By Advertiser Reporter
Swindon Magistrates Court A GROUNDWORKER used a stolen bank card to go on a £70 spree, a court heard. Russell Bastow, 41, tried to use the stolen Nationwide debit card to buy almost £50 worth of cigarettes. But by then the building society had flagged the unusual activity on the card and the transaction was declined. Bastow, who in January
was given 18 months in jail for his latest burglary, claimed the card had been given to him by another man. He’d used the card at various convenience stores in Swindon on the instructions of the man, although he suspected the bank card was not his.
By Advertiser Reporter
The junction of Oxford Street and East Street, Railway Village A KNIFEMAN was caught driving while disqualified less than three months after he was jailed for doing almost exactly the same thing. Lee Turner, 32, was
given eight months inside in January for driving while disqualified and possession of a blade – although he’d served much of his time on remand waiting for his trial at the magistrates’ court. Then on Easter Monday, he was back before the justices facing charges of taking a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified and possession of a blade. Prosecutor Graham Dono told the court that two cars – a Ford Fiesta and a Citroen – were stolen from a compound in Handel Street, Gorse Hill, last month.
Applegreen service station, Swindon Picture: GOOGLE; Inset: PEXELS A DRINK driver who blew four times over the limit was taking his friend’s Astra to the garage when he was stopped by police. Warehouseman Catalin Dobos, 30, was watched by police driving away from the Applegreen service station on Great Western Way on Easter Sunday. Prosecutor Graham Dono told Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday: “Officers observed the defendant’s manner of driving, which was somewhat erratic. He’s observed to strike the kerb while driving the vehicle at some point. “Officers stopped the vehicle the defendant was driving. It was immediately obvious to the officers that Mr Dobos was intoxicated. He had all the usual signs; dilated pupils, slurred speech, lack of understanding, red face, lack of cognitive ability.”
A TROWBRIDGE man threatened to “sort his neighbours out”, a court heard. Police called to Clifford Moye’s home in Glebe Road on December 11 found him in the garden acting aggressively. They had planned to serve him with a community protection notice. Prosecutor Graham Dono told Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday the 53-year-old said he was going to “sort them out”, which was taken to be a threat to the neighbours, with whom he was in dispute. Moye was taken into custody over concerns he was planning to harm himself. Appearing before the magistrates’ court via video link from Melksham police station, Moye, of Glebe Road, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour.