A TEENAGER was caught driving a Mercedes without insurance and while using a mobile phone. At Manchester Youth Court magistrates heard how the 17-year-old boy from Bolton, who cannot be named for legal reasons, drove the vehicle on Peel Way, Bury, on February 2. He was fined £525, ordered to pay £120 in costs and charges and was banned from holding a driving licence for three months.

MAGISTRATES have fined a woman £660 after she was convicted, in her absence, of driving a VW Golf on Walmersley Road, Bury on May 27 last year without care and attention. Samantha Willis, aged 32, of Mosley Avenue, Bury, was also banned from holding a driving licence for six months and ordered to pay £151 in costs and charges.

A MAN who assaulted a man by spitting at him and used threatening behaviour on January 16 has been jailed for six months. At Manchester Magistrates' Court Wayne Kent, aged 39, of Franton Road, Whitefield, pleaded guilty to committing the offences. The court heard how, at the time, Kent was subject to a suspended prison sentence. He was ordered to pay his victim £100 in compensation.

MAGISTRATES have ordered a man to keep the peace or forfeit £100. Paul McGuire, aged 60, of Mersey Drive, Whitefield, admitted behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace on March 13.

A MAN who was caught with 49 indecent images of children on December 12, 2017, has been sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 26 weeks. At Manchester Magistrates' Court James Thomas, aged 27, of Garston Street, Bury, pleaded guilty to committing the offence. The court heard that it was Thomas' second conviction for a similar offence and he had installed sophisticated anti-forensic software on his computer. Thomas was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and participate in a behaviour programme. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, placed on the sex offenders' register for five years and ordered to pay £200 in costs and charges.

A SHOPLIFTER who stole toiletries, worth £90, from Wilkinsons in Bury on March 1 has been jailed for eight weeks. At Manchester Magistrates' Court Christopher Mather, aged 43, of Norwich Drive, Bury, pleaded guilty to committing the offence. The court heard that he has a record of offending and, at the time, was subject to a community sentence. He was also ordered to pay a £122 victim surcharge.

A DRINK driver has been banned from holding a licence for 18 months after he was caught driving a VW Golf on Castlecroft Road, Bury, on February 21. Manchester magistrates heard how Michael Thomas, aged 43, of Rochdale Old Road, Bury, had drunk almost double the legal alcohol limit and had no insurance. He was fined £180 and ordered to pay £116 in costs and charges.