This is your weekly round-up of some of the latest court cases heard at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court.
The defendant’s name, age, address and details of the charge(s) and sentence are published in accordance with Criminal Procedure Rule 5.8, as agreed by HMCTS and the Society of Editors and approved by the Lord Chancellor. Not all cases heard will appear on this round-up due to legal restrictions.
This article is published from official information issued by HM Courts and Tribunal Service and is covered by qualified privilege. Please note: names/details of convictions will not be removed from this article on the basis of the convicted individual or their families requesting such action.
Monday 4th April – Friday 8th April 2022
• Gareth Edward Furmidge, 42, of Church Road in Wootton, admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a community order by not attending unpaid work. Furmidge was given the order on 12th January 2021 for the offence of drug driving, 20 years after killing a father-of-four in a drug-driving crash in Wootton. Magistrates varied the order with a total of 50 hours of unpaid work to be carried out within the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £60 costs.
• David Thomas, 60, of Hatherton Road in Shanklin, pleaded guilty to speeding – namely 35mph in a 30mph. He was handed 3 penalty points and fined £86, as well as being ordered to pay a £34 surcharge.
• Daniel Harris, 31, of Harding Road in Ryde, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was ordered to pay £785 compensation and £85 costs.
• Steven Yeo, 24, of Park Road in Ryde, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker and possession of a Class B drug – cannabis. He was fined £180 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £34 surcharge.
• Aaron Longman, 22, of Catherine Terrace in Newport, was found guilty of drug driving (cannabis). He was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £180 and ordered to pay costs of £100 with a £34 surcharge.
• Phillip Mitchell, 54, of Colwell Chine Road in Totland, pleaded guilty to assault by beating. He was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. The court determined the offence was a disability hate crime. Mitchelle was ordered to pay a £128 surcharge.
• Nathan Cooke, 31, of Tandy Close in Ryde, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation and £85 costs.
• Ben Ashton, 39, of Colemans Lane in Porchfield, pleaded guilty to drug driving (cannabis), drug driving (cocaine), drug driving (benzoylecgonine), 2 charges of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance, possession of a Class A drug (cocaine) and possession of a Class B drug (cannabis). Ashton was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. The court’s reasoning was that Ashton has a record for previous similar offending and committed offences on consecutive days. He was also banned from driving fro 5 years and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days with 200 hours of unpaid work, as well as paying costs of £85.
• Sarah Widdowson, 50, of Walnuts Road in Orpington, pleaded guilty to 2 charges of drug driving (cocaine). She was disqualified from driving f0r 12 months, fined £597 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £60 surcharge.
The one in church Road what a scum bag. Karma WILL get you I promise!!!
Yes it will most definitely. Be a man and face me
I cant imagine how your family must feel to read news like this, what an scumbag he is.
The fines for the crimes are not equal.. does not make sense.. first chap is a repeater, so gets 12 month suspended.. 50 hours unpaid work.. wow, 2 hours week, for a year and a £60 fine… easy enough to get the £60 quid, sell a little.. The next drug driving.. 12 month ban, £180 fine, costs £100 and a surcharge £34 = £314
Then the next repeat offender, drugs again.. prison, suspended, 200 hours unpaid work 5 year ban costs £85.
These are pitiful fines.. just a slap on the wrist. Should be like other countries, 10 year driving ban, fines starting at £1000.00 ( with proof of where money comes from, so NOT from sale of drugs)
A 60 year old caught driving 5mph over the 30mph speed limit, then lumped in with the drink and drug divers? A bit harsh Island Echo!
cutting from a newspaper at the time in 2003 and hes still free! Gareth Furmidge, 22, who had 17 previous convictions for drink, drugs and driving-related incidents, was speeding in a stolen car when it crashed into David Mather’s car on a roundabout on the Isle of Wight.