A VAN driver has been ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work after he was caught drink driving. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court, Christopher Bardgett, aged 54, of Bury Old Road, Ainsworth, pleaded guilty to committing the offence by driving a Ford Transit van on Arthur Lane, Bury on December 1. The court heard that Bardgett had drunk more than four times the legal alcohol limit, was involved in a collision and has a previous conviction. Bardgett was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and in addition to the unpaid work, was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £207 in costs and charges.

nA DRINK driver has been fined £450 and banned from the roads for 14 months. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court Nicholas Ashworth, aged 36, of Woodley Avenue, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to driving an Alfa Romeo on Edge Lane, Trafford, of December 12 after drinking more than the legal level of alcohol. He was also ordered to pay £130 in costs and charges.

nA TEENAGER who stole a police high visibility jacket in Bolton on October 16 has been referred to a youth offender panel for four months. At Wigan Youth Court the 17-year-old, from Bury, pleaded guilty to committing the offence and was ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs as well as a £21 victim surcharge.

nMAGISTRATES have sentenced a man to be electronically tagged after he admitted causing damage, estimated at £300, to The Food Foundry on Walmersley Road, Bury on September 27. Shane Mills, aged 32, of Ribble Drive was made subject to a 9pm to 7am curfew for six weeks, must pay the business £300 in compensation and £85 towards prosecution costs.

n A MAN has been fined £384 and banned from the roads for three years after he admitted drink driving on the M62 at junction 19 on July 19 last year while driving a Mercedes. Curtis Ward, aged 32, of Church Street, Ainsworth, was also ordered to pay £133 in costs and charges.

nMAGISTRATES have fined a man £120 after he pleaded guilty to being drink and disorderly in Walmersley Road, Bury, on December 17. Aaron Warrington, aged 31, of Walmersley Road, was also ordered to pay £117 in costs and charges.

nA WOMAN who was carrying a flick knife and stole two bottles of Vodka from Morrisons in Ramsbottom has been jailed for 26 weeks. Manchester magistrates heard how Rebecca Smith, aged 46, of Downham Grove, Prestwich, committed the offences on September 3, used threatening behaviour on September 9 and damaged a Bible belonging to Greater Manchester Police on September 22.Smith was found guilty and in addition to the jail sentence, a restraining order was made banning her from contacting victims or going to Morrisons in Ramsbottom or Holt Street West.