A carer has appeared in court accused of three offences, including setting fire to a mattress in an argument over going to the shop for cigarettes.

Neil Wass, 30, pleaded guilty to arson, assaulting a woman occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

Wass committed the offences on Monday, August 17. He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday to enter guilty pleas.

The court heard that Wass was previously addicted to heroin, but had replaced this habit with alcohol.

The prosecution say he held a lighter to a mattress but the damage was minimal as the flames were put out by his father, who had arrived on the scene.

Judge Michael Stokes, the Recorder of Nottingham, said a psychiatric report would not be necessary ahead of sentencing Wass, of Winthorpe Street, Mansfield.

Judge Stokes told Wass he would be remanded in custody.

He added: "I think there ought to be a report on you in relation to your use of alcohol, which I presume since your remand in custody has ceased."

Wass will return to the court for sentencing on Thursday, December 10.

A man has appeared in court in Nottingham accused of slashing a prison officer's face while in custody.

Gigel Dumitrascu, 38, is said to have committed the offence while serving a sentence for wounding with intent at HMP Lowdham Grange on October 26.

The officer is said to have been in Dumitrascu's cell at the time and to have had coffee thrown at him.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Dumitrascu – who appeared from prison via videolink with the help of a Romanian interpreter – is alleged to have committed the offence with a sharp piece of cutlery.

Judge Michael Stokes, the Recorder of Nottingham, ordered that Dumitrascu, of no fixed abode, be remanded further in custody.

A plea and case management hearing will take place at the court on January 25.

A trial has been listed for the week beginning April 4, 2016.

Nottingham: Nicholas Hanson, 20, of Cromwell Street, was conditionally discharged for 12 months when he admitted charges at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. Hanson was drunk and disorderly outside the Theatre Royal, was found with cannabis resin at Nottingham's Bridewell custody suite and damaged a wall on the side of the post office in Queen Street, all on September 9. JPs ordered him to pay £100 compensation for damaging the wall and a £15 victim surcharge, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £15.

Nottingham: A 31-year-old man denied five charges of assault on a woman. Ishtiaq Hussain allegedly attacked her in Lenton on April 18, in Forest Fields between April 1 and April 30, Mapperley on July 15, Forest Fields on July 17 and at the Britannia Hotel on August 30. Hussain, of Goldswong Terrace, Mapperley Park, was bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 14.

Mansfield: James Godley, 31, of Egmanton Road, Meden Vale, was fined £120 for producing cannabis on September 20. After he pleaded guilty at Mansfield Magistrates' Court, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £180.

A jobless man had a bank account locked when his wife discovered he was spending all their cash on clothes for himself, a court heard yesterday.

Slawomir Grzyb, 49, went to see his wife at work in the Queen's Medical Centre and was told why she had done that – so he said the account should be closed and they could share the money, said David Miles, prosecuting.

She got advice from domestic violence experts who suggested changing the locks of her home in Furzebrook Road, Colwick.

She could only afford to have one done but the others were fixed so they could not be opened from the outside. But when she returned home two days later, she found two panes of glass had been smashed in the kitchen window. Beading had been removed from around the front door.

"She tried to open the front door but the handle had been removed. She looked into the property and saw a chair propped up against the handle of the living room door," said Mr Miles. Grzyb admitted causing the damage. He said that he removed the beading so "he could gain access at a later point."

Nottingham Magistrates' Court was told Grzyb married the woman in 2013 and "at the start the relationship was good." She was the sole mortgagee.

Mr Miles said: "The complainant said the defendant lost his job and that was the catalyst for everything that followed. It got to the point where she blocked the joint bank account because he was spending all the money on clothes for himself."

Grzyb, who has no settled address, admitted causing criminal damage and was put on probation for a year. He must attend 20 days of a course to deter him from committing more offences. He has to pay a £150 court charge, £85 costs and a £60 government surcharge.

