A NUMBER of noteworthy cases were heard this week in the south of the county.

Lauren Ashley-Brown, 25, of St Francis Drive in Barrow will appear before South Cumbria Magistrates Court on Tuesday, facing one drug-driving charge.

In March, Ms Ashley-Brown was allegedly stopped in her car on Hawcoat Lane in Barrow - recording a consumption level above the legal limit for cannabis.

Leigh Craig Samms, 32, of Abercorn Street, Barrow, is to be referred to the Crown Court.

Mr Samms faces one charge of possession with intent to supply cocaine. The incident took place last April.

He also faces charges of connection to the supply of amphetamines and cannabis in Barrow, as well as two separate possession charges. His is due to be heard at Preston Crown Court on October 16.

Anthony Bennett, 47, of Cleavelands Avenue, Barrow, has been bailed by magistrates after he denied a charge of assault by beating.

According to court papers, Mr Bennett is alleged to have assaulted Przemyslaw Rucinski by beating him in Barrow on March 17 this year.

He entered a not guilty plea to the charge and was bailed to return to court on November 17.

Accused of stealing meat and alcohol from a Dalton shop, Albert James William France, 45, of Egerton Court, Barrow, appeared before South Cumbria Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

On dates in August and July, France is alleged to have stolen whiskey, steak, gin and rum from the Co-Op store in Dalton. He has denied the charges and his case has been referred to Preston Crown Court for an October hearing.

Finally, South Cumbria Magistrates Court heard this week how Keanu Rhys Logan, 25, had stolen 10 bottles of Lynx deodorant from the Morrisons supermarket in Barrow.

Magistrates were told the defendant had 30 previous convictions for dishonesty, having already appeared in court a number of times for shoplifting.

The defendant admitted to stealing the bottles of deodorant from the store, in the Strand, on May 27.