Wigan's week in court

A boy of just 13 from Wigan has admitted to a harassment charge.

The schoolboy, who cannot be named. appeared before Wigan justices to plead guilty to the single charge of using threatening, insulting words of behaviour against a named male with the intention of causing alarm, distress or harassment on January 11 this year.

He was given a four-month Youth Offender Panel referral order.

A 55-year-old woman has admitted to stealing a man's bank card and then fraudulently using it to buy booze.

Karen O'Malley, of Orchard Street, Wigan, stood before borough justices to plead guilty to the theft of the card plus £20 from Graham McDonald on January 6 then using it three times soon after to buy almost £30 worth of alcohol in contravention of the Fraud Act.

She also admitted failing to surrender to bail on April 3.

O'Malley was released on conditional bail pending her sentence at the same court on May 28.

A Wigan teenager has denied driving a carjacked vehicle dangerously.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before borough magistrates to plead not guilty to the aggravated taking of a Ford Kuga on August 23 last year which was then dangerously driven on Vicarage Road, Simpkin Street, Warrington Road, Walthew Lane, Davies Street, and Whistley Street by which time the vehicle had also been damaged.

He was released on unconditional bail until he next appears before Manchester and Salford justices on August 23 this year.

A 15-year-old from Wigan has been accused of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The boy, who cannot be identified, stood before borough justices to face charges of possessing vile sexual images of youngsters, 514 of which fell into the most serious legal category - A.

It is also alleged that he possessed 254 category B pictures and 113 category C.

And he is further accused of distributing nine category A images, three category B pictures and one considered category C.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between July and December 2022 when the accused was 13 and 14 years old.

He has yet to enter any pleas and has been released on unconditional bail pending a further appearance at the same court on May 2.

Failing to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register has landed a Wigan 32-year-old with a fine.

Allansam Webber, of Livingston Street, Ashton, stood before Manchester justices to admit not complying with notification requirements on March 18.

The penalty, court costs and a victim services surcharge mean he has £337 to pay.

A pervert from Wigan who repeatedly breached a sexual harm prevention order has been jailed for three years.

Matthew Hellman, 30, of Atherton Road in Hindley, had been accused of using a device capable of accessing the internet, possessing a device capable of storing images and taking an intimate photograph, and setting up a dating account.

He was banned from doing these things by a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Manchester Crown Court in 2020.

And on appearing at Bolton Crown Court where he admitted to all three breaches he was given a three-year custodial sentence by the judge for each offence.

They will run concurrently.

He also has a victim services surcharge to pay.

A Wigan borough 31-year-old who denied strangling a woman has seen his trial next year scrapped after the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to a lesser assault charge.

Liam O'Brien, of Wigan Road in Leigh, was to have appeared before a jury at Bolton Crown Court on September 2025 after pleading not guilty to intentionally throttling a named woman on December 16.

But at the latest hearing the more serious offence was dismissed as he pleaded guilty to assault by beating.

He was given a three-month conditional discharge, a 12-month restraining order was imposed preventing any contact with his victim and he was ordered to pay £26 to victim services.

A Wigan man has admitted to molesting a schoolgirl and drug driving.

Ismael Ibrahim, 45, of Withington Lane, Aspull, appeared before Manchester magistrates to plead guilty sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at the Trafford Centre on April 10 and also to driving a Honda Civic in Sale last June while under the influence of cocaine.

He was remanded in custody until May 19 when he will be sentenced by a judge at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

A 35-year-old has been accused of launching attacks on four police officers on three different occasions.

Liam Makin, of Charles Street, Ince, appeared before Wigan magistrates to admit to the assault by beating of PC Slater on January 27, of PCs Greenough and Kerr on January 28 and PC Gardner on February 27.

He was released on unconditional bail until sentencing at the same court on May 31.

A Wigan man whose stalking of a woman included sending messages saying he was at her workplace and threats of violence, has been spared an immediate jail term.

Andrew Gallagher, 36, of Wigan Lower Road, Standish Lower Ground, targeted the woman between February 16 and 20.

He has also admitted carrying out criminal damage to a door belonging to her.

Returning to the borough's law courts for sentencing he was given an 18- week custodial sentence which was suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to complete a Building Better Relationships programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activities and a restraining order was made, preventing any contact with his victim.

There is also £239 to pay to the court and victim services.

Twice flouting a restraining order by contacting his ex has landed a Wigan man six weeks behind bars.

Thomas McSpirit, 29, of Enid Place, Bamfurlong, appeared before borough justices to admit the order breaches committed on February 2 and 7 when he contacted Diane McSpirit.

The order had been imposed by Manchester justices last June.

The bench told him he was going to prison because he had exhibited a "flagrant disregard for court orders."

A 37-year-old has been accused of rape, sexual assault and subjecting a Wigan woman to more than a year of domestic abuse.

Lee Mitchell, of Fairhaven in Skelmersdale, stood before borough justices charged with controlling and coercive behaviour between January last year and April this year, to sexually assaulting a female over 16 on March 8 and the rape of a woman between March 1 and April 10.

The domestic abuse charge alleges that Mitchell repeatedly made sexual demands and demanded the complainant look after him by ordering food to be cooked and baths to be run, while also constantly ringing her, demanding to know her location.

He was released on conditional bail until he makes his first appearance at Bolton Crown Court on May 17.

No pleas have yet been entered.

A Wigan motorist caught driving under the influence of cocaine and cannabis has been banned from the road for 16 months.