Deputy District Judge Martin Jackson imposed a restraining order which bars Grzyb from contacting his wife for two years.

A man has appeared in court after he attempted to set fire to the Oceana nightclub.

Darren Lee, 30, of Cherry Orchard Mount, Bestwood Park, has pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life in an incident at the club on April 26.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Lee had been involved in an argument inside the nightclub before leaving and buying a can of petrol, which he poured over doors at the club in a "revenge attack".

Lee's solicitor Matthew Smith said he had "come to court with his bags packed", expecting custody.

But the hearing was adjourned for a medical report until December 22 and Lee was granted bail, with a condition barring him from Lower Parliament Street.

Nottingham: Ashley Hudson, 27, of Hornbeam Gardens, Bulwell, received a suspended prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to disqualified driving in a Volkswagen Golf, using the car without insurance, both on September 3, and failing to surrender to custody at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on October 27. Hudson had two passengers with him which aggravated the offence. He received an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the motoring offences and one month consecutive, suspended for the same period, for not surrendering to custody. Magistrates ordered eight penalty points to be added to his licence. He will pay a victim surcharge of £80, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £150.

Nottingham: A 44-year-old man was found guilty of five charges and bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on November 23 at 2pm. Wayne Kennerdale, of Carlton Road, had a 3.5-inch kitchen knife in the driver's footwell of a Vauxhall Zafira parked in Waterford Street on January 10. He failed to stop for police when he was driving in Basford, then failed to surrender to Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 23, June 8 and October 8. Kennerdale was bailed to be sentenced on November 23 at 11am.

Bulwell: Lyn Vaughan, 37, of Melksham Road, in Bestwood, stole three bottles of Bacardi, valued at £29.97, from B&M Bargains on August 21. After she pleaded guilty, magistrates in Nottingham conditionally discharged her for 12 months and ordered she pay a victim surcharge of £15 and courts charge of £150. Her guilty plea was taken into account.

Annesley: Brendan Howard Phillips, 37, of Old Inn Court, Lilbourne, Rugby, was drink-driving in a Peugeot 106 on October 11. Magistrates in Mansfield heard Phillips admitted he had 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35, on the A608 Mansfield Road. Phillips was banned from the roads for 20 months, fined £345 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £150.

Mapperley Park: Two rogue landlords were rumbled by building surveyor students over standards in their privately-rented home. Irfan Tariq and Mrs Sajadah Tariq, of Ringwood Crescent, Wollaton, were found guilty in their absence of multiple breaches of safety standards and lack of licensing. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, a judge ordered Mr Tariq to pay court fines and charges of more than £16,000, and Mrs Tariq has to find more than £13,000.

Safer Housing officers visited the student property, a former nursing home in Corporation Oaks, following complaints. Mrs Tariq was present and stated there was no one living there, although there were belongings relating to tenants. Mrs Tariq had stated the belongings had been left by former tenants and she was going to get rid of them. The property was found to be occupied by seven international students on the upper floors and five building surveyor students on the ground floor.

There were many contraventions of the Housing Act and the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations, which included items of disrepair and management issues, such as a live electrical cable protruding out of a kitchen floor and a kitchen fire door removed. Further breaches included an escape exit door screwed shut, dirty conditions in kitchens, no heating and the fire alarm system was not working.

A fraudster tried to con cash from eight shops by showing them a photograph of an injured girl and claiming their products had caused her cuts.

Lee Shaw, of Manvers Street, Nottingham, would grab an item from the shelves, take it to the counter, produce a piece of metal and flash the photograph to supervisors, claiming the girl on the picture was his daughter.

He tried to persuade the assistants that the metal from the products, mainly clothing, had caused a cut to the girl's forehead and demanded they offer him a refund. But the stores, all in Derby, became suspicious and called police, with security staff at Primark, in East Street, holding the 31-year-old there until officers arrived to arrest him. When they searched him, Shaw was carrying a false identity card claiming he was a bouncer.

