The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (September 11).

We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included cases of drug-driving and thefts.

You can read reports on three cases below.

A man has been handed a lengthy driving ban after drug-driving at Wetherby Services.

Mario Portinha, 42, of Sandringham Drive in Wetherby, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday where he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.

Portinha pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis on June 25 this year.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court that a police officer pulled the defendant over at Wetherby Services at 11.40pm.

The officer said in a statement that he could smell cannabis when he opened the driver's side door.

Ms Ibbotson said Portinha, who was driving a Volkswagen Golf, admitted that he smoked a cannabis joint before driving to the services where he worked.

The 42-year-old tested positive after a roadside drug test and was arrested.

The court heard that the defendant had a similar offence for drug-driving on his record.

Sean Wilson, defending, told magistrates that Portinha had since lost his job as a result of the offence.

Mr Wilson said the defendant accepted the prosecution’s evidence and entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

He said:

Magistrates banned Portinha from driving for three years.

He was also ordered to pay a £250 fine, £100 victim’s surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

Man admits nine thefts at Tesco Express in Harrogate

A man has been fined after admitting nine separate thefts from Tesco Express in Harrogate.

Nathan Varley, of Bower Street in Harrogate, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court where he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.

Varley, 34, admitted nine separate thefts at Tesco Express on Cambridge Road between August 16 and August 22 this year.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court that the stolen items including food and alcohol, with four of the offences happening on August 16 alone.

She added that the value of the items amounted to £189.25 and the offences “do appear to show some planning”.

Andrew Tinning, defending, told magistrates that Varley had not been before the courts in more than 10 years.

He added that the defendant had been working since then on a construction yard in Garforth, but his mental health “deteriorated”.

Mr Tinning said:

Magistrates fined Varley £120 and ordered him to pay compensation of £189.25.

He was also ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £48 and £85 in prosecution costs.

Man handed conditional discharge after Harrogate thefts

A man has been handed a conditional discharge after stealing from Tesco Express in Harrogate.

Charles Quinn, of Bower Street in Harrogate, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Quinn, 29, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He admitted four charges of theft from a shop between August 16 and August 22.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court that the offences happened in a “short period of time”.

She added that the items stolen in that time included peanuts, drinks and four tubs of ice cream. The total value of the items amounted to £57.20.

Ms Ibbotson said Quinn was identified on CCTV and arrested. He made a full admission to police.

Andrew Tinning, defending, said the 29-year-old came to Harrogate to work at a hotel, where he also had accommodation.

However, he later lost his job and “found himself homeless”, the court heard.

Mr Tinning said Quinn was on Universal Credit, but lost some of it because he failed to attend appointments. This led him to steal food from Tesco, he added.

Magistrates handed Quinn a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £57.20 in compensation to the store.