. The matter was adjourned to Quirindi for sentence on March 23.

Logan Patten was mentioned in court for possess prohibited drug, which was six grams of cannabis when he was in Merriwa on January 16. Mr Patten is due to appear in court for sentencing on March 24.

Joanne Skinner pled guilty to shoplifting and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. The matter was adjourned to Bathurst for sentencing.

Tora Skinner pled guilty to shoplifting and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. The matter was adjourned to Bathurst for sentencing.

Debbie Smith is charged with drive vehicle with illicit drug present in blood, alleged to be methylamphetamine. Ms Smith is due to appear in court on March 24.

Jarre Kye Ward pled guilty to charges for common assault. The matter was referred for sentencing to Raymond Terrace for April 4.

Lisa Lawlor failed to appear on charges of use carriage service, which was alleged to be Facebook messenger, to menace, harass or offend. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

Aubrey Mason Saunders failed to appear on charges of common assault, two counts of stalk intimidate physical fear etc. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Belinda Louise Bridge presented on one count of larceny, one count of goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen and receive/dispose of stolen property less than $5,000. Ms Bridge had noticed four brass water meters beside a charity bin near the Woolworths car park in Scone. She later returned with a trailer to take the water metres to a wreckers in Muswellbrook, valued at $3,041.12 and sold them. The Muswellbrook wreckers later phoned police, suspecting the goods stolen. The Magistrate said goods left beside charity bins were meant for the charity and should not be taken by other people. The Magistrate made the comparison that goods left out on the street with a sign that people can take what they like clearly indicated the goods could be taken by interested people. Or in the case of Council clean ups, people could take those items, but not items left for charities. The Magistrate noted that Ms Bridge had paid back the $81.21 she had received from the wreckers and the property had been returned to the Upper Hunter Shire Council. No conviction was recorded and Ms Bridge was released on good behaviour bond for six months.

Shane Troy Preston appeared on several charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of common assault, two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm and driving a motor vehicle during disqualification. The court requested a presentence. The Magistrate said bail would continue and said if the report was not done it would guarantee only one outcome when he returned to court on March 24.

Leonie Wright failed to appear in court on charges of use of offensive language, resist or hinder police officer in line of duty and carrying a cutting weapon upon apprehension. The court rescheduled the hearing to May 20.

Aaron Macey made an application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. Mr Macey’s mother was prepared to put up $500 as bond and proposed that her son stay at her home near Singleton. Mr Macey said he had a job and since he had been unemployed for three years, wanted to ensure he kept his job. The Magistrate said to Mr Macey, “You must think I came down in the last shower. There is no prospect whatsoever you’ll comply with bail and do you know how I know that?” he questioned him rhetorically. “Because you’ve shown it,” he said. The Magistrate noted that Mr Macey had breached bail on several occasions and refused his application for bail. Mr Macey is due to appear before Singleton court on Friday, February 26 relating to charges of stalking to intimidate, common assaults and destroy property.

Peter Solman, a resident of Singleton applied for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. Mr Solman was in police custody charged with breaching his bail. Mr Solman said he had a call from a neighbour that his children were in danger and travelled to attend to them. Mr Solomon presented to the Rutherford police station to admit he had breached bail. The Magistrate noted that there had previously been a family emergency where Mr Solman had followed the correct procedure of notifying the court or police that he needed to travel for an emergency, but that he had not followed the correct procedure in this instance. He further noted there was no evidence before the court that there was an emergency. Magistrate Prowse said he was amazed Mr Solman was even on bail, “the prospects of you going to gaol are high and I think it is a miracle you are even on bail. I have little confidence you will comply with bail. Bail is refused.” Mr Solman is due to appear for sentencing on a range of matters including intimidate police, assault police, resisting an officer, malicious damage, custody of an offensive implement in a public place and custody of a knife, at Cessnock court via audio visual link on March 31.

Read: Previous Court Reports.