Courts round-up: people in south Essex fined in recent weeks

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A DRUG driver found with a false driving permit has been banned from the roads for a year.

Gopinath Thondapu, of The Chase, Rayleigh, was caught driving a Fiat 500 on the M1 in Tibshelf, Derbyshire, when he was with 5.4 micrograms of THC - the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis - per litre of blood, on Wednesday August 10, 2022. The limit is 2.

The 28-year-old was found with an Indian international driving permit which was false at Tibshelf Services.

He had also been driving without a licence and insurance.

Thondapu admitted the offence at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was banned from driving for a year.

He was also fined a total of £300, ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £120 surcharge.

A DRUG driver has been jailed and handed a road ban.

Joseph Woodcock, of Cedar Avenue, Sidcup, Bexley, was driving a Mercedes on the A127 on May 1 when he was found with 83 mcg of Benzoylecgonine, the major metabolite of cocaine, in his blood. The limit is 50.

He was also found with cannabis in his system.

The 30-year-old admitted the offence on August 31. He was sentenced at Bexley Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday to 28 days in prison and banned from the roads for a year and six months.

A MAN who failed to hand evidence to a police boss has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 in a fine and costs.

Michael Sullivan, of Tyler Avenue, Laindon, did not provide information relating to the identification of a Ford Transit driver alleged to have been guilty of an offence when required by the chief officer of Devon and Cornwall Police on July 19.

The offence was proved via the single justice procedure at Bodmin Law Courts on February 5.

The 33-year-old has now been fined £660 and ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £264.

He must also pay costs of £90, and his driving record was endorsed with six points.

A DRIVER caught using his phone behind the wheel has been banned from the roads for six months.

Kane Price, of Downleaze, South Woodham Ferrers, was driving a Ford in Byward Street, London, on September 19 when he was caught using his mobile phone.

The offence was proved on January 2.

Price was banned from driving for six months at City of London Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.

The 27-year-old was also fined £215, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £110 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £86.

A THUG who offended during a suspended sentence order imposed after strangling a woman and attacking a police officer in Westcliff has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Joshua Tate admitted breaching the order on January 31, which was imposed after an incident in Westcliff on September 5, 2022.

He was handed a new two-year suspended sentence order at Croydon Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday. Tate 28, of London Road, Norbury, London, must also carry out unpaid work for 80 hours within the next year.

A MAN who threw down a cigarette butt and left it in the road has been ordered to pay more than £100 in a fine and victim surcharge.

Caloom Charalambous, of Norwich Avenue, Southend, was dropped a cigarette and left it in Charing Cross Road, West Hampstead, on September 7, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard.

The 23-year-old admitted the offence via the single justice procedure last Tuesday.

He has now been ordered to pay a fine of £80.

Charalambous must also pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £32.

A DRIVER who was caught speeding in a major city road has been ordered to pay more than £650 in a fine and costs.

Livingston Wright, of Victoria Road, Stanford-le-Hope, was driving a Renault in Victoria Embankment on October 11 when he was found speeding above the 20 miles per hour limit.

The 46-year-old admitted the offence last Tuesday. Wright was handed a fine of £440 at City of London Magistrates’ Court. He must also pay costs of £110 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £117. His driving record was endorsed with four penalty points.

A VAN driver who was caught jumping a red light has been ordered to pay almost £400 in a fine and costs.

Emilian Ghiocanu, of Great Mistley, Basildon, was driving an Iveco Daily van in the A41 Watford Way, in Hendon, when he drove through a red light traffic signal at the junction with Station Road.

The offence, which occurred on August 12, was proved via the single justice procedure at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.

The 36-year-old has now been fined £220.

He must also pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £88 and costs of £90.

His driving record was endorsed with three points.

A MAN who attacked a police officer has been handed a year-long suspended sentence.

William Canavan, of Arterial Road, Southend, assaulted the on-duty police officer by beating him in Dartford on Sunday, October 16, 2022.

The 44-year-old admitted the offence on January 10 and has now been handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £1,000 at Medway Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.

The court heard a custodial sentence was justified as the defendant “has a flagrant disregard for people and their property”.

A SPEEDING driver caught more than 50 miles per hour above the limit has been fined £1,500.

Alexander Botta, of Stacey Drive, Basildon, was driving a Land Rover on the M1 in Northampton when he was recorded going at 122 miles per hour on June 10. The limit is 70.

The 34-year-old admitted the offence via the single justice procedure on January 17.

Botta was fined £1,536 and banned from driving for 56 days at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He must also pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £614 and costs of £90.

A MAN who did not hand evidence to a police boss has been fined more than £600.

Christopher Reed, of Parry Close, Stanford-le-Hope, failed to give information to the chief officer of Metropolitan Police relating to a Ford Fiesta driver who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence.

The offence was proved via the single justice procedure at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on February 2 and Reed has now been fined £660.

Reed has also been ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £264 and costs of £100.

His driving record has also been endorsed with six points.

A MOTORIST has been banned from driving for half a year after she was caught on the roads without insurance.

Leila Bensaid, of Glen Mews, Southend, was driving on the M6 in Cannock when she was found without an insurance covering her vehicle on March 15 last year.

She was also found to have been speeding above the 70mph limit, and was not wearing a seatbelt, Cannock Magistrates’ Court heard.

The offence was proved via the single justice procedure, and, on February 12, Bensaid was banned from driving for six months.

The 33-year-old has also been fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £264 and costs of £90.

AN unlicensed driver who was caught speeding has been ordered to pay more than £900 in a fine and costs.

Kristjan Dyer, of Fobbing Road, Corringham, was driving a Ford Kuga on the A35 in Ashurst when he was found speeding at 40mph on February 10 last year, Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard. The limit is 30.

He was also caught driving without a license.

The 52-year-old has now been fined £450 and handed five penalty points.

He must also pay £110 in prosecution costs and a surcharge to fund victim services of £360.

AN uninsured driver caught behind the wheel has been fined more than £600.

Samuel Langton, of Hadleigh Road, Leigh, was driving an Audi A3 Sport in Whitton Avenue, Ealing, when he was found without insurance covering the car.

The offence was proved via the single justice procedure at Willesden Magistrates’ Court last Friday and Langton has now been fined £660.

The 28-year-old must also pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £264 and costs of £100.

His driving record has also been endorsed with six points.