A CHAINSAW thief who made off with £1,400 worth of machinery after assaulting shop staff will be sentenced in crown court next month.

Lee Pennyworth, of Tunstall Road, Portsmouth, committed the offence at Andover Garden Machinery, in Salisbury Road, at around midday on Sunday, July 21.

Footage shared on the store’s Facebook page had showed the 37-year-old wielding a chainsaw as a weapon, before fleeing and throwing the machinery at a vehicle that tried to corner him.

Pennyworth initially denied stealing two Husqvama chainsaws and causing £849.95 worth of damage to a man’s Toyota Hilux, but later changed his plea to guilty.

He had also denied the assault of three men but was later found guilty of the charges at Basingstoke magistrates court.

He will face sentencing for all five offences at Winchester Crown Court on April 3.

A PROLIFIC thief has been given a community order after committing a spate of offences across Andover.

Martin David De-Sandfort Shortell-Campbell stole £140 worth of Yankee candles from Tesco, plus clothes from TK Maxx - on three occasions - and £204 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury’s.

He indicated a plea of guilty at Basingstoke magistrates court and was made to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

The 38-year-old Verity Square resident was also made to pay compensation for the stolen alcohol as well as £85 in costs.

A DRIVER who sped at 52mph in a 30mph zone will be sentenced at Aldershot magistrates court next month.

Sebastian Mrowiec had been found speeding down Salisbury Road in a Skoda Octavia on September 27, last year.

The 37-year-old Bridge Street resident pleaded guilty via single justice procedure and will be sentenced on April 14.

A 21-YEAR-OLD Andover woman who made a threatening phone call has been given a community order.

Shellby Chapman, of Silverbirch Road, made the phone call on December 23, last year, “for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to the recipient”.

She indicated a plea of guilty at Basingstoke magistrates court and was made to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

A MOTHER from Andover has been fined £120 after her son failed to attend school.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had failed to ensure her son attended John Hanson School over an eight-day period in July 2019.

She pleaded guilty to the charges at Basingstoke magistrates court and as well as the £120 fine, was made to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £20 in costs.