He was in breach of a suspended sentence handed to him earlier this year for failing to comply with the terms of a sex offenders' prevention order when he used two different aliases without informing the relevant authorities.

Magistrates in Derby jailed him for a total of 48 weeks for the string of offences.

A police spokesman said: "He visited three stores on October 12 and five shops the following day and would select an item from the shelves, produce a piece of metal and a photograph of an injured girl he told staff was his daughter.

"The photograph showed a girl with a cut to her forehead and he would tell staff that the metal he had produced was from an item he had previously bought there and demanded a refund.

"Some stores offered him credit notes, while others refused."

Shaw targeted the Superdry store, Marks and Spencer and Poundstretcher in the Intu Centre on October 12. On October 13, he returned to Derby and tried the same con at a Gap outlet shop, Milletts, Greenwoods Menswear, Burton and Primark.

The spokesman said: "On the second day, one of the supervisors at Primark in East Street was suspicious of what Mr Shaw was trying to do so called us and asked the security staff to keep him there until we arrived and arrested him."

Shaw pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud, possessing false identification and being in breach of the suspended sentence, imposed by Lincolnshire magistrates in February. He asked for three other offences to be taken into consideration. He was ordered to pay a £180 criminal courts charge and an £80 victim surcharge.

A streaker downed nine pints of beer before running naked through a women's anti-violence protest in Nottingham's Old Market Square.

Former serviceman Peter Barker apologised in court after admitting taking off his clothes after a drinking session – in front of about 100 women and children.

The 44-year-old had been on a pub crawl along the Hucknall tram route. He drank five pints along the way, then sank a further four and some shorts in the city centre.

But the night ended in disaster when he stripped off and ran into the middle of the Reclaim the Night rally – a march to raise awareness of violence against women.

His streak was captured on CCTV and played at Nottingham Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Magistrates were told that when Barker was arrested, a policeman told him: "Good timing, mate, right when women are demonstrating."

Barker, of Cotswold Court, Beeston, replied: "It was only a laugh."

Barker admitted committing a public nuisance on October 24 by indecently exposing himself to members of the public by running naked. The case was adjourned for three weeks to await probation reports.

Katherine Macmillan, in mitigation, told the court: "He had no idea there were demonstrators or the nature of the demonstration.

"He shows considerable remorse and is certainly embarrassed and is very sorry towards the demonstrators. It was a very stupid thing to do.

"It was a bit of larking about and he is absolutely mortified."

Miss Macmillan said Barker was with friends celebrating a wedding. They got on the tram at Hucknall but got off at some stops for drinks.

"Clearly, he was drunk and there was a lot of competitive banter."

She said there were other former service personnel among the group and "a streak is something which happens in the armed forces but never in public".

The court was told that Barker did his streak at around 8pm but he thought it was the early hours of the morning because "it was dark and very cold".

Margaret Martin, prosecuting, said 100 women were in the area and some had children with them.

Nottingham Rape Crisis was among the groups represented.

Mrs Martin told the court: "Police officers heard a collective gasp from the crowd.

"They could see the women looking in the same direction. They saw a naked man running across the crowd."

The CCTV was seen by a school party who were in the court's public gallery.

Barker had never been in trouble before. He was granted unconditional bail. Presiding magistrate Chris Thompson said all options would be available when the court sentenced him.

He added: "We have seen the CCTV and taken into account the area and have heard your representations in terms of your remorse. Before we can go forward to sentence you, you will have to have contact with probation."

Father-of-three Lee Lakin was banned from the roads after driving at double the 30mph limit on the way home from his grandfather's wake.

Police flagged him down after spotting the speeding BMW in Stapleford Lane, Toton, on October 28.

Yesterday, Nottingham Magistrates' Court was told be failed a roadside breath test and was taken to a police station so he could give a sample.

That gave a reading of 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – 40 over the legal limit.

