See who has been in the dock at Worcester Magistrates Court

DRIVERS on the M5 boxed-in drink-driver Evan Ffrench to bring him to a halt. 

The dad-of-two, of Walnut Drive, Smethwick, was close to four times the legal limit after drinking vodka before erratically driving on the motorway and hitting another car in March this year.

Paul Stanley, defending, said Ffrench, whose work involved highway maintenance, had a "bad day" when the defendant made a "momentous mistake" after learning his relationship had ended.

READ MORE: 'Heartbroken' vodka drink driver was brought to stop by public on M5

A THIEF who managed to escape a TK Maxx security guard after a chase was brought to justice.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard Dean Scollen, of Henwick Road, Worcester, had been put up to steal trainers from a High Street store claiming he did it out of "financial need". 

The 46-year-old stole the trainers on January 21 and January 30. 

His solicitor said: "He is not someone stealing for drugs or alcohol."

Scollen was fined by the magistrates.

READ MORE: Trainer thief once told the Worcester News he was not a 'lazy scrounger'

CASES: Worcester Magistrates Court

A 37-YEAR-old man changed his plea admitting strangling and assaulting a woman. 

Paul Smith, of Buttercup Walk, Malvern, had originally denied the offences but changed his plea on the day of his trial. 

The offences took place between July 31 and August 2 last year, and, on both occasions, the victim was the same woman.

Magistrates said their sentencing powers were insufficient sending the case to Worcester Crown Court.

READ MORE: Malvern man Paul Smith faces wait to learn fate for strangling woman

READ MORE: Driving ban for man who failed to provide breath specimen after five failed attempts

Jonathan Smith, 44, of Bank Street, Malvern and formerly of Lowesmoor, Worcester -  who was suspected of drink driving - blew into a machine five times but failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.

Police originally stopped his car as he was driving without lights on, but police found him unsteady on his feet smelling of alcohol, leading to his arrest.

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But at the station he failed to provide the specimen.

Smith told the magistrates "As far as I was aware I wasn't drunk."

Smith was given a lengthy driving ban.