Court round-up: Stalker harassed woman for a year THE following cases were heard at Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Courts in the last week. JAMES ANDREW KOVACS, 20, was sent to a young offenders institution for four weeks after he assaulted a woman by beating her. The incident took place on April 10, of this year at Newton Aycliffe. Kovacs, of Beechfield, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty and was made to pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. MARK ANTHONY GARR, from Stanley, sent a grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message on April 14, 2020. He indicated a plea of guilt to the offence and was handed a restraining order banning contact with the victim. Garr, 31, of Edward Street, was fined £80 and made to pay a £34 victim surcharge.