ITS been another busy week for defendants across our patch appearing in court.

From a horrific sexual assault to a student hitting a woman over the head with a gas canister, here is a roundup of cases from the last seven days.

NORTHWICH

Man avoids jail for persistent harassment of woman ‘protected’ by restraining order

A NORTHWICH man has avoided jail for wilfully failing to comply with the terms of a restraining order.

Gavin Foy, of Royle Street, committed six separate breaches of the order over a two-month period, and was handed a 20-week term behind bars.

However, the sentence was suspended for a period of two years, during which time the 39-year-old must comply with various requirements, including an alcohol treatment programme.

Read HERE for the full story 

Student avoids jail after hitting woman in head with laughing gas canister

A STUDENT who hit a woman over the head with a laughing gas canister has avoided an immediate spell behind bars.

Usman Hussain was with a group of friends by Pickmere Lake, between Northwich and Knutsford, on May 31 last year, when an argument escalated.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman, occasioning her actual bodily harm, on the basis he had been provoked by being racially abused by the complainant.

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Man’s failure to pay £8.60 rail fare ends up costing him more than £400

A NORTHWICH man who dodged paying for a train ticket to Manchester has been hit with a court bill worth 50 times more.

James Foran, of Pleasant Street, failed to purchase a ticket before he boarded a train from Newton Le Willows to Manchester Victoria on Saturday, June 5 this year.

More on this>HERE

WINSFORD

Roofer told victim she ‘didn’t have a choice’ during 20-minute sex attack

ROOFER Jake Maughan repeatedly ignored his victim’s pleas for him to stop during a ‘prolonged and persistent’ sex attack.

The 29-year-old kissed and touched the woman in the 20-minute assault, even telling her she ‘didn’t have a choice’ as he forced her to touch him.

READ> The full story here

KNUTSFORD

Driver caught speeding three times in 11 months banned 'for repeat offending'

A DRIVER caught speeding three times in 11 months has been banned 'for repeat offending'.

Harinder Dhaliwal, of Hillside Hollow, Macclesfield Road in Alderley Edge admitted three offences of exceeding the speed limit when his case was heard at West Yorkshire Magistrates Court.

READ> Full story here

Man fined £400 for damaging two pairs of hair straighteners

A MAN who damaged two pairs of hair straighteners has been fined £400.

Ismail Lutan, of Hazelwood Road, Wilmslow, had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence and the case had been listed for trial at Stockport Magistrates Court.

FULL STORY HERE

Passengers hit with £400 court bill for dodging train fares

TWO passengers have been hit with £400 court bills after failing to buy train tickets for £3 and £6.50.

Kyle Lord, of Lime Walk, Wilmslow, travelled from Stockport to Hazel Grove on May 29, this year, Greater Manchester Magistrates Court heard.

The passenger was unable to produce a valid ticket when an inspector boarded the train, magistrates were told at a hearing on October 29.

The full story is HERE