IN THE DOCK: The latest cases heard in south Cumbria

- A MUM has been given a suspended sentence after asking for replacement Christmas present donations following false claims of a house fire.

Kimberly Morgan posted on Facebook under another name three days before Christmas claiming a blaze had destroyed all the presents for her children.

She received numerous donations from people in the Kendal area, thought to be valued at around £500, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

Morgan, of Greengate Lane, Kendal, admitted one charge of fraud by false representation.

She was given a 10 week prison sentence suspended for one year and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.

She was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £128, totalling £213.

One victim of the scam agreed with the sentence and said: “I’m happy she didn’t get a custodial sentence and think the punishment is fair.”

Another said: “I think it’s fair enough given that she has kids. If she would have gone to prison it would have affected them a lot. I don’t think she will be doing it again if she is on a year suspended again.”

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said 'at least 10 different people' responded to the appeal.

“She used someone else’s account to do the post - her brother’s ex-girlfriend’s account which is where the false representation comes in," he said.

Michael Graham, mitigating, said Morgan was now being helped financially and has made ‘significant progress’ in terms of dealing with her mental health issues.

“What is striking about this is that it is not necessary,” Mr Graham said.

“It could have been avoided had she been honest from the outset.

“With children, bills, and mental health issues, it all just seemed to implode upon her and she reached out but in the wrong way.

“The items asked for were in relation to children and not for herself. People who did donate those items were well meaning and would have in any event donated those items anyway.

“They would have no doubt made an offer if she had been honest.

“I think she was ashamed by the situation which is why she used another account.”

Magistrates said they believe the 33-year-old was a person of good character and made reference to one victim who had written to her to say that she had been forgiven.

Chair of the bench Charles Crewdson said: “We have spent some time considering this because it is a complex case.

“You have used someone else’s account and you would have continued to mislead more than 15 people.

“Given it was Christmas time who knows what circumstances those people were in.

“We don’t believe prison is a place that you should be so we are suspending that sentence as we believe you should be with your family looking after them.”

- A MAN accused of making hundreds of indecent images of children has appeared in court.

Thomas Michael James Barker is alleged to have made a total of 426 indecent photographs.

The 40-year-old is said to have made the photos between March 31 and June 18 last year.

South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard the defendant is alleged to have made 211 of the most serious, category A images of children.

The defendant, of Hope Street in Barrow, gave no plea to the charges and will appear at Preston Crown Court on May 14.

- A CHARGE against a Barrow woman who was accused of handling stolen goods has been dropped, a court heard.

Stacey Drummond, of Newport Street, was accused of handling stolen goods belonging to Asda on June 27, 2020, but the CPS withdrew the charge at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court. The 37-year-old is to receive a caution.

- A TEENAGER from Kendal has been fined for causing criminal damage to a vehicle.

Kacey Jane Street-Harrison, of Vicars Garth, admitted to the offence dating back to October 25, 2020 in Kendal.

She damaged the paintwork of a car to the value of £500, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court was told.

The 18-year-old was fined £40 for the offence and ordered to pay £200 in compensation.

- A BARROW man has been sent to prison after he was caught on camera making an obscene gesture.

Michael Joseph Cooper, of McClean Close, was committed to prison for 21 weeks at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court after persistent breaches of a court order that was imposed on January 23, 2020.

Cooper, 67, had made an obscene gesture towards his victim, Carl Butler, on February 27 after being prohibited from doing so by a restraining order.

Video evidence shown in court documented Cooper walking past his victim’s house when he made the gesture.

A previous offence Cooper admitted to was shouting abuse at Mr Butler on January 23 despite being prohibited from doing so by the restraining order imposed by the court.

For the obscene gesture he received a sentence of nine weeks in prison and for shouting abuse at his victim he received 12 weeks' imprisonment, to be served consecutively.

Magistrates believed that the offences were serious because of the persistent and repeated breach of order and a history of failing to comply with court orders and non-custodial sentences, and because the offence was aggravated by the defendant’s previous record of offending.

The total time he will serve in prison will be 21 weeks.

Cooper did not have to pay costs as he will be serving a custodial sentence, but he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 payable upon release.