Magistrates deal with all manner of cases every day across north Essex.

This week's roundup of cases to come before the courts include a man accused of exposing himself and another who admitted a course of harassment.

A SHOPLIFTER who snatched meat, coffee and chocolate from a supermarket chain has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Benjamin Jones, 40, admitted stealing meat from a Co-op store in Greenstead, Colchester, on August 17.

He also admitted stealing five jars of coffee and chocolate worth £28.50 from a separate Co-op in Harwich Road.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 23, he admitted two counts of theft.

Jones, of Pondfield Road, Colchester, must carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and pay £40 in compensation.

A MAN who harassed a woman by sending her multiple text messages, videos and photographs after he was asked to stop has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Daniel Norris, 37, sent content “of a harassing nature” to the victim, Colchester Magistrates’ Court was told.

He admitted harassment and breaching a non-molestation order at a court hearing on July 30.

Appearing before magistrates on August 24, Norris, of Crome Road, Clacton, was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was hit with a restraining order and ordered to pay £240 in compensation.

A MAN is set to appear at a crown court to face allegations he attempted to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and possession of more than 1,000 indecent images depicting sex acts with animals.

Lewis Humm, 29, appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 24.

He did not enter pleas to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, possession of amphetamine, three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing 1,688 extreme pornographic images.

Humm, of Francis Way, Colchester, was released on unconditional bail until a plea and trial preparation hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on September 21.

A MAN alleged to have exposed himself and sexually assaulted a woman is set to enter pleas at a crown court.

Carl Croft, 36, appeared at Colchester Magsitrates’ Court on August 24.

He did not enter pleas to charges of sexual assault and exposure, offences allegedly carried out in June last year in Walton and Clacton.

Croft, of Ipswich Road, Colchester, was released on unconditional bail until a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 21.