Courts

A YEOVIL doctor previously charged with sexually assaulting two of his female patients has appeared in court facing two new allegations.

Dr Habeeb Mohammad Abdul Latheef, 45, of Merevale Way, appeared before South Somerset Magistrates last week charged with two counts of intentionally touching a woman aged 16 years or over in a sexual manner when she did not consent.

The offences are said to have been committed at Yeovil on January 31, 2011 and November 1, 2011.

He had previously been charged with two other similar offences alleged to have happened during separate incidents at Yeovil on February 22, 2008, and December 22, 2011. These matters had already been committed to Taunton Crown Court for the defendant to stand trial.

Prosecutor Alex Lane said that the latest charges concerned alleged offences that occurred while Latheef was working as a GP in Yeovil. He was alleged to have sexually assaulted patients during a consultation.

She said the charges were not suitable to be tried by the magistrates adding that other charges are waiting to be heard at the crown court.

Latheef did not enter pleas to any of the charges and the magistrates said the allegations were so serious they must be dealt with at the crown court.

The two new matters were adjourned until October 25 for committal proceedings and until then he was bailed with the conditions that he must not contact named witnesses and must not have any consultations with female patients unless accompanied by an appropriate chaperone.

A YEOVIL man who attacked his partner while her young son watched will be assessed for rehabilitation after a court heard the offending was due to drugs.

Colin Danes, 36, of St David's Crescent, had been in a relationship for about a year when he went to her parents' house and asked if she was there. His manner was threatening and he then went to the woman's home and punched her, Taunton Crown Court was told.

"Her young son was sat crying in the kitchen doorway and he picked up a chair and threw it at her," said Rebecca Bradberry, prosecuting.

Police were called and she was taken to hospital with her left hand swollen, bruised and tender. It was bandaged for six weeks which made caring for her children difficult, the court heard.

Danes, who had made 48 previous court appearances since 1990, admitted assault causing bodily harm and breach of a suspended sentence and community order following an earlier unrelated conviction.

Derek Perry, defending, said he had a "chaotic lifestyle as a result of drugs".

Judge Graham Hume Jones remanded him in custody for a drug rehabilitation and treatment assessment.

UNABLE to come to terms with the end of his marriage, a Yeovil man bombarded his former wife with phone calls and text messages.

On other occasions Gary Spencer Lea would turn up at places where he knew the victim would be, leaving her in a distressed state.

Lea, 44, of Beer Street, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of Tania Lea between July 2 and 7 at Yeovil when he appeared before a special domestic violence court.

South Somerset Magistrates were told the couple had been married since 2004 but divorced six years later due to problems exacerbated by the defendant's heavy drinking.

Prosecutor Gordon Richings said that a restraining order was made against Lea in 2008 for a former offence of battery against his wife.

"After divorcing, the couple remained friends and Lea went into rehabilitation," he said.

"Since then he has been contacting his ex-wife, ringing her three or four times a day from rehabilitation about wanting to get back together.

"Then on July 3 Mrs Lea was coming out of a counselling session and saw Lea sat in the waiting room after he had been drinking.

"The same day the victim received 15 missed phone calls on her mobile phone and Lea also let messages on her landline, referring to certain photographs which caused her distress."

Defending solicitor Sam Morton said that Lea was deeply embarrassed about what had happened.

"He is deeply ashamed of his actions and wants to apologise to Mrs Lea for what he has done," he said.

"He will now not have any contact with her and does not oppose the court's intention to impose a restraining order."

Magistrates sentenced Lea to an 18-month community order with requirements for supervision and to attend a structured alcohol intervention programme for 10 days with the probation service.

They also imposed a 12-month restraining order prohibiting Lea from contacting his ex-wife directly or indirectly and also ordered him to pay £85 costs.

A CHARD man who breached a restraining order by going to his elderly mother's house and banging on the front door has been sentenced to a curfew order.

Michael Arthur Straw was already the subject of a three-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his parents, Margaret and George Straw, and from going to their home.

However, after he went to their address in Victoria Avenue, Chard, his 76-year-old mother was left feeling so scared she had to pull an emergency cord for help.

Straw, 50, of East Street, pleaded guilty to attending an address in Victoria Avenue on August 22 and trying to speak to Margaret Straw which he was prohibited from doing so by a restraining order imposed on May 28.

Defending solicitor Gareth Webb said this was the first breach of the order adding that Straw used to have a strong relationship with his mother which began to deteriorate when he began drinking heavily.

"He does not wish his mother any harm, but when there's a crisis he goes back to where she lives," Mr Webb said.

"That night he had taken some ibuprofen and half a bottle of spirits and the combination of that caused him to lose his inhibitions. He cannot recall going to his mother's house but accepts it happened."

He said that Straw was currently subject to two community orders. One for an assault on his mother and the other for turning up drunk at his trial where he became abusive towards his brother and took paperwork from his parents' car.

"He would like to move away from the area. If he is sent to prison he will lose his accommodation," he added.

The magistrates sentenced Straw to a 12-week curfew order where he must remain at his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am daily and be fitted with an electronic tag. No order was made for costs.

A BROADWAY pensioner who allegedly harassed his neighbour over a period of six years, persistently reporting him to the authorities, has appeared in court.

David Roger Swain, 66, of Elms Close, appeared before South Somerset Magistrates charged with pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of Adrian Hayward at Broadway between January 1, 2006, and May 1, 2012. He pleaded not guilty.

The charge states the defendant reported his alleged victim to various authorities without foundation including Yarlington Housing Group, the RSPCA, social services, environmental health and the police.

Defending solicitor Gareth Webb said his client had encountered difficulties with his neighbour and complained to the various authorities when matters had arisen.

The case was reviewed and the matter was adjourned until January 21 for a two-day trial to take place.

In the meantime Swain was released on bail with the conditions that he does not contact Adrian Hayward directly or indirectly.

A MARTOCK woman who allegedly shouted racist abuse over the fence to her neighbour during a barbecue party has been ordered to stand trial in the new year.

Danielle Louise Reeves, aged 23, of Vincent Way, appeared in the dock before South Somerset Magistrates charged with an offence which is said to have taken place on July 23.

She pleaded not guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress that was racially aggravated.

She did admit a further charge of public order which was not racially aggravated on the same date.

Prosecutor Alex Lane said the neighbour was of Pakistani origin and alleged she was the victim of a racist insult.

The case was adjourned for the defendant to stand trial on January 22.

Until then Reeves was bailed on condition she does not initiate contact with named witnesses.

A HENSTRIDGE man has been ordered to stand trial after denying an allegation he was in charge of a vehicle while more than double the drink-drive limit.

Stephen Stewart Cochran, aged 31, of Summerfields, pleaded not guilty to an offence alleged to have occurred at Henstridge on July 29.

It is alleged he was in charge of a vehicle and a breath test showed a reading of 83mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.

The case was adjourned until January 23 when the defendant must return to the court at Yeovil to stand trial.

He was released on unconditional bail.

A MAN has denied damaging a car left parked in Chard Rugby Club car park.

Lee Francis Cove, aged 27, of Bridge Road, Charmouth, was charged with causing criminal damage to a VW car belonging to Paul Best at Chard on September 25 last year. He pleaded not guilty.

The case was adjourned until December 3 when the defendant must return to the court at Yeovil to stand trial.

Until then he was released on unconditional bail.