COURT

Latest Taunton offenders who appeared in Magistrates' Court

 <i>(Image: Molly Kirk)</i>
(Image: Molly Kirk)
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HERE are some of the latest offenders from Taunton and across Somerset who appeared at Magistrates’ court this week.

Toby Stone, 32, of Pickeridge Close, Taunton, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in the town on August 17 last year.

Stone must complete a community order, including 30 days of rehabilitation activities.

Stone must also pay a £450 fine, £400 compensation and £250 in costs.

Christopher Leader, 59, of Breadon Road, Taunton, admitted to sexually communicating with a girl under 16 by calling her ‘gorgeous’ and commenting on her breasts between October 9 and November 1, 2023.

Leader must complete a community order, including 30 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Leader must also register with police for five years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Leader must also pay £85 in costs and a £114 surcharge.

Joe French, 23, of Heron Drive, Bishops Hull, Taunton, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour intending to cause harassment, as well as two assaults, in Taunton on May 28 last year.

French must pay £400 in costs, a £450 surcharge and a £1,125 fine.

Karl Matthews, 59, of Gay Close, Wellington, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.1 grams of cannabis in the town on May 7 this year.

He also admitted to causing harassment, alarm or distress, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour, threatening someone with immediate unlawful violence and resisting a police officer in Wellington on May 7.

Matthews must complete a community order, including 10 days of rehabilitation activities.

Matthews must also pay £200 in compensation.

The court also ordered the cannabis to be forfeited and destroyed.

Matthew Heal, 52, of Puriton Park, Puriton, Bridgwater, pleaded guilty to failing to stop for a uniformed police officer on Bristol Road, Bridgwater, on April 28 this year.

Heal must pay £85 in costs and an £80 fine.

Michael Fowler, 38, of Newtown Road, Highbridge, admitted to assaulting a woman by beating her in the town on March 18 this year.

Fowler must complete a community order, including 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

Fowler must also pay £85 in costs and a £120 fine.

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