A CROOK biting a cop, a man relieving himself in public, and a host of speeding drivers - these are the magistrates' cases in Essex this week.

Justice has continued to be handed down to criminals in the lower courts this week, and a real variety of crimes have been heard.

Here is a rundown of all the major cases heard at Basildon and Southend Magistrates' Courts this week.

Jane Aldham, 56, of St. Johns Close, Laindon, was clocked running a red light in Basildon on February 2 this year when driving her Mini One car on Broadmayne.

The offence happened at 9.30am and Aldham was found to have gone through the red light 29 seconds after it turned red.

Aldham appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court where she admitted the offence against her.

The magistrates' bench find her £124 and she must also pay costs of £60.

She was given three points on her driving licence.

Peter Banjo has been fined for driving without an MOT test on his car.

Banjo, 65, of New Road, Rainham, was stopped in Rayleigh on November 17 last year.

He was pulled over in his blue Nissan Pathfinder by police who inspected the records of his vehicle.

They found that no test certificate for MOT had been issued and Banjo had been driving around after the vehicle's MOT had expired.

Banjo's case was heard at Basildon Magistrates' Court where the charge was found proved.

The magistrates' bench gave him a fine of £220 and he must also pay £90 in costs.

Michael Barrett has been fined for not wearing his seatbelt.

Barrett appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court after being stopped in South Ockendon on November 17 last year.

The 47-year-old of Common Approach, Benfleet was driving an Iveco vehicle in South Road without wearing any seatbelt, in contravention with regulation 5(1)(a) of the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of seat belts) Regulations 1993.

Barrett was later charged and he admitted the offence at court.

The magistrates bench gave him a fine of £100.

He must also pay costs of £60 and a £34 victim surcharge.

Nicky Barrett has been fined for speeding in Laindon.

Barrett was caught driving on the A127 in Laindon on November 7 last year in a Mazda vehicle.

The speed limit in the area was 40 miles an hour, but the 44-year-old of Cambridge Crescent, London, was clocked at 50 miles an hour.

The case was heard at Basildon Magistrates' Court and the charge was found proved.

Barrett was given a fine of £220 and costs of £90.

Her driving licence was endorsed with three points.

Ian Kempen has been fined hundreds of pounds after breaching a restraining order.

Kempen deliberately messaged and called a woman in Southend between December 2019 and April 2020 when he was banned from doing so.

The 37-year-old of Swan Close, Hatfield Peverel appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court where he admitted the single charge against him.

The court heard he sent letters, made telephone calls and showed up to the woman’s Southend address, all of which he was banned from doing by a restraining order imposed on December 20, 2018.

The magistrates bench fined Kempen £545 and continued the restraining order to run until June 2023 for the protection of the victim.

Kempen must also pay £300 in prosecution costs.

Alan Howell has been rapped by the courts after resisting a police officer.

Howell had denied the charge of resisting an officer in the execution of their duty following an incident on April 27 in Basildon last year.

The 51-year-old, of Blackmores, Basildon, stood trial at Colchester Magistrates’ Court where the bench convicted him of the single charge.

As punishment, he was given a community order to run until June 2022 where he must complete 40 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £620 in prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Frederick Mills, 69, has been rapped by the courts for driving without due care and attention after crashing into a cyclist.

The 69-year-old of Windsor Road, Westcliff, was driving in Whitmore Way, Basildon on November 11 last year in a Peugeot 306 when he hit a cyclist who was on a pedestrian crossing, and caused a “serious injury”.

Mills appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court where he admitted driving without due care and attention contrary to section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 The magistrates’ bench chose to fine Mills £230 for causing the injury, the details of which have not been disclosed.

He must also pay costs of £110 an a victim surcharge of £34.

His driving licence will also be endorsed with five points.

John Clough bit a police officer after stealing a bike worth £3,000.

Clough has been spared jail after committing to changing his ways following the spate of crimes in south Essex.

The 25-year-old, formerly of Basildon but now of Cobham Road, Westcliff admitted biting the police officer in Basildon on March 17 this year.

On June 24, he was also caught armed with a knife in St Johns Road, Southend and stole a bike.

He admitted all the charges against him at Basildon Magistrates’ Court.

The magistrates’ bench gave him six months suspended for a year, saying he had moved areas.

Steven McCready has been sentenced for assaulting a woman and damaging her wardrobe while there were children present.

Steven McCready appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court where he admitted assault and criminal damage following the attack on November 1.

The 38-year-old of Town Square, Basildon was given 12 weeks in prison suspended for two years.

McCready must complete 50 days rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Franklin Ik has been remanded in custody to await sentence after admitting a string of outrageous offences in Southend.

The 32-year-old, of no fixed address, stood trial at Southend Magistrates’ Court for two counts of assaulting a man and woman in Westcliff on April 21 this year.

He denied the attacks, but the magistrates’ bench convicted him of both counts.

Before standing trial, he admitted three counts of outraging public decency by defecating in public areas of Westcliff on May 6, April 20 and April 5.

The magistrates bench remanded Ik in custody to await sentence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on July 13 this year.

The reason for the case being adjourned was to allow for inquiries to be made for psychiatric reports to be prepared and to decide how best to deal with Ik.

He was refused bail due to him likely to reoffend and failing to surrender to authorities before.