IN COURT: The latest news and appearances from courts in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

BERRYHILL

Ryan Taylor, aged 26, of Vowchurch Way, Berryhill, will appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on July 9 charged with robbery of a BMW car and possession of a knife on June 29. He was remanded in custody.

BLURTON

Two men have admitted assaulting Christian Heywood occasioning him actual bodily harm on April 10. Darren Boote, aged 35, of Garsdale Crescent, Blurton, and John Booth, aged 31, of Pembridge Road, Blurton, admitted the charge at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday. Both men denied robbing Mr Heywood and having an offensive weapon. But Boote admitted threatening to harm a German Shepherd belonging to Feizal Glencross and assaulting Mr Glencross. The pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service. Both men will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court this week.

CHEDDLETON

Jonathan Lucas, aged 19, of Oak Avenue, Cheddleton, pleaded guilty to robbing a woman of her handbag and contents on March 23. He will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after a report is prepared on him by a probation officer. His bail was enlarged.

GOLDENHILL

Defendant Sally Bowman, aged 49, of Ancaster Street, Goldenhill, who is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Mark Brassington, on June 30, was conditionally bailed by North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court until August 13 when she will be committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

HANLEY

A trial was fixed for August 15 by magistrates in the case of Rahman Tariq, aged 20, of Festing Street, Hanley, who has denied failing to comply with a community order made on January 23, by failing to allow the order to be electronically monitored.

LONGTON

Two men have been committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court charged with assaulting David Ray, occasioning him actual bodily harm at Smallthorne on May 6 this year. They are Aaron Clare, aged 28, of Dutton Close, Market Drayton, and Adam Clarke, aged 22, of Corina Way, Longton. Clare is also accused of having a knuckle duster with him in Ford Green Road, Smallthorne. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. They will appear at crown court for a plea and case management hearing on July 27. They were conditionally bailed by North Staffordshire magistrates.

NEWCASTLE

A teenager suffering from autistic spectrum disorder made two calls to police in the early hours of the morning regarding an alleged incident at an address which did not exist. Lucy Bagguley, aged 18, of Tenby Grove, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to sending by public communication a message which she knew to be false, and assaulting a detention officer at the North Area Custody Facility all on June 18. The court was told the defendant's condition was severe and would remain with her. It heard that she was focused on the police. After reading reports, North Staffordshire Magistrates gave Bagguley a conditional discharge for 12 months with no order for costs or compensation.

NEWCASTLE

Two men will go on trial accused of offences alleged to have been committed on June 17. Thomas Forrester, aged 18, of Bath Road, Newcastle, and Shabab Shepherd, aged 31, also of Bath Road, Newcastle, are both charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent. Both men were bailed to their trial hearing at North Staffordshire Magistrates Court on August 23.

STAFFORD

Michael Ellis, aged 53, of Ainsley Street, Manchester, has been committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply at Stafford on January 18. He is accused of possession of 984 grams of the drug with an alleged street value of £5,000. North Staffordshire magistrates are due to commit him to crown court on August 13.

STOKE

Defendant Hossein Hajabi, aged 38, of Hartshill Road, Stoke, denied charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a Stanley knife blade in Hanley on April 25.His trial will be held at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on September 17. Hajabi was remanded in custody.

STOKE-ON-TRENT

Shane Durnall has admitted producing cannabis on January 20 this year. The 21-year-old, currently of Douglas Place, Wolverhampton, will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after a report is prepared on him by a probation officer. His bail was enlarged.

TUNSTALL

Committal to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court has taken place in the case of Christopher Johnson, aged 32, of Ladywell Road, Tunstall. The defendant is charged with receiving stolen goods on May 19, namely a Genset generator worth £2,000, receiving stolen goods between May 10 and May 17, namely Toby jugs and an imitation firearm and possession of 28 tablets of Diazepam on May 19. North Staffordshire Magistrates granted Johnson conditional bail until he appears for a plea and case management hearing on July 27.

TUNSTALL

Fines and costs totalling £170 were imposed on 33-year-old Claire Parker, of High Street, Tunstall, after she pleaded guilty to stealing clothing worth £112.50 from Asda, Tunstall, on June 11.