Latest news with #CarlisleMagistrates'Court
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man admits a £26,000-plus benefit fraud after failing to inform DWP of change
A NORTH Cumbria man has admitted a £26,000-plus benefit fraud which occurred during a period of more than two-and-a-half years. Carlisle Magistrates' Court heard 49-year-old Ian Andrew Waugh was also subject to a crown court-imposed suspended prison sentence when he committed a fraud offence between December 6, 2021, and July 4 last year. During a short hearing this morning (Monday) in front of a deputy district judge, Waugh pleaded guilty to one charge: dishonestly failing to notify a charge of circumstances which affected entitlement to social security benefit. Court papers show he did so by dishonestly failing to promptly notify the Department for Work and Pensions that his children were no longer residing with him. This is said to have resulted in an overpayment of universal credit totalling £26,278.62. In May 2022, Waugh appeared at Carlisle Crown Court where a judge suspended an 18-month jail term. The court heard a bitter Facebook fallout ended violently as Waugh subjected his victim to an attack with a crow bar which left him with a fractured skull and a head wound which was stapled. Committing the offence of benefit fraud put Waugh in breach of that suspended sentence. Deputy district judge Roger Lowe adjourned the case and requested that a probation service pre-sentence report be prepared before Waugh receives his punishment. Waugh, of Millriggs, Great Corby, is due to be sentenced by a judge at Carlisle Crown Court on August 26. In the meantime he has been granted unconditional bail.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Highly decorated soldier who founded charity admits his driving caused woman's injury
A HIGHLY decorated soldier has been sentenced by a court after his careless driving on the A66 between Keswick and Penrith left the passenger of another car badly hurt. Jonathan Wood, 55, was travelling eastbound, at around 1.30pm on October 27, 2023, when a collision occurred close to Scales. Carlisle Magistrates' Court heard Wood was driving a Mercedes which initially overtook an HGV on a two-lane eastbound stretch, before returning to lane one. Prosecutor Diane Jackson said the Mercedes drifted to the nearside, before moving into lane two and then across double white lines into the opposite carriageway. Wood's vehicle almost collided with a westbound Ford Transit van before continuing towards an oncoming Nissan Navara. The Navara driver managed to take some evasive action. Mrs Jackson said: 'The two vehicles have collided, but not head-on.' In a statement, the Navara's front seat passenger, Agnieszka Gasior, recalled that she was chatting with her partner, who was driving, when she saw the Mercedes. 'I closed my eyes as I knew the vehicle was going to hit us,' she stated. Ms Gasior recalled their car spinning, squeaking loudly and being showered in glass. She was trapped inside the vehicle and had suffered four broken or dislocated ribs. 'I did wonder at the time if I was still alive or if I was dead,' she stated. Ms Gasior was transported to hospital and detained for four days. Her partner said seeing her trapped in their vehicle was 'horrific'. In court today (Friday), Wood — a man with no previous convictions — admitted causing her serious injury by careless driving. The court heard he was a highly decorated soldier who joined the Army in 1986 and gave distinguished service across the globe before being badly injured and, in 2005, medically discharged. Mark Styles, mitigating, said Wood, of Grange, near Keswick, had an 'outstanding military career'. In addition he had, with others, founded the Hoplite charity to help the families of UK special forces soldiers. This had raised £20 million in total, with Wood alone raising £4 million. Wood — who previously had an unblemished driving record — had personal experience of others' motoring offences. While serving in Northern Ireland, he was in a vehicle which was hit by a drink-driver. The court heard Wood had expressed remorse for what happened to the Nissan occupants, and accept full responsibility. 'For his part, Mr Wood still is at a loss as to what exactly happened that afternoon,' Mr Styles said to magistrates. Wood was 'perfectly well' that morning and had gone swimming in a lake near his home. 'He cannot explain just how the accident came about,' added Mr Styles. 'He was probably distracted by something. He simply and honestly cannot remember what happened.' Magistrates imposed a community order. Wood must complete 120 hours' unpaid work and serve an 18-month driving ban.
