Devon courts addressed a range of cases including driving offences, violence, and animal cruelty this month.
A man was jailed for an Exeter burglary, and a 61-year-old driver admitted careless driving that resulted in serious injury. Additionally, the court addressed a safety case where a woman was fined for failing to keep her dog on a lead.
Recent cases from Exeter, Barnstaple, and Newton Abbot include several driving offenses. Neil Warren, 48, drove unfit and without due care in Barnstaple on February 20, 2024. He pleaded guilty, was banned from driving for 38 months, and received a £162 fine.
Steven Cleaves, 47, drove under the influence of drugs while disqualified and without insurance in Barnstaple on June 23, 2024. He pleaded guilty and received an eight-week prison sentence and a 36-month driving ban.
Oliver Elstone, 41, was drunk in charge of a vehicle on August 23, 2024, and then drove drunk on December 19, 2024, with a breath alcohol level of 100mg. He pleaded guilty and received a four-week suspended prison sentence, rehab, and unpaid work.
Robert Bailey, 63, caused harassment involving racial aggravation in Exmouth on September 14, 2025. He pleaded guilty and was fined £205.
Aaron Young, 22, drove under the influence of drugs near Cranbrook on October 13, 2024. He pleaded guilty, was banned for 12 months, and had to pay a £400 fine.
Archie Thomas, 28, drove drunk in Tiverton on December 14, 2024, with an alcohol level above the limit. He pleaded guilty, was banned for 12 months, and fined £120.
Brian Matthews, 37, drove drunk in Exmouth with a breath test of 90mg, damaged property at the station, and drove without a license on December 19, 2024. He pleaded guilty and received a 23-month ban and a £120 fine.
Jacqueline Wright, 61, caused serious injury in Dawlish on January 21, 2024, by driving carelessly and hurting a woman. She pleaded guilty, and sentencing was delayed for a report.
Andrew Rendell, 45, distributed indecent images of a child in Colyton between January 21 and 27, 2024. He pleaded guilty, and his case moves to Crown Court on March 5, 2025.
Simon Turner assaulted a woman, damaged property, and burgled a staff room in Exeter on October 3, 2024, stealing a wallet, camera, tools, cards, and ID. He pleaded guilty to all charges and will serve 14 weeks in prison.
Ian Champion, 57, harassed a woman with threatening words between July 1 and August 2, 2024. He pleaded guilty and received a 12-month community order and a £120 fine.
Lloyd Bishop, 32, damaged an Audi A3 in Newton Poppleford and damaged property again on December 14, 2024. He also assaulted a man with racial aggravation. Bishop pleaded guilty and received a four-week suspended prison sentence, 40 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £650.
Neil Jackson, 57, had an open alcohol container in violation of a criminal behavior order in Exeter on December 12, 2024. He pleaded guilty and spent 12 days in custody.
Felix Sethi, 25, drove drunk in Exeter on December 21, 2024, with a breath test showing 47mg. He pleaded guilty, was disqualified for 12 months, and must pay a £589 fine.
Jessica Groves, 50, drove drunk in Cullompton on December 21, 2024, with a breath alcohol of 58mg. She pleaded guilty, was banned for 12 months, and fined £1,430.
Deborah Lee, 35, drove drunk in Kentisbeare on December 21, 2024, with an alcohol level of 71mg. She was banned for 19 months and had to pay a £120 fine.
Sam Leverick, 33, drove drunk in Exton on December 21, 2024, with a very high alcohol level of 112mg. He pleaded guilty and got a community order, including 60 hours of unpaid work, and a 28-month driving ban.
Mohamed Amira, 32, caused suffering to a dog by inflicting trauma to its head in Uffculme on December 28, 2023. He pleaded guilty and initially received 22 weeks in prison, which was changed on appeal to 22 weeks suspended for two years. He must pay £500 costs and cannot own animals for ten years.
Daniel Hooper, 29, violated safety regulations by failing to ensure safe work at height in Honiton between June 3 and 14, 2023. He pleaded guilty and got a 16-week suspended jail term and must do 150 hours of unpaid work.
Zahara Barrett, 25, faced an order for her XL Bully type dog, named Marley. The court ordered its destruction in two months unless she gets an exception. The court believes the dog isn’t a danger if she neuters, microchips, gets third-party insurance, keeps the dog muzzled in public, and uses a lead held by a person over 16.
Savannah Beckwith, 29, broke a public space order by entering a restricted area in Torquay on October 22, 2024. She pleaded guilty and got a £40 fine and must also pay £85 in costs.
Kim Hall, 42, failed to keep her dogs on leads in Newton Abbot on July 12, 2024. She pleaded guilty and was fined £354 and had to pay £1,003 in costs.
Benjamin Holtom, 44, allegedly wounded a man and possessed a machete in Torquay on February 5, 2025. He didn’t enter a plea yet, and his case goes to Exeter Crown Court, with the next hearing on March 13, 2025. He remains in custody.