A 20-month driving ban was imposed on Lakin, 31, of Stafford Street, Long Eaton.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was fined £140 with a £150 criminal court charge, £85 prosecution costs and a £20 government surcharge.

Leanne Splaine, for him, told the court: "He was travelling back from his grandfather's wake, where he had consumed some alcohol, but didn't think he was over the limit.

"He just got in the car and was driving back home. He was co-operative with the police at the roadside and at the Bridewell."

Miss Splaine said the driving disqualification would have a serious effect on the family of Lakin, who is studying to become a plumber.

His wife works 15 hours weekly at Tesco and so he had the task of getting his children to and from school.

The youngest would have to change its pre-school.

"The whole situation has turned the family on its head and it will also have a huge effect on the progression of his career. It is very difficult when a self-employed plumber suffers the loss of a licence," Miss Splaine said.

Margaret Martin, prosecuting, said Lakin's BMW One Series was spotted in Stapleford Lane at 11pm.

"It was doing 60 in the 30mph zone and was stopped. Officers requested a roadside breath test, which he failed," Mrs Martin said.

Presiding magistrate Chris Thompson told Lakin: "We have taken into account the level of alcohol in your breath and the fact you were doing an excessive speed.

"We have also taken account of the circumstances of your day."

If Lakin completes a course underlining the dangers of drink-driving, his ban will be reduced by 152 days.

He was allowed to pay the court bill at a rate of £10 a fortnight from his state benefits and was warned not to drive again until his licence was restored.

"If you drive, it is a serious offence and you could be sent to prison," said Mr Thompson.

The Metropolitan Police has apologised for the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of undercover police officers who had sexual relationships with people they were targeting.

The force and seven women have now concluded a mediation although the details remain confidential.

The settlements cover the actions of five former undercover officers, including Bob Lambert and Jim Boyling from the Met and Mark Kennedy from the National Public Order Intelligence Unit.

The settlement follows the collapse of a case against six protesters who invaded the coal-fired Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire.

The protesters were spied on by undercover cop PC Mark Kennedy, who spent seven years posing as Mark Stone.

His involvement in the Ratcliffe-on-Soar case led to its collapse in 2011, and a review of undercover policing. Six protesters had been accused of planning to invade the power station.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt from The Metropolitan Police Service said: "The Metropolitan Police has recently settled seven claims arising out of the totally unacceptable behaviour of a number of undercover police officers working for the now disbanded Special Demonstration Squad, an undercover unit within Special Branch that existed until 2008 and for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit an undercover unit which was operational until 2011.

"Thanks in large part to the courage and tenacity of these women in bringing these matters to light it has become apparent that some officers, acting undercover whilst seeking to infiltrate protest groups, entered into long-term intimate sexual relationships with women which were abusive, deceitful, manipulative and wrong."

The assistant commissioner said the actions of the officers violated the women's human rights, were an abuse of police power and caused significant trauma.

He added: "I unreservedly apologise on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. I am aware that money alone cannot compensate the loss of time, their hurt or the feelings of abuse caused by these relationships.

"Relationships like these should never have happened. They were wrong and were a gross violation of personal dignity and integrity.

"None of the women with whom the undercover officers had a relationship brought it on themselves. They were deceived, pure and simple.

"It is apparent that some officers may have preyed on the women's good nature and had manipulated their emotions to a gratuitous extent. This was distressing to hear about and must have been very hard to bear."

A thief has been caught on camera stealing a charity box from the Kitty Cafe.

On Tuesday at 3pm a man walked into the Friar Lane tea shop and rehoming centre to find out more information about Nottingham's cat cafe.

But when the receptionist turned her back for a couple of seconds, the man took the charity box from the front counter and put it into his bag.

Cat resident Daisy did attempt to stop the thief by trying to get in the bag to get the box back.

Owner Kate Charles-Richards said: "It was the cat's donation box so it goes towards the vet bills and rehoming. There was about £50 to £60 in the box as the people of Nottingham are very generous.

