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

This roundup of cases to come before the courts include a man alleged to have set a woman's car on fire and a sex offender who failed to comply with notification requirements.

  • A MAN found to be carrying heroin and crack cocaine has been hit with a fine.

Johnathan Hanson, 36, was found in possession of a small amount of the drugs in Clacton on July 2 last year.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on January 17, where he admitted two charges of possession of a Class A drugs.

Hanson, of James Road, Clacton, was fined £250 and ordered to pay £105 in prosecution costs.

The drugs, 0.55g of crack cocaine and 0.77g of heroin, were forfeited and destroyed.

  • A SEX offender who failed to comply with the terms of a notification requirement has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Martin Samuelson, 32, admitted breaching the conditions in Colchester on September 11 last year, by failing to comply with his periodic notification requirement.

The requirements typically help the police keep track of an offenders’ details, such as their registered address.

Samuelson, of Titania Close, Colchester, admitted the breach at a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on January 17.

He was hit with a community order, with requirements to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and pay £105 in prosecution costs.

  • A MAN who denies raiding a supermarket in a burglary and stealing bottles of whisky is set to face a trial at a crown court.

Jon Birch, 43, is alleged to have burgled a Sainsbury’s store in Priory Walk, Colchester, on October 12 last year.

Appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on January 17, he denied one charge of burglary.

Birch, of Magdalen Street, Colchester, was released on bail, with conditions not to enter the shop and to stick to a curfew.

He will next appear at a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on February 14.

  • A MAN has appeared in court accused of stalking a woman and setting fire to her car.

Kyial Booth, 32, is alleged to have called a woman 197 times across a single day, leaving her 37 voicemails.

He is also alleged to have set fire to her Vauxhall car, causing £1,200 worth of damage.

Booth, of Finchingfield Way, Colchester, appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on January 17 charged with criminal damage, arson, threatening to damage property and stalking.

He did not enter pleas to the charges and was remanded in custody until a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on February 14.

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