Seventy-three-year-old John Sheridan and his 70-year-old wife, Rae, appeared before Magistrate Barnett earlier this month charged with maliciously hindering mining equipment and two counts of hiding tools/clothing/property to unlawfully influence a person.

The Sheridans were part of a group that went to Whitehaven’s Rocglen coal mine on the evening of September 28 last year with the express purpose of stopping workers in their lawful pursuits.

On arrival at the open-cut mine situated on the Blue Vale Road the protesters found two gates which had been left open so that heavy vehicles could deliver fuel and explosives to the site.

The pair closed the gates and used a metal rope, covered with plastic and fabric, to padlock themselves to the gates, stopping access to the site.

The court was told one prime mover hauling two tankers with 45,000 litres of diesel had been stopped at the protest site while a second heavy vehicle, carrying explosives, had to be diverted.

The Police Rescue Squad had to be called to the site to remove the Sheridans.

Both declined to be interview and both received Future Court Attendance Notices (FCAN).

Both defendants were placed on Section 10(1)(b) three-month bonds and given conditional discharges on one conviction of hiding tools/clothing/property to unlawfully influence a person.

A QUEENSLAND fisherman lured by the prospect of cheap copper cable has faced Gunnedah Local Court on trespass and stealing charges.

Steven Mathews, 26, of Caboolture, and formerly of Gunnedah, pleaded guilty to entering enclosed lands without lawful excuse and larceny over the October 1, 2014 incident.

The court was told Mathews and a co-accused had been fishing in the Namoi River on a property adjacent to land being leased by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

The owner of the property told police he had been mustering cattle on horseback shortly after 7.30am when he noticed the defendant dragging an object across the paddock.

He also noticed a second male laying in a gully, trying to hide from view.

When the farmer challenged the pair, they drove off in a white Holden Commodore.

Mathews then went to Gunnedah police to report that he had been chased by a man on a horse and that he had been forced to leave his fishing rod on the bank of the river.

When police later spoke with the farmer and ARTC staff, they found a quantity of copper cable valued at $990 near the area where Mathews and his fishing companion had been seen.

Mathews made a frank and full statement admitting to the offence.

Mathews was fined $300 on the trespass matter and $900 on the larceny conviction.

A MOTORIST caught driving under the influence of “speed” has been fined $850 in the Gunnedah Local Court.

Thirty-seven-year-old Toni Lassere, of Schwager Street, appeared before Magistrate Barnett earlier this month on charges of driving under the influence of methylamphetamine (speed) and driving on an expired licence.

Mr Barnett heard how police had ben called to a motor vehicle accident in Little Barber Street shortly after 8am on September 6 last year.

They found a vehicle being driven by Lassere had collided with the tray of a vehicle being reversed from a driveway.

Lassere’s Hyundai Excel required towing from the scene while the defendant had accompanied a passenger to Gunnedah District Hospital for treatment.

When police arrived at the hospital, an alcohol breath test on Lassere provided a negative result.

Officers suspicions were aroused however, when they noticed Lassere’s behaviour with the defendant “on edge”, “bouncing about”, “fidgeting and restless” with “jerky movements”, “watery eyes and pinpoint pupils”.

A sobriety test confirmed the officers’ suspicions and when Lassere failed to follow the simplest of instructions, she was arrested for blood and urine sampling .

In addition to the fine, Lassere was put off the road for six months.

A YOUNG motorist has learnt an expensive lesson at his court appearance earlier this month.

Seventeen-year-old Jordan Tailby, of Boggabri, appeared in Gunnedah Local Court charged with low-range PCA and being an unaccompanied learner.

He was fined a total of $800 and put off the road for 18 weeks.

The court was told police had clocked Tailby’s vehicle travelling at 67kp/h in the 50kp/h zone in Bloomfield Street Gunnedah, shortly before 1.30am on February 8.

The officer followed the Ford station wagon into a driveway in Elgin Street and fond the headlights still on, the key in the ignition and the bonnet warm to touch. 

A MAN who assaulted his former girlfriend has been ordered to undergo anger management and relationship counselling as part of the conditions of his good behaviour bond.

Raymond Dries, 32, of View Street, pleaded guilty to one count of assault over the January 23 incident and was placed on a Section 9, 18-month good behaviour bond.

The charge alleged Dries had placed his hands over the victim’s jaw, causing a minor laceration to her mouth.

A MINING protester from Oak Flats has appeared in Gunnedah Local Court on a knife charge.

Joshua Brown, 26, had a charge of having custody of a knife in a public place dismissed at his court hearing earlier this month.

Brown had been arrested by police on October 23 last year on the Leard Forest Road near Maules Creek shortly before 8am.

He had been part of a protest against coal mining activity in the region.

Brown was represented by Kira Levin from the Environmental Defenders Office of NSW.

EIGHT stubbies of Gold and three Jack Daniels and Coke were more than enough to land a Gunnedah motorist before court on a mid-range drink-driving charge.

Ryan Cochrane, 28, of Kamilaroi Road, pleaded guilty to driving with a blood-alcohol level of .089 and with driving while cancelled when he appeared in court earlier this month.

Cochrane’s troubles started shortly before 1.30am on January 11 in Little Reservoir Street when his Toyota Yaris was pulled over by police.

When asked for his licence, Cochrane told police his wallet had been stolen.

A computer check showed that Cochrane was in fact a learner driver and his learner’s licence had been endorsed cancelled.

Cochrane was fined $800 on the PCA conviction and $700 on the licence matter and put off the road for 12 months.