"It's horrible that someone could so brazenly do that. We've contacted the police and put it on Facebook so hopefully someone will know something."

The theft came less than a week after someone tried to steal another charity box from the café's takeaway next door.

Luckily a member of staff spotted the culprits on CCTV and managed to retrieve it.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: "Nottinghamshire Police is investigating the reported theft of a donation box from the Kitty Cat café on the afternoon of Tuesday 17 November.

"Anyone who has any information about the incident, should telephone Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 257 of 18 November."

The Kitty Cafe opened earlier this year in March and allows cat lovers to have a cup of tea and a slice of cake while being surrounded by furry felines.

A teenage motorist got some car-buying advice in court after getting nabbed at the wheel of a stolen Renault Clio.

James Dore paid £500 in two instalments for the vehicle, which was worth well over twice that, Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard.

District Judge Leo Pyle told him: "If you are offered something which appears too good to be true, it usually is. For you, it comes with considerable expense."

Dore was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay £620 costs following a trial when he pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen goods, the Renault car, valued at £1,200 on March 30.

And he has lost the vehicle because it has been returned to its owner, after being taken following a burglary at her home.

Dore, 19, of Sudan Drive, The Meadows, must also pay £150 court costs and a £60 government surcharge. He was found guilty and the case had been adjourned to await reports.

Jonathan Hullis, mitigating, said: "He accepts he jumped at the chance to buy it because he considered it to be a good bargain."

There was "no suggestion" that Dore was involved in the theft of the car, added Mr Hullis.

David Miles, prosecuting, said a house was burgled on February 3 and the car keys were taken. This enabled a burglar to drive off in the Clio.

On March 30, police were told two men were sitting in the car on Ferngill Close, The Meadows.

"The defendant was in the driver's seat and the keys were in the ignition. He was arrested," added Mr Miles.

New Basford: A thug has been jailed after he beat up a man he accused of being a paedophile. Ainsley McFarlane, 30, of Gladstone Street, Hyson Green, behaved "like a wild animal" in front of children, ,said his victim. McFarlane had shouted at the man, after he believed he had touched a girl, cornered him between a fence and gate and kicked him in the face. Nottingham Crown Court heard he then punched the man in the face – 15 to 20 times in his head and face before someone pulled him away. His victim had a lump on his forehead, swelling to his right eye, cuts and scratches to his face and a swollen lip. Judge Gregory Dickinson said he did not make any attempt to decide whether or not the complaint made about the victim was true."I don't know," said the judge. "I don't have the information. What I do know, Mr McFarlane, is the court do not and will not tolerate people taking the law into their own hands. The police and courts are there for a purpose." McFarlane was given nine months for assaulting the man, six months consecutively for breaching a suspended sentence and one month for possessing drugs, which were small amounts of cannabis, heroin, cocaine and amphetamine for personal use. Adrian Langdale, mitigating, said: "He pleaded guilty and I ask for credit."

Bulwell: A 42-year-old man is due to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court tomorrow. Frank Davis, of Latimer Close, is charged with assaulting a woman in Bulwell on July 24, and then harassing the same victim between August 7 and August 15. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Sam Birch, 20, of Penn Street, is due to be sentenced at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on November 25. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman by beating her and causing criminal damage to her £100 wardrobe on October 18.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: A 49-year-old man has been fined£80 for not keeping up with a fuel debt. Duncan Hayes, of Cosgrove Avenue, did not pay for £40.02-worth of diesel from Eastfield Side Service Station on April 17. Hayes was ordered to reimburse the garage by May 6. But he failed to meet the payments and was ordered back before the court. Magistrates in Mansfield, who heard his case this month, took into account his guilty plea. They fined him and ordered he pay £40.02 compensation, costs of £40 and a courts charge of £180.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Jamie Beeston, 23, of Westbourne Road, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour on September 25.

