A MAN who was caught driving a Range Rover when he was banned from holding a licence has been fined by Manchester magistrates. Mohammed Basat, aged 40, of East Street, Bury, pleaded guilty to driving the vehicle on Manchester Road, Bury, on April 11. He also admitted having no insurance. In addition to a £140 fine he was ordered to pay £115 in costs and charges and his driving record was endorsed with six penalty points.

A TEENAGER from Bury has been convicted of using threatening behaviour at Piccadilly railway station on November 27 last year. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Manchester Youth Court and admitted the offence. He was referred to the youth offender panel for nine months and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

A SHOPLIFTER who stole razor blades and a banana from a supermarket has been electronically tagged. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court Michael Godwin, aged 50, of Gingham Park, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to stealing the goods, worth £303, from Morrisons on May 3. He also admitted stealing two coffee machines, worth a total of £90, from B&M Bargains on May 20. Godwin was sentenced to a 6pm to 6am curfew for three weeks and was ordered to undertake drug treatment for 12 months as well as 20 days of rehabilitation activities. He must also pay B&M Bargains £90 in compensation.

MAGISTRATES have fined a man £461 after he was caught driving at more than double the speed limit on Bury Road. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how Jonathan Thompson, aged 46, of Limefield Road, Radcliffe, was driving at 62 mph near to Kingston Road – a stretch of carriageway which has a 30mph limit. In addition to the fine, he was ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and a £46 victim surcharge.

A MOTORIST has been given an absolute discharge by Manchester magistrates after he was found to have been driving a BMW 320 without insurance. The court heard how Ricardo Hughes, aged 27, of Polefield Approach, Prestwich, was driving the vehicle on Stanley Road, Whitefield, on December 7, without insurance. But magistrates accepted that Hughes had been misled into believing he was insured to drive the car.

MAGISTRATES have ordered a woman to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work after she assaulted another woman and stole alcohol, worth £6, from Tesco in Bury on April 5. Elizabeth Finneran, aged 46, of Broad Oak Lane, Bury, pleaded guilty to committing the offences and also admitted failing to surrender to court. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court she was ordered to participate in 25 days of rehabilitation activities, pay £56 in compensation and £170 in costs and charges.