Week in court: the 14 people from Chorley and Leyland convicted crimes at Preston Magistrates Court during the week of April 10

Every week, Preston Magistrates Court releases the names and details of people who have been convicted and sentenced over crimes they have committed in the Preston and central Lancashire area. The details of these offences are also included in the data.

Here are the 14 people from Chorley and Leyland convicted of summary offences at Preston Magistrates during the week of April 10 (people from Preston sentenced during the same week are HERE).

Names of Chorley and Leyland people who have appeared at Preston Magistrates Court?

• Lawrence Ross Cafferty, 29, Chapel Walk, Chorley: drove a motor vehicle on a road, namely Union Street, when the proportion of a controlled drug namely cocaine, in your blood, namely greater than 32 ug/l , exceeded the specified limit; being a person driving a vehicle neglected or refused to stop the vehicle when directed to do so by a constable - four months imprisonment, £154 surcharge.
• Natasha Louise Lowe, 28, Buckshaw Hall Close, Chorley: used a motor vehicle on a road, or other public place, namely Halewood Road, when there was not in force in relation to that use such a policy of insurance - £500 fine, £200 surcharge, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.
• Helen Fish, 49, Northbrook Road, Leyland: failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order; stole gin, food, chocolate and st tropez self tan mousse, to the value of £60.62, belonging to Tesco - four week curfew order.
• William Gavin Brown, 40, Jubilee Court, Leyland: stole two bottles of white rum to the value of £30 belonging to Tesco; in a public place, namely the car park of the Premier Inn Chorley, were guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour - seven months imprisonment.
• Christian Burns, 24, Hayeswater Road, Farington, Leyland: failed to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle, who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence - £660 fine, £264 surcharge, £90 costs, six penalty points on driving licence.
• Stewart William Whillis, 71, Fernleigh, Leyland: drove a motor vehicle on a restricted road, namely B6243 Clitheroe Road, at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour - £40 fine, £16 surcharge, £44 costs, three penalty points on driving licence.
• Cheryl Diane Cheetham, 43, Mendip Road, Leyland: in a public place, namely Bacinos Takeaway, were guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour - 12 months conditional discharge, £26 surcharge, £85 costs.
• Caitlin Hardman, 18, Blackbird Court, Leyland: used a motor vehicle on a road, or other public place, namely Shady Lane, when there was not in force in relation to that use such a policy of insurance - £660 fine, £264 surcharge, £90 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

• Gail Sargent, 50, Mendip Road, Leyland: failed to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence - £440 fine, £176 surcharge, £90 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.
• Amanda Louise Field, 54, Watkin Road, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley: drove a motor vehicle on a restricted road, namely B5256 Sheep Hill Lane, Clayton le Woods, at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour - £100 fine, £40 surcharge, £90 costs, three penalty points on driving licence.
• Beverley Anne Hardman, 64, Wilderswood Close, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley: drove a motor vehicle on a restricted road, namely Sheep Hill Lane, Clayton-le-Woods at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour - £100 fine, £40 surcharge, £90 costs, three penalty points on driving licence.
• Angela Jayne Prescott, 44, John Street, Coppull, Chorley: failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the supervision requirements imposed following release from a period of imprisonment - 20 days curfew order, £75 fine.
• Clare Cassidy, 53, Delamere Place, Chorley - failed to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence - £660 fine, £264 surcharge, £90 costs, six penalty points on driving licence.
• Stephen William Robert Switzer, 29, Mendip Road Leyland: failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order - £50 fine.

Why do people appear at Magistrates Court instead of Crown Court?

The vast majority of offences are dealt with at magistrates court, with only the most serious offences, such murder and rape, being heard at Crown Court in front of a judge. Magistrates and district judges deal most others, including minor offences such as motoring offences, minor criminal damage and common assault not causing significant injury.

They will also deal with more serious offences such a burglary and drug offences but will then pass the case to a higher court should they feel they do not have sufficient sentencing powers. Magistrates will also pass the serious – or indictable – offences such as murder, rape, other serious sexual offences, kidnapping and serious fraud, to the Crown Court, where judges have much greater sentencing powers and cases are heard before a jury.