Magistrates in Mansfield conditionally discharged Beeston for six months and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and a courts charge of £150. No action was taken after he breached a 12-month conditional discharge, imposed on October 20 last year, for threatening behaviour.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: A 36-year-old woman will face trial accused of assaulting another woman in Boughton on September 28.

Magistrates in Mansfield ordered Joanne Evans, of Swinton Copse, Boughton, to attend the court for trial on January 18. She entered a not guilty plea on November 4.

Kirkby-in-Ashfield: Kyle Parkin, 26, of Rowan Drive, has been bailed to attend Nottingham Crown Court on November 30. Parkin has been accused of dangerous driving in a Ford Mondeo in Lowmoor Road, Marlborough Road, Alexandra Street and Byron Avenue on September 26.

He is further charged with failing to stop for police, driving without a licence or insurance on September 26.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Mark Fenwick, 42, of Rhodes Walk, Mansfield, is due in court tomorrow. He has admitted harassing a woman between October 10 and October 18.

The offence happened during the period of a suspended sentence, imposed at Nottingham Crown Court on July 19, for supplying drugs.

Newark: Stephen Labrooy, 51, of Pulford Close, has been bailed to attend Mansfield Magistrates' Court on January 6.

He denied assaulting a woman in the town between September 1 and September 30.

Mansfield Woodhouse: Cara Marsh, 18, of Teal Avenue, was conditionally discharged for 12 months. She pleaded guilty to destroying a glass window at the New Inn pub on June 27. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, Marsh was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £150.

A Power Ranger startled late-night traffic as he rolled around when attacked by a drunk earthling in the city centre.

The masked man inside the TV hero's uniform – sporting a shiny blue cloak – had earlier been joking with steelworker Jack Clark, a court heard yesterday.

But suddenly Clark started "windmilling punches" at the blue Power Ranger in the middle of the road.

"Traffic had to stop," Margaret Martin, prosecuting, told magistrates in the city.

Clark was with friends enjoying a night out in Nottingham and all were in normal clothes.

They came across a group of young men dressed as Power Rangers in Upper Parliament Street at 2am on November 1.

Police managed to find the assaulted Ranger and asked him about the incident involving Clark, 20, who had been drinking.

"He was messing about, pulling the mask up and down on the blue Power Ranger and then punched him in the face. He acted like that because he was drunk," said Mrs Martin.

Clark accepted police claims that he threw two punches but could not recollect details.

The Power Ranger declined to make a formal statement and Clark admitted using threatening behaviour.

He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work with £150 court costs, £85 prosecution costs and a £60 Government surcharge.

Presiding magistrate Gillian Norman told him: "This is a serious offence and the bench are saddened you come before us as a first-time offender with a previously good record.

"It is because of your irresponsible, reckless, stupid behaviour on that night that you find yourself in this situation.

"In many respects, the bench feel you are lucky the injured party decided not to give a statement to the police. It is by your admission that these allegations were made.

"You could have been looking at a much more serious offence."

Clark, of Maslen Place, Halesowen, was ordered to pay the court bill at a rate of £10 weekly.

Serena Mandair, for him, said: "He recalls messing about with the person in the Power Ranger's uniform.

"The next thing is that person grabbed his arm, which is taken by him as an aggressive gesture. He punched out at the male.

"He is very honest and candid. He was affected by alcohol.

"He was out with a group of friends and he does not ordinarily drink.

"He is the youngest of five and lives at home with his mum."

A probation report said Clark had "no alcohol problem with a low likelihood of re-offending" and earned £200 for a 40-hour week's work at a steel plant.

A boozy driver was told he could have knocked a child down on Hallowe'en – when he struck a parked car and ended up on the pavement.

A court heard that Kevin Mann, 46, had downed four pints of beer and headed home to Elizabeth Road, Newark, just after 5pm on October 31.

