Swindon Magistrates Court A THIEF who swiped the keys to a disabled woman’s adapted Mercedes then crashed it in Surrey has been jailed. Ashley Griffiths, 34, had gone to his victim’s home in Swindon on May 25, 2019, together with his mother. The victim was a family friend. Prosecutor Kate Prince told Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday that it wasn’t until the following morning, May 26, that the Mercedes GLA 180 was taken from outside the woman’s home. The car, which had been specially adapted for the woman’s needs, also contained her wheelchair and blue badge allowing her to park in disabled bays.
Matley Moor, Liden Picture: GOOGLE A WARRANT was issued for the arrest of a man allegedly in charge of a dog that attacked a woman in Liden last summer. Anthony Moroney, 43, of Radnor Street, Kingshill, had been due before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to answer a charge of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog that caused injury. A woman was said to have been attacked in Matley Moor, Liden, on June 7 last year by an American pocket bulldog. The charge is an offence under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act and carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment if dealt with at the crown court.
Swindon Magistrates Court A 14-year-old boy brandished a machete in the early hours of New Year’s Day – warning another lad he would be stabbed. And when the victim’s father followed the boy, who was on bail and awaiting sentence for GBH, going equipped for theft and knife possession but cannot be named as he is under 18, he waved the knife at him, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard. Magistrates remanded him into the care of the local authority with strict bail conditions banning him from various areas in Park South, including Cavendish Square. Prosecutor Emma Charleton told the court on Saturday that police were called at 1.42am over shouting in a Park South street.
A CHRISTMAS Day knifeman drove into an ambulance while four times over the drink drive limit. Milen Mlandenov, 39, had called paramedics on December 25 for help with his drink problem having that day sunk a litre-and-a-half of vodka, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard. He had already gone to his doctor about his alcoholism. He had spoken to the 999 crew about harming himself. Prosecutor Emma Charleton said: “Whilst paramedics are in the house, Mr Mlandenov walks into the kitchen, picks up a knife and says ‘I can end all of this now.’ “At this point paramedics fear not only for the defendant’s safety but, obviously, it’s not safe for them to remain in the house so they exit the property.”
By the time a police van arrived he had calmed down, Ms Charleton said. Magistrates heard Fox had 10 convictions on his record including an offence of knife possession. Fox, of Drakes Way, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly. He appeared in court via video link from the police station having been arrested on a warrant. Asked if he wanted to say anything in his own defence, Fox said: “I’m alright, thanks.” He was not working. The justices fined him £80 and ordered he pay £119 in costs and surcharge. Chairman of the bench Maryanne Burton said: “This is an order of the court. It’s not to be ignored otherwise the bailiffs will come calling to collect that £199.”