Magistrates dealt with a range of serious cases in north Essex last week. 

Here is a round-up of some of the cases to come before the courts.

A WOMAN who stalked a man and disclosed a private sexual photograph of him without his consent has been hit with a community order.

Claire Crick, 46, made 81 phone calls and sent numerous messages to her victim in Clacton between February and March.

Along with disclosing the private sexual photograph, she also damaged a CCTV camera, wall bracket, wall light and ‘bird scarers’ belonging to the victim.

Crick, of Hazelwood Crescent, Little Clacton, admitted two counts of criminal damage, stalking and disclosing a private sexual photograph with intent to cause distress.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 31, she was ordered to stick to an electronically monitored curfew for 16 weeks between 7pm and 7am.

She must also complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay court costs of £340.

Crick was hit with a restraining order banning her from contacting her victim or distributing any material about him.

A MAN has been fined after assaulting a woman in Clacton.

John Stowers, 65, admitted assault by beating at Colchester Magistrates' Court on August 27.

The court heard the assault related to an incident of domestic violence on May 25.

Stowers, of Chestnut Avenue, Kirby Cross, was fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £105.

A MAN is set to appear in a crown court charged with raping a woman.

Joshua Meider, 27, appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 27, charged with rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration.

Meider, of Dishforth, Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, did not enter pleas to the charges, which relate to an alleged incident in Colchester in April 2018.

He was released on unconditional bail until a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on September 24.

A MAN who admitted to possessing a taser and irritant spray has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Tony Gussin, 35, admitted three counts of possessing a taser and one count of possessing PAVA spray – similar to pepper spray – during a hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 27.

Gussin, of Old Road, Clacton, was ordered to pay 120 unpaid work and pay £145 in costs.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with attempting to rape a woman in Colchester.

Gatis Heinrihsons, 37, faced charges of assault by penetration and attempted rape when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 30.

The charges relate to an incident on August 28 this year.

Heinrihsons, of Woodside Close, Colchester, did not enter a plea to either charge and was remanded in custody until a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on September 27.

A DANGEROUS driver has been hit with a fine for getting behind the wheel with cocaine in his system.

Jack Luckham, 22, admitted driving an Audi A3 dangerously in Clacton in June last year.

He was also found to be in possession of cannabis during the same incident.

He admitted a separate incident of drug driving in Clacton in December last year.

Luckham, of St Osyth Road, Clacton, was found to have 39mcg of cocaine analyte per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on August 30, Luckham admitted charges of drug driving, dangerous driving and possession of cannabis.

For the drug driving charge, he was hit with a £120 fine, ordered to pay £105 costs and banned from driving for three years.

He will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 27 for sentence in relation to the dangerous driving.

Luckham received no separate penalty for the cannabis possession charge.

A DRINK driver who left the road and hit a tree after getting behind the wheel while double the legal limit has been banned from driving.

Stanley Butler, 52, got behind the wheel of a Nissan Murano in Jasmine Way, Clacton, in June while over the legal alcohol limit.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard he was found to have 78mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The court heard he crashed into a tree on a grass verge and failed to stop.

Butler, of Gorse Way, Jaywick, admitted drink driving and failing to stop after an accident.

He was banned from driving for 20 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £105.

A MAN who threatened to use a weighted barbell as a weapon has been spared prison.

Luke Moncur, 21, made threats and homophobic comments during the incident in Jaywick, in February this year, Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard.

Moncur, of Glebe Way, Jaywick, admitted possession of an offensive weapon, being drunk and disorderly in a public place and using threatening words or behaviour.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and must complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Moncur must pay costs of £328.