His car was seen by a woman out with her daughter making "trick or treat" visits on the street, said Margaret Martin, prosecuting at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

"He swerved and hit a Peugeot, drove across a road, mounted the pavement and came to a stop. He got out of the car and walked across the road. Police spoke to the defendant, who was unsteady on his feet and had alcohol on his breath."

He was banned from driving for 20 months and told by magistrate Gillian Norman: "This is a very serious offence. You were not just a bit over the limit, you were well over.

"It was 5.10pm on Hallowe'en when there are all sorts of people out. You hit a parked car and mounted the kerb. That could have been children you hit. I am sure you are aware of the seriousness."

Mann, who had no previous convictions, was fined £450 with a £150 court charge, £85 prosecution costs and a £45 Government surcharge.

He pleaded guilty to driving a Vauxhall Meriva with 72 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Julian Bruce, in mitigation, said Mann's mother suffered from Parkinson's disease and had just been released from hospital after breaking a hip. He visited her regularly but could not find her at home that day.

"Rather foolishly and perplexingly, he went to the pub and had a drink and was driving home. 'He turned into his own street, went to overtake a van parked on the left, over-compensated and went to the right and came to a standstill," said Mr Bruce.

Mann works as a case maker at a local firm and Mr Bruce added: "That is within cycling distance. He is deeply ashamed. He has been a working man all his life and has never appeared in court before, with no blot or blemish.

"When I first saw him, he was petrified at the prospect of having to appear here. That position has not altered. There is a lesson to be learnt and he has already learnt it."

Costly elections for police and crime commissioners will go ahead in May, despite the possibility of the role becoming redundant 12 months later.

The post, held by Paddy Tipping in Nottinghamshire and Alan Charles in Derbyshire, oversees local police forces and reports on their performance to the respective county councils.

But if the expected devolution deal to create a combined authority for the counties goes through, the responsibilities of the commissioners could be handed over to a newly elected mayor as early as May 2017.

Some councillors have called for the elections to be scrapped.

John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, told a Nottinghamshire County Council meeting last week: "This is where politics has gone bonkers.

"We are technically going to hold an election next year for the sake of one year. It is likely to cost about £1million and get an 11 per cent turn-out.

"Can we just have a bit of a common sense? Let's extend (the role). We don't need to spend this money. It is a total waste."

He was backed by Councillor Peter Barnes, who said his main concern about the devolution deal was the commissioners "putting spanners in the works" and "causing fireworks with their sway".

Mr Tipping, pictured, said there would be an election, regardless of the progress of the devolution deal.

He said: "The preferred option by the Home Office is for it to be an election for a four-year period. During those four years, the two commissioners would work with the mayor to merge the authorities. I know there are some people who would like to extend the post and some who don't want the election, but it is not possible legally. There needs to be an election."

Mr Charles agrees and has written to Home Secretary Theresa May to outline his concerns. He said he was "unconvinced" by the prospect of an elected mayor.

He added: "The election must go ahead. I do not believe that these highly important issues should be rushed through. While I support my local authority colleagues' determination to get a devolution deal for D2N2, the policing element needs to be considered in a more timely way."

The devolution deal is on "pause" while Whitehall studies about 20 applications for the transfer of powers from central government to regional authorities.

Liverpool is the latest city to agree to an elected mayor in return for £30 million to spend every year for 30 years.

Some of the 19 councils involved in the Notts/Derbyshire arrangement have raised concerns. Erewash and South Derbyshire, which are on board with devolution, want to see more details.

Erewash leader Councillor Chris Corbett said: "When the final facts are known, we will take a vote on whether we want to be part of it."

Broxtowe Borough Council called off its full meeting last Thursday because it wanted more detail before taking any votes on whether to move forward with devolution.

A post on the authority's website said: "In light of the Government's decision to pause the devolution process and, in consultation with the leader and mayor, the council meeting on November 18 has been postponed to a future date.

