Our regular round-up of people who have appeared in Bolton's courts.

Woman bitten in town attack

A WOMAN who bit another woman in a drink fuelled town centre attack has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Lorna Griffiths, aged 40, of Copthorne Drive, Breightmet, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for two years.

She must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months, and was ordered to pay compensation of £250, a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £85 by Bolton magistrates.

Woman found guilty of assault

A FARNWORTH woman has been found guilty of assaulting a man.

Leanne Moritz, aged 34, of Peel Street, had pleaded not guilty but was convicted at Bolton Magistrates Court.

She was sentenced to a community order and fined £40, and must also pay compensation of £50, a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £400.

Man guilty of woman attack

MAGISTRATES sentenced a Tyldesley man who was found guilty of assaulting a woman to a community order.

Darren Banks, aged 39, of Poplar Street, was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £300.

‘Despicable’ thief gets jailed

A 'DISPICABLE' thief who stole from someone who had befriended him and offered him support has been sent to prison.

Daniel Higham, aged 22, of Corson Street, Moses Gate, stole a TV worth £1,030 from Barbara Crompton as well as causing £6,000 worth of damage to her house.

He also admitted stealing a mobile phone worth £120 and a laptop worth £150 from Christopher Kempster.

The court was told that the incident caused 'extensive damage' to the house and that Ms Crompton had to 'live out of a suitcase'.

In addition, the court heard that Higham caused his victims 'emotional distress'.

Bolton magistrates sentenced Higham to a total of 50 weeks in prison.

Man in court over messages

A HEATON man who harassed a woman by sending messages and tried to pressure her into dropping her complaint has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Andrew Bowling, of Fifth Avenue, admitted harassing the woman by sending “numerous unwanted messages” and to sending a text “encouraging her to drop the investigation”.

Bolton magistrates sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £85.

Man banned from driving for two years

A MOTORIST has been banned from the roads for two years after being caught driving while over the legal drink drive limit, driving without a licence and failing to stop after an accident.

Sajid Latif, aged 41, of Marlbrook Walk, Great Lever, was also fined £100 by Bolton magistrates after admitting the offence, which happened in Loxham Street, Farnworth on August 18 last year.

He must also pay costs of £320, a victim surcharge of £60 and compensation of £4.

Christmas burglar caught by fingerprint

A BURGLAR who broke into a woman’s home whilst she was away for the Christmas holidays was caught after police found his fingerprint on a window frame.

At Bolton Crown Court Clifford Faulkner admitted stealing a 58” television, Wii game console and games and a laptop computer, together worth £1,400, from the property in Leigh Road, Westhoughton.

Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, told how Joanne Allen’s neighbour alerted police after seeing a ladder leaning up against her window and the lower panel of her door smashed on December 22.

A fingerprint was found on the inside of the kitchen window linking the crime to Faulkner, of no fixed address, who has a lengthy criminal record.

The court heard that it is 31-year-old Faulkner’s third conviction for burglary and so he faced a mandatory minimum three year jail term.

With a discount for his guilty plea, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, sentenced Faulkner to 876 days in prison.

“It was an unpleasant offence, as you have recognised,” Judge Clayson told him.