A COUNCILLOR, an 11-year-old boy and a bouncy castle hire company owner who was caught with £30,000 of drugs were among the Warrington criminals brought to justice in February.

Every month, the Warrington Guardian takes a look back at some of the court cases that have been featured in the paper in the weeks previously.

Other defendants appearing in February included a fraudster who posed as a police officer in order to steal cars, a 'village menace' who threatened to shoot his neighbour and a man handed nearly six years behind bars after being caught with £600 of drugs.

These are 12 criminals who were sentenced by the courts in February:

NAME: Cannot be named for legal reasons

AGE: 12

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Wednesday, February 5

CRIME: Possession of a bladed article in a public place

The girl was caught carrying a knife on Bath Street in the town centre.

SENTENCE: Eight-month youth referral order

Warrington Guardian:

Bath Street in the town centre - picture by Google Maps

NAME: Martyn Galley

AGE: 32

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Wednesday, February 5

CRIME: Theft, assaulting an emergency services worker and a racially-aggravated public order offence

The thief snatched a woman's handbag - which, with its contents, was valued at more than £1,500 - before being chased and detained by door staff.

SENTENCE: 12-week imprisonment suspended for a year

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Magistrates Court

NAME: William Barton

AGE: 70

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Friday, February 7

CRIME: Assault

The 'paedophile pest’, who turned up to court drunk, attacked an elderly man.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "Your life to date is littered with nuisance crime."

SENTENCE: Six months in prison

Warrington Guardian:

William Barton

NAME: Cannot be named for legal reasons

AGE: 11

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Wednesday, February 12

CRIME: Harassment

The boy, who was aged only 10 at the time of the offence, was convicted in court after throwing stones at the window of a house on several occasions.

SENTENCE: Three-month youth referral order

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Magistrates Court

NAME: Cannot be named for legal reasons

AGE: 17

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Wednesday, February 12

CRIME: Possession of a bladed article in a public place

Plain clothes police officers on patrol after a spate of robberies targeting schoolboys found the teen with a knife hidden up his sleeve after spotting him 'acting suspiciously'.

SENTENCE: 10-month youth referral order

Warrington Guardian:

The teenager was stopped by police Ashfield Gardens in Latchford - picture by Google Maps

NAME: Danny Lockley

AGE: 35

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Friday, February 14

CRIME: Possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply

The bouncy castle hire company owner was caught with more than £30,000 of drugs.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "It's a sad situation that the court sees from time to time, where someone with potential and a capacity for hard work gets into debt and takes what they sees as the easy way out."

SENTENCE: Three years in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Danny Lockley

NAME: Mason Crozier 

AGE: 19

COURT: Manchester Crown Court

DATE: Friday, February 14

CRIME: Impersonating a police officer and fraud

The teen stole three cars by pretending to be a police officer.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "You are a persuasive young conman who, unless he learns a lesson now, will continue committing fraud."

SENTENCE: Two-and-a-half years in prison

Warrington Guardian: Mason Crozier Mason Crozier

Mason Crozier

NAME: Paul Bretherton

AGE: 48

COURT: Liverpool Magistrates Court

DATE: Monday, February 17

CRIME: Harassment

The former councillor was found guilty of harassing ex-Warrington North MP Helen Jones by posting hundreds of comments about her on the Warrington Guardian website.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: “You are a man of hitherto positive character, a man who has served the community well as a good councillor - but you have shattered all you did by your conduct.”

SENTENCE: 200 hours of unpaid work

Warrington Guardian:

Paul Bretherton

NAME: Derek Irons

AGE: 75

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Tuesday, February 18

CRIME: Sending a threatening message

The convicted sex offender threatened to shoot his neighbour, a council worker and a police officer in a ranting voicemail.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "You're not just some eccentric, you're a real nuisance - you will ask yourself what you did with your life."

SENTENCE: Three years in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Derek Irons

NAME: Radslaw Mielcarek

AGE: 34

COURT: Warrington Magistrates Court

DATE: Tuesday, February 18

CRIME: Being found in an enclosed area for an unlawful purpose

The Polish national was found in the rear yard of a St Rocco's Hospice charity shop, intending to steal items.

SENTENCE: No penalty

Warrington Guardian:

The St Rocco's Hospice shop on Lovely Lane in Bewsey - picture by Google Maps

NAME: Eugene Brogan

AGE: 59

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Friday, February 21

CRIME: Possesion of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply

The drug addict was caught red-handed dealing on the street by patrolling police officers.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "This is your third conviction for class A drug trafficking, and you are subject to the minimum term of seven years imprisonment."

SENTENCE: 2,045 days in prison

Warrington Guardian:

Liverpool Crown Court

NAME: Michael Wilde 

AGE: 70

COURT: Liverpool Crown Court

DATE: Monday, February 24

CRIME: Sexual assault

The serial paedophile and former science teacher was jailed for a fourth time after a seventh pupil came forward to report that he had sexually abused him. 

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID: "There was clearly a breach of trust in this case."

SENTENCE: 12 months in prison

Warrington Guardian: Michael Wilde Michael Wilde

Michael Wilde