BENEFIT FRAUD ALLEGATIONS: A couple facing Wirral Magistrates on benefit allegations between 1995 and 2009 were sent for Crown Court trial.

John Watkinson, 68, and Philomena Watkinson,50, both of Vyner Road South, Birkenhead, were bailed to face a judge on March 4.

John Watkinson faces five allegations of falsifying documents, 16 charges of making false representations to obtain benefit, and three matters of failing to notify a change of circumstances which he knew would affect his entitlement.

Philomena Watkinson is charged on two counts with making false representations to obtain benefit and nine matters of allowing false information to be placed on benefit claim forms.

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ASSAULT CHARGE: Paula Anderson, 44, of Rivington Road, Wallasey, and Ashlea Rebekka Anderson, 21, of Rice Hey Road, Wallasey, appeared before Wirral Magistrates on a charge of assault.

They pleaded not guilty and were bailed for trial to commence on March 10.

Paula Anderson is charged with assaulting a 14-year- old girl by beating at Wallasey in October and Ashlea Anderson with a similar matter involving a girl aged 12.

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BAILED ON THEFT CHARGE: A 35-year-old man appeared before Wirral Magistrates charged with theft from his employer.

David Anthony Clinton, of Hogarth Drive, Prenton, was remanded on bail for two weeks for prosecution inquiries after his solicitor suggested a police caution might be appropriate.

It is alleged Clinton stole £730 from Parity Computers in Thermal Road, Birkenhead, in December of last year.

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STOLE RAZOR BLADES: Wirral Magistrates imposed a £50 fine on Carl Cockerell, 36, of Beeston Close, Prenton, after he admitted theft of razor blades worth £112 from a Co-op store at Prenton in mid-December. He also had to pay £100 costs.

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DRINK-DRIVE BAN: Police stopped a motorist they considered to have driven erratically after he was seen leaving a pub, and he was found to be over the legal alcohol limit, prosecutor Alan Currums told Wirral Magistrates.

Christopher Mark Davies, 41, of Charlotte Road, Wallasey, admitted drink-driving. A breath test gave a reading of 61 microgrammes of alcohol.

The court was told he did not accept driving erratically.

He drank two glasses of wine on the day in question but had drunk heavily the previous night.

Davies was fined £100 plus £100 costs and was disqualified from driving for 17 months.

He was offered a probation course which if completed would cut the ban by a quarter.

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ABUSIVE OAP FINED: A pensioner who was abusive and did not heed a police warning to behave was fined £50 by Wirral Magistrates and also had to pay £35 costs.

William Downs, 73, of Field Road, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Wallasey Road, Wallasey.

Police attended after a report he was trying to enter premises from which he was barred.

Downs said he could not really remember what happened and decided it was best to enter a guilty plea.

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LANDLORD ON ASSAULT CHARGE: The landlord of a Heswall pub appeared before Wirral Magistrates for alleged assault on a customer.

Christopher John Mitchell, 34, of the Black Horse Hotel in School Hill, Heswall, denied assaulting Alun Lloyd Morris by beating at the pub in September.

He was bailed until March 15 for evidence to be called.

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BANNED FOR A YEAR: Andrew David Moore, 37, of Barnfield Close, Meols, picked up a one-year driving ban at Wirral Magistrates Court.

He admitted driving on Meols Drive, West Kirby, when over the legal alcohol limit in mid-December.

A test showed 59 microgrammes of alcohol.

Moore was fined £100 and also had to pay £100 costs.

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DRUNK AND DISORDERLY: Andrew David Roberts, 26, of Dingle Road, Birkenhead, was fined £100 by Wirral Magistrates after he admitted being drunk and disorderly in Argyle Street, Birkenhead, in December. He also had to pay £100 costs.

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DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE: David Lloyd, 39, of Kenmore Road, Birkenhead, elected jury trial when he appeared at Wirral Magistrates Court charged with driving a van dangerously in Grange Road West, Birkenhead, in July.

He was bailed until March 8 for committal proceedings.

He also faces allegations of failing to stop after or to report an accident.

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DRUGS ALLEGATIONS: Lee Anthony Miller, 40, of Lea Road, Wallasey, and Christopher Heywood, 24, of Leominster Road, Wallasey, were sent for Crown Court trial on drugs allegations by Wirral Magistrates.

They were bailed to face a judge on January 28 at the higher court.

They are charged with possession of cannabis last April and also supplying the controlled drug.

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PROVOKED PARTY FIGHT: A teenager who appeared to be trying to provoke a fight after police were asked to remove visitors from a party in Birkenhead appeared before Magistrates charged with being drunk and disorderly.

Philip Smart, 19, of Livingstone Street, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty. He was granted a 12-month conditional discharge but had to pay £100 costs.