HERE's a round-up of some of the biggest court stories to have taken place in Carlisle and West Cumbria this week.

 

Judge jails Kendal man over repeated breaches of sexual harm order

A SOUTH Cumbrian man with an unhealthy interest in depraved sexual activity has been jailed for flouting a court order designed to curb his behaviour.

Jake Stewart, 27, who was prosecuted last year for having indecent child images and extreme pornography which included images of a corpse being sexually abused, pleaded guilty to three breaches of his sexual harm prevention order.

The offences came to light on December 7 last year when police visited the defendant at his home in Kendal and discovered incriminating evidence.

Brampton driver jailed over fatal crash he caused after taking pills

A MOTORIST whose dangerous driving after taking illegally obtained pills caused a fatal crash on the A689 has been jailed.

The horrific crash caused by 47-year-old Paul Murray has had a devastating effect on the family of the 22-year-old victim, Joshua Robertson, who was a front seat passenger in a transit van, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The defendant's BMW collided head-on with the van on the A689 near Brampton, leaving Mr Robertson with catastrophic injuries. Despite him receiving immediate treatment from medical staff who were in a passing ambulance, he died at the scene.

Carlisle shoplifter jailed for stealing meat and toys

AN EIGHT-week jail term has been handed to a 29-year-old Carlisle man who repeatedly stole meat and toys during a string of thefts. 

Deputy District Judge Ann Moran said custody was justified because Ryan Ferguson, of Weardale Road, Carlisle, had a record for similar past offences and he had committed seven offences in a short period. He admitted all seven offences.

'It's never too late': Plea to survivors as Carlisle pervert jailed

THE jailing of a sex predator who committed hundreds of child rapes in Carlisle decades ago shows it is never too late to seek justice, say police.

Serial child abuser Stephen Mahoney, 78, was this week jailed for 31 years and six months for a catalogue of sickening abuse against multiple children, which included at least 255 rapes, 203 indecent assaults and 100 acts of indecency with a child.

Knife offence lands convicted Carlisle thief back in court

A CARLISLE man who is awaiting sentence for two theft offences dating back to November of last year was brought back to court after police caught him with a knife.

But a defence lawyer told Carlisle’s Rickergate court that 30-year-old Marc Austin had been carrying the knife for only a matter of minutes when police arrived at the scene and arrested him.

Carlisle man's 'abusive' contact with woman leads to jail term

FLOUTING a court’s restraining order through “abusive” contact with a woman he was banned from communicating with has earned a Carlisle man a jail term.

Nathan Morrison, 31, committed the offence on November 27 after initiating contact with the woman through Facebook messages, Carlisle’s Rickergate court was told. He was banned from having any contact under the terms of a restraining order.

It was imposed just a week earlier.