IN COURT: The latest news and appearances from North Staffordshire's courts

AUDLEY

John Steel stole meat from a shop on the anniversary of his mother's death and on the day he learned his father had cancer, magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard.

The 32-year-old, of Wereton Road, Audley, pleaded guilty to theft of meat worth £25 belonging to Tesco, Audley, on February 5. He was given a 12-month community order with 40 hours unpaid work and told to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

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Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre revoked a community order made on Shane Cooke, aged 40, of Beverley Drive, Bentilee, in September last year for an offence of criminal damage. They re-sentenced him to an 18-month conditional discharge. No order was made for costs.

CRESSWELL

Drink-driver Peter Abbott was banned from the roads for 15 months when he appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Blythe Bridge on February 2 where he gave a reading of 57 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath against a legal limit of 35 micrograms. The factory worker, of Sandon Road, Cresswell, was also fined £285 with £85 costs and a £28 victim surcharge.

FENTON

Robert Barker, aged 54, of Bishop Street, Fenton, has pleaded guilty to assaulting Marie Jones by beating at Newcastle on February 19. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre adjourned sentence for reports until March 21.

HANLEY

Kyle Vint was committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court accused of assaulting Lee Ball occasioning him actual bodily harm at Hanley on November 18. The 22-year-old, of Derwentwater Grove, Leeds, indicated he would plead not guilty when he appears at crown court on March 18. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre granted him unconditional bail.

HANLEY

Lithuanian national Nerijus Mecejus aged 51, of Hope Street, Hanley, has admitted being drunk and disorderly at Hanley bus station on February 2. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre fined him £35 with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

>LONGTON

Daniel Davis, aged 32, of Greendock Street, Longton, has been committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court accused of assaulting John Hill occasioning him actual bodily harm at Fenton on December 16. He is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon, namely a hammer, in Foley Street, Fenton, on the same date. Davis will appear at the crown court for a plea and case management hearing on March 18. He was given conditional bail.

STOKE

James Plant, aged 52, of Birks Street, Stoke, has been banned from the roads for 42 months after pleading guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Uttoxeter Road, Draycott. He gave a reading of 76 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath against a legal limit of 35 micrograms. He was also fined £320 with £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge. The court heard he had a relevant previous conviction in 2007.

TRENT VALE

A 42-year-old man has appeared in court accused of dishonestly claiming more than £50,000 in benefits. Ralph Longson, of Fremantle Road, Trent Vale, appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre charged with seven counts of benefit fraud. He is said to have failed to notify the authorities that his partner was living with him, and that he was working, while claiming benefits. Stoke-on-Trent City Council says he fraudulently claimed £55,760 over six years. This exceeds the £35,000 limit that can be dealt with by magistrates, so Longson's case will be heard at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. He was bailed to appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on April 17 for a committal hearing.