Recent cases heard by the magistrates included the following:

Sharon Jones, aged 52 and based in East Pentwyn, Blaina, was handed a total bill of £736 after being found guilty of using or fitting a television receiver without holding the necessary licence. The sum covered fines, court expenditure and a victim surcharge.

Luke Williams, from Richmond Road in Newport, was instructed to settle £408 for keeping a motor vehicle on the road without adequate insurance protection.

Maria Burris, 47, of Celyn Avenue, Caerphilly, had her licence suspended for half a year after confessing to driving at excess speed in a zone capped at 20mph. She received a £231 financial penalty along with a £92 surcharge.

Mark Bush-Jones, 40, who resides at Hendre Farm Drive in Newport, was told to pay £176 after entering a guilty plea for travelling too fast in a 40mph stretch.

Callum Remnant, 27, from Greenwood Avenue in Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, was given an eight-week custodial term that was suspended for a year and banned from driving for three years after admitting to drink-driving on Maendy Way. On the first of March, breath testing revealed 102 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. He must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work and contribute £154 in surcharges plus £85 in costs.

Scott Randell, 42, of Risca Road, Cross Keys, Caerphilly, was ordered to pay £203.02 after pleading guilty to two counts of stealing crates of Stella Artois lager from an Asda outlet in Barry on January 15 and January 17. His driving record had three penalty points recorded.

Christian Edward Bishton, 49, from Gainsborough Drive in Newport, was fined £140 plus a surcharge for exceeding the speed limit in a 50mph area. His licence received three penalty points.

Logan Weaver, 21, of Ty Coch, Rhymney, Caerphilly, was directed to pay £1,044 for operating a motor vehicle on a public highway without insurance. His licence had six penalty points added.

Koysor Ahmed, 57, from High Street in Blaina, was required to pay £1,044 for refusing to supply driving licence details when asked. Six penalty points were endorsed on his licence.