A HOMELESS man has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation for damaging a number of items at a hostel set up to protect rough sleepers during the Covid pandemic.

Patrick Brian Arkless, 33, was found guilty of causing criminal damage at Canonsgrove halls of residence when he appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court this week.

Arkless, who gave his address as East Reach, damaged a chest of drawers, wardrobe doors, light fittings and ripped off a toilet street, as well as other damage on October 13 last year.

He denied the charge but was found guilty by magistrates, who slapped the compensation order on him.

At the same hearing, Arkless admitted a charge of failing to surrender to the court, for which he received no separate penalty.

Magistrates told him he would not have to pay a victim surcharge due to the hefty compensation bill.

A DRIVER caught behind the wheel with an illegal amount of a cannabinoid in his blood has been banned from driving for 36 months.

Jacob Elliot Davey, 30, of Immendstadt Drive, Wellington, pleaded guilty to driving a Vauxhall Zafira with 5.4mg of Delta9 tetrahydracannibinol per litre of blood at Ham, Wellington, on July 13 last year.

Davey was fined £400, along with a £40 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

WILSON Dias Gomes, of Westwood Road, Bridgwater, also pleaded guilty to driving in St John Street in his home town under the influence of Delta9 tetrahydracannibinol on August 11 last year.

He received a 12-month driving ban along with a £500 fine, £50 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Gomes further admitted driving without insurance, for which he was fined £500 and driving without the correct licence, for which he received no further penalty.

CHARLOTTE Rebecca Wood pleaded guilty to damaging a van belonging to Burnham Holiday Village.

Wood, 43, of Scott Road, Highbridge, was ordered to pay £509.85 compensation.

DRIVING at 28mph cost Vaishanavi Brassey £184.

Brassey, 47, of Goose Street, Beckington, Frome, was clocked speeding in a 20mph zone on November 19, 2019.

She was fined £67 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge and £85 costs after pleading guilty to the offence. She was also handed three penalty points.

DESMOND Ifeanyichukwic, 29, of Standish Court, Taunton, admitted speeding at 57mph in a 50mph zone on the M5 north of Bridgwater on May 15, 2019.

He was fined £100 with a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He received three points on his licence after admitting the offence.

DARRELL Mounty, 48, of Flax Court Road, South Petherton, pleaded guilty to doing 39mph on a 30mph road.

He was fined £87, with a £32 victim surcharge and £85 costs and was given three points.