Here are some of the cases dealt with by magistrates in north Essex last week.

  • A MAN who was found to be carrying a hammer in Colchester has been jailed.

Darren Skerritt, 52, was arrested after he was found in possession of the hammer in Haven Road.

Appearing before magistrates, he admitted a charge of possession of an offensive weapon.

Skerritt, of Haven Road, Colchester, was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

He must also pay a victim surcharge of £128.

  • A DRINK driver was fined after he admitted racially-aggravated harassment and damaging a car windscreen.

Michael Johnson, 67, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in the incident in Colchester in February last year.

He also caused £1,000 worth of damage to a windscreen and car door, and was found to have 65mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 35mg. Admitting charges of raciallyaggravated harassment, criminal damage and drink driving, Johnson, of Grimston Road, Colchester, was banned from driving for three years and fined £522.

  • A MAN who damaged a pub window and was found to be carrying cocaine has been ordered to pay compensation.

Daniel Darby, 31, appeared before magistrates last week after causing £80 worth of damage to a door window at the Brewers Arms, in Colchester.

He was also in possession of cocaine when he was arrested, in February last year.
Darby admitted criminal damage and possession of a Class A drug.

He also admitted breaching a non-molestation order in December 2019.

Darby, of Stanley Wooster Way, Colchester, was fined £120, ordered to pay £105 in court costs and must pay £80 in compensation.

  • A MAN who got behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol and drug limit drove dangerously and failed to stop when police tried to pull him over.

Danny Hewitt, 30, was found to have driven a BMW in United Way, Colchester, with cocaine and alcohol in his system.

A blood test found he had 188mg per litre of blood, while a breath test found 75mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal alcohol limit is 75mg, while the legal limit for cocaine is 10mg.

Hewitt admitted drug and drink driving before magistrates last week, alongside charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop for an officer.

Hewitt, of Barleyfields, Witham, will be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, February 4.

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