Round-up of recently-heard cases in North and West Cumbria
Police sting caught 62-year-old who planned sexual encounter with 14-year-old
A 62-year-old Carlisle man arranged a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old boy unaware that he was blundering into an online police sting operation.
When Keith Fisher was confronted - not by the child he was hoping to meet but by a police officer - he said: “I’ve been an idiot... I’m disgusted with my myself.”
Trial date set for case triggered by A66 death crash A trial date has been set in the case of a lorry driver who is accused of causing a man’s death by careless driving on the A66 in Cumbria. At Carlisle Crown Court, Nathan Walker, 26, formally pleaded not guilty to the allegation, which relates to a traffic collision at Kirkby Thore on December 22, 2021 which led to the death of Paul Stenner, who was driving a MAN goods vehicle.
Drink-driver more than twice the limit gets 21-month ban A drink-driver who was more than twice the limit has been banned from getting behind the wheel for 21 months. Kim Allan, 67, had been driving an orange Suzuki Swift on Preston Street in Whitehaven when the offence took place on December 14.
Teenager was sexually assaulted by 'scruffy' stranger in city park A 19-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a “scruffy looking” stranger as she sat on a bench overlooking a city centre park, a court heard. The middle-aged man later accused of carrying out the assault claimed the girl’s account of what happened was completely wrong and that he was not in Portland Square when the sexual assault was committed.
Burglars who stole cigarettes and tobacco from WH Smith sentenced A man has been jailed and two others given suspended prison terms after breaking into a high street store and stealing cigarettes. Caitlin Wilson, 22, Thomas Dempsey, 34, and Steven Hilland, 57, admitted burglary other than dwelling when they appeared before magistrates on Tuesday.
Shoplifter remanded in custody after stealing groceries from store she is banned from A shoplifter who stole groceries from a supermarket she is banned from entering has been remanded in custody. Nichola Moore, 40, entered Aldi on Preston Street in Whitehaven on December 30 and stole goods to the value of about £70.
Prolific Carlisle[7] offender racially abused hostel employee and made threat A prolific offender with more than 200 crimes to his name racially abused a hostel employee and delivered a chilling threat to slit his throat. Andrew John Jason Bell, 46, made the latest in a long line of court appearances in front of Carlisle magistrates today (Thursday).
Teenager attacked his ex and installed tracking software on her mobile phone A West Cumbrian teenager has admitted subjecting his former girlfriend to controlling behaviour and twice assaulting her, causing unpleasant facial injuries. The controlling behaviour exhibited by 19-year-old Sol Wedgewood-Paterson went on for more than two years and included him installing a tracking app on her mobile phone, Carlisle Crown Court heard.