NEWCASTLE: A man accused of burgling a church has been committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Sandy Withington, aged 30, of Cauldon Avenue, Newcastle, is charged with stealing candlesticks, a bell, compact discs, keys and money, to the total value of £675 from St Barnabas Church in Bradwell between November 21 and November 23 last year.

He will appear at the crown court on April 9 and was given unconditional bail by North Staffordshire magistrates.

SANDBACH: North Staffordshire magistrates sentenced a 32-year-old woman to an 18-month conditional discharge after she pleaded guilty to making off without paying a taxi fare in September last year.

Rachel Capper, of Gawsworth Drive, Sandbach, also admitted stealing goods worth £101.50 from Primark, Hanley, in February this year. She was ordered to pay £25 compensation, and costs of £170.

MEIR: North Staffordshire magistrates have fixed a trial for Mark Sims, aged 50, of Rownall Road, Meir, who has pleaded not guilty to drink-driving, and driving without due care and attention at Rough Close on September 29 last year. He will appear in court again on May 10, after a case management hearing on April 26. The defendant was given unconditional bail.

LONGTON: Thomas Robertson pleaded guilty to being found drunk in The Strand, Longton, on March 2 this year. The 47-year-old, of Ashwood Terrace, Longton, was fined £50 with a £15 victims' surcharge by North Staffordshire magistrates, but they considered it to have been paid because of the time he had initially spent in police custody.

MOORLANDS: Firefighters in Leek and Biddulph will be washing down cars in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity on Saturday. Motorists can take their cars to Biddulph Fire Station from 10am to 2pm and to Leek from 10am to 4pm.