IT’s been another extremely busy week in both the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and Coroner’s Court.

We’ve rounded the cases we covered that you might have missed.

Walney man took Mercedes Benz van without owner’s consent – sentence

A MAN is to be punished in the community for driving a vehicle without an owner’s consent.

John Burns, of Mill Lane on Walney, took a Mercedes Benz van between April 20 and April 21 2024 in Barrow.

READ MORE: Man, 37, sentenced after taking and driving vehicle without permission of owner

Prolific Barrow shoplifter back in court after stealing from TK Maxx

A PROLIFIC thief previously banned from all shops in Barrow town centre was back in court after she stole again.

Nicola Duke has dozens of previous convictions and was previously banned from entering shops in Barrow's town centre and retail parks.

READ MORE: Prolific shoplifter back in court after stealing clothes

Lake District: Emma Wilkinson attacked mother on birthday weekend away

A DAUGHTER acted ‘like a possessed demon’ when she assaulted her mother during the night on a spa weekend at a Lake District hotel, a court heard.

Preston Crown Court heard Emma Jayne Wilkinson was celebrating her mother’s birthday at the Lakeside Hotel & Spa at Newby Bridge when she assaulted her.

READ MORE: Daughter acted 'like a possessed demon' as she attacked her own mother

Barrow man with ‘sexual interest in children’ is jailed

A JUDGE has jailed a man who he said has a ‘sexual interest in the abuse of very young children’.

Scott Hall, of Pennine Gardens, Barrow, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

READ MORE: Man with ‘sexual interest in the abuse of very young children’ is jailed

Barrow man with ‘unenviable’ record jailed for absconding during trial

A BARROW man with an ‘unenviable’ criminal record has been jailed after he absconded during a rape trial.

Paul Turner fled Preston Crown Court and was apprehended after a 'foot chase' near Barrow's train station.

READ MORE: Man with ‘unenviable’ record jailed for absconding during rape trial

Drug driver caught over 14x Benzoylecgonine limit on A590 near Kendal

A MAN has been sentenced for drug driving in South Cumbria whilst over 14 times a legal drug limit.

Elliot Kidd, 29, was stopped by road traffic officers in his Citroen Dispatch on the A590 at Hincaster, near Kendal on April 27 this year, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

READ MORE: Man, 29, sentenced for drug driving whilst over 14 times specified drug limit

Inquest: Man washed up at Roa Island, Barrow, still unidentified

A CORONER has called it a 'matter of some sorrow' that the identity of a man who washed up on the shore in Barrow 18 months ago is still unknown.

A white male, thought to be aged between 50 and 60, was spotted off the western shore of Roa Island at just after 2pm on Sunday, April 30, 2023, by members of the public at Roa Island Boating Club.

READ MORE: Mystery man found on shore still unidentified after international searches - inquest

Ulverston motorist fined after speeding at 35mph in 30mph zone

A MOTORIST has been fined by a court after he was clocked driving at 35mph in 30mph zone.

Richard Sheppard, from Ulverston, was said to have driving over the speed limit on a road near Chester.

READ MORE: Motorist fined after speeding at 35mph in 30mph zone

‘Belligerent’ Barrow man jailed after spitting offences towards police

A ‘BELLIGERENT’ man with ‘an appalling drinking problem’ has been jailed for several assaults on emergency workers in the form of spitting.

Luke Woodburn, of Salthouse Road, Barrow, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on October 24 after admitting three counts of assaulting an emergency worker, two counts of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence and a for assault by beating on February 1 and March 3 this year.

READ MORE: ‘Belligerent’ man with ‘appalling drinking problem’ jailed after spitting at police

Ulverston man prosecuted in court for racially aggravated harassment

A MAN has been ordered to pay over £1,000 to a court for racially aggravated harassment.

Karl Jackson, of New Market Street, Ulverston, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to using racially aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour to a person who was likely to be caused harassment, alarm, or distress.

READ MORE: Man, 36, sentenced for racially aggravated harassment offence to cause alarm/distress

South Cumbria offender jailed after spitting at police

A KENDAL man who spat and kicked a police officer was told his diagnosed behaviour issues were not a “get out of jail free” card. 

Scott Graham, 36, apologised for his latest criminal conduct at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday as he was handed an eight-month prison sentence. That was imposed for offending which occurred on 21st September.

READ MORE: Prolific offender with track record of assaulting emergency workers jailed

Lake District inquest: Melissa Harwood of Grasmere

A 'GREATLY missed' former artist, dancer, and teamwork consultant was found dead by a neighbour at her home in Grasmere after taking her own life, an inquest has heard.

Melissa Harwood, 76, was found at her home on Easedale Road, Grasmere on July 2, 2024 after a postman alerted a retired GP who lived across the road to a concerning note she had left on the door to her house.

READ MORE: Neighbours make tragic discovery of renowned artist after note left on door

Ulverston driver in his sixties caught nearly 3x over drinking limit

A MAN has been sentenced in court after he was caught nearly three times over the legal drink driving limit.

Graham Wilding, of Devonshire Road, Ulverston, was driving his Vauxhall Astra Club on Lightburn Road when he was stopped by road traffic officers on August 10 this year.

READ MORE: Driver in his sixties caught nearly three times over legal drinking limit - sentence

Barrow moped driver stopped while under influence of diazepam

A BARROW scooter driver has lost his license after he was caught behind the wheel of his moped whilst under the influence of anxiolytic drug.

Timothy Leary, of Low White Close, Barrow, was stopped by road traffic officers whilst driving his SYM Joymax moped on Crellin Street on May 1 this year.

READ MORE: Moped driver stopped while under influence of diazepam

Inquest: Kendal man died after crashing into coach on A590

A CORONER has said he 'wrestled with' two rival possibilities as to what caused the crash that killed a Kendal man after a head-on collision with a coach on the A590 near Newby Bridge.

Yorick de Munnick, 41, died at the scene of the crash on the A590 between Lindale and Newby Bridge at around 3.30pm on January 21, 2024.

READ MORE: Coroner unsure whether 'full of humour' driver intended to cause fatal crash

Barrow thief sentenced for stealing chocolate bars from B&M Bargains

A THIEF has been sentenced after he admitted he had stolen over £40 worth of chocolate bars from a discount retail store in Barrow.

Dale Smith, of Worcester Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to one count of theft from a shop at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on October 23.

READ MORE: Thief ordered to pay compensation after stealing over £40 worth of chocolate bars

Barrow stalker accessed woman’s Facebook and spied on her in rear yard

A STALKER  has been sentenced for spying on a woman in her rear yard and accessing her private social media account.

John-Reece Perry, of Howe Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to stalking without fear/alarm/distress at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on October 23.

READ MORE: Stalker sentenced after spying on woman and accessing her Facebook account