HERE'S a round-up of some of the biggest court cases to have taken place across north Cumbria this week. 

Sycamore Gap case 'too serious' for magistrates' court

A district judge said that the case of two men accused of felling the famous Sycamore Gap tree was so serious that it must be dealt with at the crown court.

Full story here. 

Artificial intelligence used to catch Carlisle sex offender

A registered sex offender was snared by artificial intelligence as he flouted a strict court order by viewing perverted internet images of children.

Thomas Young, 34, had appeared at Carlisle Crown Court a decade ago when he was sentenced for inciting a girl aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Full story here.

Woman who made indecent child images 'didn't want to face person she used to be'

A supermarket worker who made indecent images of a child failed to attend court because she was scared to face ‘who she used to be’.

Emma Davies, 59, admitted making two Category C indecent images of a child when she appeared before magistrates in Workington on Tuesday.

Full story here. 

Carlisle carwash slave masters ordered to repay £100K ill gotten gains

Two men previously jailed for running a modern slavery ring at a Carlisle car wash have been ordered to repay tens of thousands of pounds’ cash linked to their offending.

Full story here. 

Workington man attacked woman with bottle and bit her

A West Cumbrian man has been given a suspended prison term for subjecting his now former partner to violence, which including biting her while they were in bed.

Full story here. 

Unhappy Carlisle man doused his estranged wife's clothes in petrol

A Carlisle man whose marriage fell apart doused his estranged wife’s clothes in petrol and threatened to burn them.

Kevin Pearson, 56, who sent somebody a photo of his wife’s clothes laid on a gravel path next to a petrol can, also threatened to set fire to the woman’s car and house.

Full story here. 

Woman forced to flee Carlisle after starving dog died at her home

A mum who was blamed for the death of a starving dog was forced to flee from her home and start a new life in southern England.

But a judge who heard evidence about case ruled that 32-year-old Abbi Louise Simmons was responsible for the malnourished dog for only five days and it was already “at death's door”  when the owner handed it over.

Full story here. 

Judge sentences Carlisle cocaine dealers who earned 'significant cash'

A judge has jailed two cocaine addicted Carlisle men who set up their own dealing operation, which operated for just over six months.

Police began investigating after officers stopped 30-year-old Liam Gilmour as he drove a van in Carlisle and discovered that he was carrying three wraps of the class A drug, which was 72 per cent pure.

Full story here. 

Drunk man who crashed pal's car in Carlisle was 'trying to get warm'

A drunk man who was left in a friend’s parked car switched on the engine to get warm – and then crashed into another vehicle and a wall.

Full story here.