A MAN brandishing a baseball bat in public and another growing cannabis plants in his own home, were just two of the stories that have been heard in courts across Cheshire in the last seven days.

Here is a roundup of those defendants in and around Northwich, Winsford and Knutsford who have appeared:

NORTHWICH

Man denies having kitchen knife in public

A MAN from Northwich is to face trial after he denied being in possession of a knife in public.

Michael John McGreavy, of Greenbank Lane, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, October 1.

The 55-year-old was charged with being in possession of a kitchen knife on August 2 this year.

However, McGreavy, who has an alias of Michael McGeever - not to be confused with Mike McGeever of Gleave Road, Weaverham - denied the charge when appearing in the lower court.

The matter will now be dealt with by a trial at Chester Crown Court on October 29.

Man given let-off after he was found with cannabis

A DAVENHAM man has been given a let-off after being found in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Martin Childs, of Graingers Road, appeared before Chester Magistrates on Friday, October 1.

The 56-year-old pleaded guilty to being in possession of the class B drug on August 29.

He was given a six-month conditional discharge by the bench, who took into account his guilty plea when sentencing.

Childs was told to pay a £22 surcharge, which will be used to fund victim services.

Magistrates also ordered the drugs to be destroyed under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Man admits to threatening behaviour and carrying a baseball bat in public

A Northwich man has pleaded guilty to two charges at Chester Magistrates Court.

The man he threatened in the incident was made subject of a warrant after he failed to show up to face charges including possession of drugs.

For the full story read click HERE.

Woman refused bail after denying drunkenly knocking on front door

A Northwich woman has been refused bail after denying a string of anti-social charges.

She also faces assault and criminal damage charges.

For the full story click HERE.

Man admits stealing stock worth thousands of pounds from the company he worked for

A NORTHWICH man has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of pounds of stock from his employer.

George Smith, of Violet Grove, was appearing at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, October 6.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing £61,847.47 of stock from Manchester-based Bromborough Paints.

The thefts are believed to have taken place over the course of 14 months – between January 1 2018 and May 24 2019.

The 33-year-old will return to the same court to be sentenced on November 3.

Man admits growing dozens of cannabis plants at his home

A NORTHWICH man has admitted to growing 24 cannabis plants at his home.

Noel Gallagher, of Solvay Road, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday October 5.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of producing the Class B drug, which is in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The offence came to light by police on June 16 this year.

Gallagher has been given unconditional bail to return to the same court on October 28 for sentencing.

WINSFORD

Driving ban for Winsford man

A WINSFORD man has been banned from the road after admitting to a drug drive charge.

Jamie Hickson, of Ford Court, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 5.

He was charged with driving his Audi A3 on Bradburns Lane in Northwich, while the proportion of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis) exceeded the legal limit.

The 21-year-old provided a sample to police that was 3.1 micrograms per litre of blood (with the limit being 2µg/L) on May 9 this year.

Hickson was banned from driving for a period of 12 months and must pay a £120 fine.

He was also told to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £34 to fund victim services.

Man spared jail after making offensive comments

A WINSFORD man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after he admitted making offensive comments.

Christopher John Murphy, of Aston Avenue, was actually prohibited from such behaviour via a non-molestation order made at Crewe Magistrates Court on August 26 last year.

It was the second time the fifty-year-old had breached the terms of the order.

Appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on October 5, he was also re-sentenced for a previous charge for sending abusive text messages on October 16 last year.

That particular offence had led to a community order being made in March of this year, but the terms of that were revoked at the hearing.

He was handed an eight-week prison sentence for the new offence, while the original offence led to him being given six weeks, to be served consecutively.

The 14 week prison term will be suspended for a period of 12 months.

He will however be subjected to a night time curfew between the hours of 7pm and 6am for the next 14 days.

Murphy was also made to pay £85 in prosecution costs and £128 to fund victim services.

KNUTSFORD

Drink driving ban for Holmes Chapel woman

A WOMAN has been disqualified from driving after she was stopped in Wilmslow and found to be over the limit.

Ilayda Tomes, of Middlewich Road, was stopped by police on August 15, when driving a Mercedes on Manchester Road.

After taking a breathalyser, it showed she had 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35mg/100ml.

She was appearing at Stockport Magistrates Court on Monday, October 4, where she pleaded guilty to the charge.

As well as the 16-month driving ban, Tomes must also pay a £230 fine.

Shoplifter stole items worth hundreds in three visits to Next store

A MANCHESTER woman has escaped an immediate spell behind bars after admitting to stealing bed linen and other household items from Next.

Gail Marie Flannagan, of Chippenham Road, targeted the Next in Handforth Dean in three visits over the course of ten days.

The 55-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges when she appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court on Monday, October 4.

She first paid the store a visit on July 2 where she helped herself to bed linen and household items worth a total of £200.41.

Not perturbed, she was back at the store a week later stealing a light and stationery worth £250, before her last visit on July 12 yielded goods worth £219.

Magistrates handed Flannagan six weeks in custody for each of the three thefts, due to her appalling record of similar offences.

However, the 18-week prison sentence was suspended for a period of two years.

During that period, the defendant will work with the probation service on rehabilitation.

She was also ordered to pay £450 compensation to Next