King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court saw shoplifter jailed, drink-drivers banned and racists sentenced
There has been a high volume of assault cases in court over the past few weeks - with many on emergency workers.
One recent example involved a 20-year-old who threatened shop staff at the Spar in Lynn and assaulted a police officer.
Meanwhile, a prolific shoplifter has been jailed and a man was sentenced for growing cannabis at a caravan park.
Find out who else was in court last week below…
Drink-driver who ‘made a mistake’ has been disqualified for more than a year
Jason Scamell, 26, of Wootton Road in Gayton, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he admitted drink-driving.
Prosecutors explained that on March 30, Scamell was seen by police in the early hours speeding and swerving across Gayton Road in Lynn.
Magistrates banned him from driving for a period of 17 months.
Homeless 20-year-old called shop staff “f*****g r**ards” when challenged about stealing
On March 22, Johnathan Kurtz entered Lidl in Lynn and was seen hiding a bottle of Prosecco in his trousers.
A staff member spotted him in the act and asked him to return the bottle or pay for it. However, he did not and left the store with the drink.
The following evening, Kurtz entered the Spar on Tennyson Avenue, where he was seen walking around the store, picking up food items and eating them as he walked around the shop.
He said to staff: “I will kick your head in. I will stamp on your head”. Police were called to the scene to arrest Kurtz, and while being placed in handcuffs, he swung a fist at one of the officers.
His case has been adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
Man caught growing cannabis at caravan park
Benjamin Hopkins, 28, of Saddlebow Caravan Park, admitted producing a Class B drug.
Prosecutors explained that police attended his address after an anonymous call was made relating to cannabis plants being grown at the caravan park and officers located a small number of cannabis plants being grown in a shed.
Hopkins was arrested and interviewed, admitting to growing the plants from seeds for around nine months.
Magistrates handed him a £461 fine.
Woman, 41, was ‘trying to drink herself dead’ when she kicked police officer
Harley Rose Hawes, 41, of Hills Close in Sporle was sentenced for two offences.
Prosecutors told the court that the incident took place on February 12, when the police were called by a Sporle resident reporting a woman was shouting and swearing loudly in her front garden.
Hawes was repeatedly shouting “mother-f**ker” and was described as being “erratic” and in “total rage”. The police were called, and when they arrived at the scene, they were concerned for Hawes’ wellbeing.
She was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation and court costs.
Woman assaulted brother and shouted racial slurs at police officers
35-year-old Laura Berry, of Le Strange Avenue in North Lynn, appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday, where she was sentenced for three offences.
Prosecutors explained that all incidents took place on November 26 last year, when police were called by Berry’s brother to say he had been a victim of assault.
Berry was seen hitting the man to the head as well as repeatedly slapping and punching him. The man was covered in blood, and Berry was arrested.
During the arrest, Berry became “aggressive” towards the police, calling them “c**ts” and telling them to “f**k off”. She kicked an officer on the left leg while being placed in the van and then said: “You f**king nazi b*****ds, you f**king Jewish c**ts”.
Berry was handed a 12-month community order, through which she will complete 80 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity days.
Prolific shoplifter who breached suspended sentence is jailed
A 39 year old was jailed for eight weeks when she appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Jayde Greenacre, of Parkway in Gaywood, was in court twice for breaching the terms of the suspended sentence handed to her in November last year following a spate of thefts.
She was also charged with stealing five salmon fillets, four gammon steaks, and two lamb steaks from Tesco in Gaywood, worth a combined £55.45. Greenacre denied stealing the items - but crown prosecutor decided to withdraw these charges due to her prison sentence.
Woman made ‘biggest mistake of her life’ by drink-driving to McDonald’s
Luisa Cirillo, 27, of Recreation Drive in Southery pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Prosecutors explained that Cirillo was observed by a staff member at McDonald's in Downham at around 11pm on March 20, who could smell alcohol coming from her vehicle and so informed the police.
When officers arrived at the fast food restaurant, they noticed the vehicle’s lights were on, and they requested a roadside breath test, which came back positive.
Cirillo was handed a 17-month disqualification and a £165 fine.