"This is to ensure that members have sufficient information to enable a meaningful debate on the proposals."

Gedling Borough Council went ahead with its meeting, and Councillor Clarke said the motion on the table was to give the leaders of each council the mandate to continue with negotiations.

He said: "This will come back to Gedling Borough Council and, I expect, the other 19 councils some time in the new year.

"Erewash and South Derbyshire, as well as some government backbenchers, are nervous about some of the points of devolution. But, at the moment, all of the 19 authorities are prepared to move forward to the next stage. I am very pro-devolution. I think it will bring opportunities that Nottinghamshire would never have without it."

Gedling council voted unanimously to continue negotiations with the Government, with backing from Mr Clarke's Conservative rival, Councillor Chris Barnfather.

He said: "I share the view of the leader of the council. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in the position that this is paused unexpectedly. It is not the fault of those 19 councils who have been working hard, harmoniously, and agreeing cross-party to support the principle of the combined devolved authority."

Councillor Alan Rhodes, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said: "A lot of discussion in the media about devolution has been to do with the election of a new mayor for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, which Government has said must come as part of the deal.

"The bigger picture is about what devolution can do for people, not politicians. Provided the deal is in the best interests of the people of Nottinghamshire, this is an opportunity that we simply cannot let slip through our fingers."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government, which is in charge of devolution deals, said: "Government has been clear that we will only transfer major powers to areas that adopt a directly elected mayor."

Stapleford: Raymond Hydes, of Mathews Court, must pay £1,750 after he stole from a college. Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard the 34-year-old took a mixing sound desk, an electronic keyboard and a projector from St John's College, in Chilwell, on June 22. Hydes, who pleaded guilty, was given a ten-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to have treatment for his drug problems. He has also been ordered to pay compensation of £1,570 and a courts charge of £180.

Sutton-inAshfield: Joshua Mundy, 19, of Chatsworth Street, pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive message on October 23. He was bailed to be sentenced at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on December 2.

Ruddington: Nicholas Perch, 35, of Loughborough Road, received a community order for assaulting a woman in Retford on August 29. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, Perch was sentenced after he pleaded guilty. He was ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work over 12 months. He must pay a victim surcharge of £60, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £150.

Mansfield: Muis Abolade Oladele was fined £360 for drink-driving and banned from the roads for 16 months. Magistrates in Mansfield heard 35-year-old Oladele, of Brierley Cottages, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, was over the limit behind the wheel of a Ford Mondeo in Peacock Road on October 17. When breath tested by police, he had 55 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35. JPs ordered he pay a victim surcharge of £36, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £150. No separate penalty was imposed after he admitted using the Ford Mondeo without insurance or a licence on October 15.

City: A 36-year-old man stole a bicycle worth £300 in Nottingham city centre on October 18. Cezary Ciesielski, of Central Drive, Shirebrook, pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was fined £160, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, costs of £85 and a courts charge of £180.

Basford: Three separate thefts in the same street were reported to police overnight between Sunday and Monday.

All the incidents took place in Fox Grove, Old Basford.

One bike was taken, one shed was broken into and in the third case, items were moved around suspiciously in the garden. The local beat team is hosting a surgery from 6.30pm tonight at the Bowling Pavilion in Stockhill Park.

Stapleford: Electrical items were stolen from a home in Moorbridge Lane.

Police believe thieves burgled the property overnight between Friday and Saturday.

Investigating officers said the thieves appeared to have broken through a padlock on a back gate and then forced the back door.

Keyworth: A white Sony laptop, two iPads and two PS4 game stations were stolen from a home in Charnwood Avenue.

Police say a burglar forced open the side window of the property between Friday and Sunday.

East Leake: Two men fled after being found trying to break into a retail unit in Main Street.

The would-be burglars ran away at around 1.30am yesterday morning.

Trowell: A vehicle was broken into in Trowell Park Drive between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

If you have any information about any of these incidents, you can contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.