HERE'S a selection of court cases Barnsley Chronicle court reporter Nick Ward has covered for this week's paper.
A MAN started out on a week long thieving spree just one day after he was released from prison, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.
Ricky Bates, 32, was charged with seven counts of theft from various shops and supermarkets around Barnsley. All the thefts came within a week of his release.
The court was told the total value of his ill-gotten gains amounted to £350. Bates was arrested and at the police station tested positive for cocaine.
At court he gave an address of Dovercourt Road in Masbrough Rotherham. He entered a guilty plea to each count. In mitigation his solicitor Brian Bushell told the court Bates had an addiction to crack cocaine and argued he should not be sent back to prison.
He added: "His cocaine problem is causing him to steal.
"He desperately needs some sort of help with that."
Bates was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £350 in compensation upon his release.
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A DRUNKEN man who launched a random attack with an iron bar on a parked car in Barnsley has been given time to sober up after he was sentenced to seven days in prison.
Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told Jonathan James Buckley, of Corporation Street, Worsbrough Common, had been out drinking in town when he took out a metal bar and hit a car which was parked in a car park.
The court was told the blow destroyed the car's wing mirror and its owner Lesley Westerman was left facing a cost of £200 to replace it.
Buckley was arrested and asked why he had done it and, specifically, why he had chosen that particular car. His reply: "I don't know - I had been drinking vodka and can't remember.
"I would like to say sorry to the woman who owned the car."
Once his short stint in prison is over the bench ordered that Buckley, 34, pay £200 to Mrs Westerman in compensation.
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A MAN has been fined for breaching a closure order issued at a property on Crookes Street, Barnsley.
John McConnell, 44, of Litton Walk, Barnsley, appeared before Barnsley Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to breaching the antisocial behaviour order in place at the property.
The three month closure notice, which was put in place to prevent drug use and persistent antisocial behaviour issues, was granted after officers and council staff from Barnsley's Safer Neighbourhood Service, presented the case to a judge in July.
The closure order was made after District Judge Nick Hales was told Krystal Kerr, 31, is a vulnerable woman who suffers mental health issues and that criminals were taking advantage of her.
Under the order, anyone apart from the occupant Miss Kerr, her relatives, and council and NHS staff is prevented from entering or visiting the property.
During a check carried by officers, McConnell was found at the property breaching the order which had been in place. He was reported on summons for the breach and after pleading guilty received a £100 fine.
PC John Crawford, who has been involved in issuing the order, said: "This property was causing distress and concern to local residents and the community and we have worked with our partners at the council to address concerns linked to the property.
"I hope the action taken to issue the closure order and bring to justice anyone found breaching it, offers reassurance that we are committed to creating a safer Barnsley and we will work where possible to resolve community concerns.
"If anyone would like to report any concerns please speak to a local officer or report it via 101 or 999 in an emergency."
