A NETHERTON thief was handed a suspended sentence for stealing chocolates and candles.

Steven William Hands, aged 34, of Cole Street, was sent to prison for 10 weeks, suspended for 12 months, for stealing chocolate, worth £64.05, from Home Bargains, Dudley, on July 25 and candles, worth £30, from B&M Bargains, Dudley, on August 2.

The 34-year-old must pay compensation of £94.05, a victim surcharge of £115 and £200 court costs.

The following also appeared before the courts between December 1 and 14:

Sophie Carr, aged 20, of Stourbridge Road, Stourbridge, was given a 12 month community order for entering a property in Quarry Bank as a trespasser on November 29 with intent to steal. She was given a six week curfew and for the duration must remain at her home address between 7pm and 7am. She must pay a victim surcharge of £85.

Mitchell Conrad Evans, aged 26, of Queens Street, Pensnett, was sent to prison for 16 weeks for driving a car that had been taken without the owner's consent, while disqualified and without insurance, in Amblecote, on September 29. He was also sentenced for failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis during the course of an investigation into whether he had committed an offence, in Oldbury, on September 29 and assaulting a woman and causing £350 worth of damage to property in Dudley on November 29. He was disqualified from driving for two years and must pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Jayson Malcolm John, aged 21, of Essington Close, Wordsley, was given a 12 month community order for entering Lion Health, Wollaston, as a trespasser between February 5 and 6 with intent to steal. He must pay compensation of £494, a victim surcharge of £85 and £76 court costs.

Sharon Ann Bradley, aged 53, of Penn Road, Sedgley, was fined £233 for driving without due care and attention, in Dudley, on August 15. She was given six penalty points and must pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £135 court costs.

Andrew William Povey, aged 52, of Hardwick Court, Lye, was sent to prison for eight weeks, suspended for 12 months, for stealing a coat, worth £129.99, from Superdry, Merry Hill, on December 4 and chocolate, worth £87.56, from Home Bargains, Merry Hill, on November 14. He was given a 28 day curfew and for the duration must remain at his home address between 7pm and 7am. He must pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Ashley Stephen Jones, aged 28, of Lodgefield Road, Halesowen, was fined £137 for drink driving in Brierley Hill on November 21. When tested, he had 80mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs. He was banned from driving for 20 months and must pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £135 court costs.

Karen Anne Wentworth, aged 49, of Bromley, Brierley Hill, was sent to prison for 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months, for committing fraud between July 5 and November 6. The court heard that she dishonestly abused her position as a customer services assistant at Wickes Building Supplies, Brierley Hill, intending to make a gain of £3,832.89 for herself. She must carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay compensation of £3,832.89, a victim surcharge of £115 and £185 court costs.

Christopher Michael Bench, aged 33, of Eagle Close, Russells Hall, was sent to prison for four months, suspended for 12 months, for assaulting a woman in Dudley on October 12. He must carry out 200 hours unpaid work and pay £100 compensation, £135 court costs and £115 victim surcharge.

James Henry Moseley, aged 20, of Dudley Road, Rowley Regis, was fined £250 for drink driving, without a licence or insurance, in Dudley on November 25. When tested, he had 79mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs. He was disqualified from driving for 20 months and must pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £135 court costs.

John Joseph Welding, aged 63, of Banners Lane, Halesowen, was fined £500 for possessing an extendable baton in Tividale on November 2. He must pay a victim surcharge of £50 and £185 court costs.

Mark Roy Moore, aged 44, of Hartlebury Road, Oldbury, was sent to prison for 40 weeks for assaulting a woman in Oldbury on December 3 and breaching a restraining order on December 3 and 4. He must pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Paul Parsons, aged 25, of Talbot Street, Brierley Hill, was given a 12 month community order for assaulting a woman in Dudley on October 23. He must carry out 80 hours unpaid work, compensation of £100, a victim surcharge of £85 and £300 court costs.

David Adam Bedford, aged 29, of Edinburgh Crescent, Wordsley, was fined £200 for drink driving in Kingswinford on November 24. When tested, he had 44mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £135 court costs.

Betty Ann Whinnery, aged 43, of William Street, Brierley Hill, was given a six week community order for stealing fragrance, worth £247, from Boots, Brierley Hill, on November 17. She was also sentenced for stealing fragrance sets, worth £258.75, from Debenhams, Merry Hill, on November 26. She was given a six week curfew and for the duration must remain at her home address between 7pm and 7am. She must pay a victim surcharge of £85 and £185 court costs.

Matthew John Wragg, aged 25, of Hambleton Road, Halesowen, was given a two year community order for assaulting a woman in Dudley on August 18. He must carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay compensation of £75 and £500 court costs.

Ihtisham Mahmood, aged 23, of St Marks Road, Kates Hill, was sent to prison for 12 weeks for driving while disqualified and without insurance, in Dudley, on December 12. He must pay a victim surcharge of £150 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months, 42 days.

Stephen Christopher Barnes, aged 50, of High Street, Amblecote, was discharged conditionally for 24 months for stealing food and drink items, worth £191.12, from Marks and Spencer, Merry Hill, on November 23. He must pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £135 court costs.

Jonathon Peter West, aged 31, of Highfield Lane, Halesowen, was given a nine month community order for stealing confectionary, worth £50, from Poundland, Halesowen, on October 17. He must pay compensation of £25 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Jon-Paul Debattista, aged 30, of Cricket Meadow, Upper Gornal, must pay £200 compensation for using or threatening violence towards another, in Dudley, on September 11. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £85.

Lauren Jessica Veal, aged 18, of The Oval, Russells Hall, must pay £200 compensation for using or threatening violence towards another, in Dudley, on September 11. She must also pay a victim surcharge of £85 and £185 court costs.