Martin Choppen, 45, of Bank Street, Platt Bridge, was found to be over the limit for the illegal substances when police stopped his Volkswagen Tiguan on Highfield Grange Avenue, Winstanley, on August 10 last year.

A Wigan man has been jailed for 14 and a half years after admitting to 11 counts of sex offences – including crimes against a child.

Graham Young, 63, formerly of of Hesketh Meadow Lane, Lowton, received his sentence for horrific crimes he committed against two teenaged girls.

The court heard how Young had targeted the youngsters after befriending those who were close to them and using highly sexualised language and innuendo when he saw them.

The girls were groomed by Young, who pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences against the youngsters, including possession of Category A and B videos of a child, possession of Category A, B and C images, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and voyeurism.

DC Stephanie Goss of the Child Protection Unit in Wigan said: “We are pleased with today’s result, which has seen a dangerous, sexual predator removed from our streets.

"We hope that this allows the victims time to heal and come to terms with what they have been through at the hands of this man.

“As a force, we are committed to investigating any allegation of sexual abuse and we urge anyone who believes they have been a victim to get in touch with us.

"You will be believed, and you will be supported. If something doesn’t feel right, report it.”

A Wigan 17-year-old has denied multiple domestic abuse charges including controlling and coercive behaviour.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified, appeared before Manchester magistrates to face the the allegation of bullying a named female between the beginning of January and mid-April this year, three counts of assault by beating, one of intentional strangulation, another of criminal damage and one of stalking causing fear of violence in that at least twice he phoned her to say he would harm her.

The teenager has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has been released on conditional bail until he reappears at the court for trial on September 29.

A trial date has been set for a Wigan man who denies wielding offensive weapons in Bolton town centre.

On his latest appearance before borough justices, John Webster, 36, of Jeffrey Street, Ince, pleaded not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, namely a knuckle duster; possessing a knife blade and/or sharp pointed article in a public place, namely a meat cleaver; and obstructing and/or resisting a constable in execution of his/ her duty all on March 8.

He admitted to possessing cannabis and breaking bail conditions on April 11 and the case was adjourned for a trial before magistrates on December 3 before which time he is on conditional bail.

A Wigan 41-year-old has been accused of a "revenge porn" offence.

Daniel Shorthouse, of Long Lane, Hindley Green, stood before borough justices charged with disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress on March 29. This would be in breach of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

He further denies assaulting a named woman on March 28 and smashing her door and mirror on April.

The case was adjourned until a trial takes place at Bolton Magistrates' Court on October 24. Shorthouse is on conditional bail until then.

A car stolen in a Wigan burglary crashed into a wall before it was recovered, a court heard.

Kieran Turner, 18, of Norfolk Close, Hindley, appeared before Manchester justices to plead guilty to the aggravated vehicle taking of an Audi TT on July 27, 2022 to which more than £5,000 in damage was caused in the collision. He also admitted to burgling a home in Bolderwood Drive, Hindley, to steal car keys on the same day and to burgling Winstanley Cricket Club on March 4 the same year.

Turner was released on conditional bail until his sentencing hearing on May 9 at Bolton Crown Court.

A teenager from Wigan has been charged with burglary, stealing a car and drug possession.

Alfie Price, 18, of Liverpool Road, Hindley, appeared before borough justices accused of stealing an Audi A3 and attempting to take an Audi 6 on March 20. He is further charged with burglary of a home in Lincoln Road, Hindley, the same day in order to steal two sets of car keys plus a handbag and to having cocaine on April 16.

He has yet to enter any pleas and the bench sent the case to be heard at Bolton Crown Court on May 22.

In the meantime Price has been released on conditional bail.

A 55-year-old has been accused of potentially deadly arson at a Wigan block of flats.

Mark Baker, of Manor Street, Newtown, stood before borough magistrates charged with deliberately starting a fire in a particular home at the high rise Mannion House, Scholes, on October 5, 2022 with intent to endanger.

It is alleged that the blaze caused £4,000 in damage to the Wigan Council-owned property.

Because of the seriousness off the case, it has now been sent to Bolton Crown Court where Baker will make his first appearance on May 22.

Not guilty pleas have been entered by a Wigan 39-year-old accused of stalking and breaches of a restraining order.

Lloyd Mullock, of Sherwood Drive, Norley, appeared before borough magistrates to deny sending a named woman texts and Facebook messages and turning up at her home between October 7 and November 30, 2022, that these constituted serious stalking causing alarm or distress and that they were in breach of a restraining order imposed by the courts in 2020.

A trial has been scheduled to take place at the same court on October 28.

Mullock was bailed with conditions.

A shoplifter was found to be armed with a knuckle duster, Wigan magistrates heard.

Anthony Connor, 36, of Mesnes Avenue, Worsley Mesnes, was caught after stealing a rum gift set, bottle of wine and deodorant gift set from B&M Bargains in Wigan on September 19 last year and the weapon was recovered at the same time.

After pleading guilty to three theft charges, he was told to return to the court for sentencing on May 23 before which time he is on conditional bail.

A 28-year-old arrested for threatening someone with a broken bottle was then found to be armed with a knife when taken to Wigan Police Station.

John Hampson, of Sydney Street, Orrell, appeared before borough justices to admit using the jagged glass to menace someone at Robin Park on January 9 and was then found to have a blade when taken to the custody suite of the police HQ nearby.

He was given unconditional bail until his sentencing at the same court on May 29.