Magistrates deal with all manner of criminal cases every day. 

From cases of drink driving to offences involving assault, a wide variety of cases come before the courts. 

Here is a round-up of some of the cases heard in north Essex last week.

  • A DRINK driver found to be double the legal limit has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Michelle Ballard, 31, drove a BMW in Lisle Road, Colchester, on September 1 while over the legal alcohol limit.

A breath test recorded 102mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on September 25, she admitted a charge of drink driving.

Ballard, of Albion Grove, Colchester, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £105 in prosecution costs.

She was banned from the roads for 25 months.

  • A BURGLAR who stole thousands of pounds worth of computers from businesses in Colchester is set to be sentenced.

Vernon Fevrier, 43, carried out a spree of raids on June 24 and June 25.

The burglaries include the theft of £6,000 of computers from a business in Lodge Lane, Colchester, and £2,680 of computer equipment from another in Langham Lane.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on September 27, Fevrier, a serving prisoner at HM Prison Wandsworth, Earlsfield, London, admitted eight counts of burglary.

He will be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on October 25.

  • A MAN who assaulted a police officer has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Damian Bartier, 26, carried out the assault in Clacton in May.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on September 28, he admitted assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Bartier, of Speedwell Road, Colchester, was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He must pay £250 in compensation to the officer.

  • A MAN has been fined after he admitted possessing a shotgun without a valid certificate.

Billy Munson, 25, was found in possession of the gun in Colchester in November last year.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on September 28, he admitted possessing a firearm without a certificate.

Munson, of Eden Drive, Colchester, was fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £145.

The shotgun will be destroyed by the police.