Scales of Justice Results from Oxford Magistrates’ Court, Oxford 2026

Key Points

• Driving Violations Discovered: Abdnour Benilkadi of Banbury was penalised for driving while using a mobile phone, without third-party insurance, and without a licence.
• Persistent Restraining Order Breaches: Richard Hamilton of Oxford received an immediate eight-week custodial sentence after admitting to multiple restraining order breaches, criminal damage, bicycle theft, and threatening behaviour.
• Suspended Sentence for Indecent Material: William Keeling of Horspath received a suspended six-month custodial sentence for possession of prohibited child images and making Category A, B, and C indecent images of children.
• Drug Rehabilitation Ordered for Harassment: Louie Withers of Oxford was handed an eight-week suspended prison sentence alongside mandatory drug treatment for breaching a restraining order.
• Class A Drug Possession Fine: James Barrett of Kidlington was ordered to pay a £161 fine following an arrest for possession of cocaine in Oxford.
• Heavy Toll for Serial Shoplifting: Stephen Belcher of East Challow was jailed for 12 weeks after admitting to a series of high-value thefts from shops in Witney, Wantage, and Abingdon.
• Stalking Case Concluded with Supervision: Danielle Herbert of Wallingford received an eight-week suspended sentence and mandatory mental health treatment following a stalking conviction.

uk/local/bicester/">Bicester (Oxford Daily) July 15, 2026 – Oxford Magistrates’ Court has processed a fresh round of criminal cases under its “Scales of Justice” registry, resulting in immediate prison sentences, suspended custodial terms, heavy financial penalties, and mandatory rehabilitation orders. Among those sentenced during these hearings was Abdnour Benilkadi, a 49-year-old resident of Middleton Road, Banbury, who pleaded guilty to multiple motoring infractions, including driving while using a handheld mobile phone, operating a vehicle without third-party insurance, and driving without a valid driving licence. The offences, which took place on Hennef Way in Banbury on August 1 of last year, culminated in magistrates ordering Benilkadi to pay a fine of £333, court costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £133, and imposing six penalty points on his driving record.

The latest dockets show a heavy concentration of cases involving persistent public disorder, domestic abuse violations, sexual offences, class A drug possession, and commercial retail theft. According to legal records compiled by reporter Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, local magistrates have continued to utilize a combination of immediate custodial sentences and structured community-focused rehabilitation orders to address repeating patterns of local offending across Oxfordshire.

What Motoring Offences Did Abdnour Benilkadi Commit on Hennef Way?

The court heard details concerning the driving habits of Abdnour Benilkadi, 49, of Middleton Road, Banbury. As documented in the public records of Oxford Magistrates’ Court and reported by journalist Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, Benilkadi stood accused of committing three separate driving offences on a single day. On August 1 of last year, police intercepted Benilkadi on Hennef Way, a major arterial route in Banbury, while he was operating a vehicle.

Officers discovered that Benilkadi was actively using a handheld mobile phone while driving. Further checks revealed that he did not possess a valid driving licence to operate the vehicle, nor was there a valid policy of third-party insurance in place to cover his use of the vehicle.

Upon entering a guilty plea to all three counts, Benilkadi was handed a combined fine of £333. In addition to the financial penalty, magistrates ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a government-mandated victim surcharge of £133. To address the severe road safety risks associated with unlicenced driving and mobile phone distraction, the bench also endorsed his driving record with six penalty points.

Why Was Richard Hamilton Handed an Immediate Prison Sentence?

In one of the more extensive series of charges heard during the session, Richard Hamilton, 40, of Asquith Road, Oxford, was handed an active custodial sentence. As reported by Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, the court records show that Hamilton pleaded guilty to a total of five separate criminal charges spanning from January to June.

Among these offences were two separate counts of breaching a restraining order. The breaches occurred on June 16 and June 18 in Oxford. In addition to violating these protective court orders, Hamilton admitted to the theft of a pedal cycle in Oxford on April 6, and a charge of criminal damage committed on March 1.

Furthermore, Hamilton pleaded guilty to one count of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with the intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence. The public order offence took place in Oxford on January 11.

Recognising the persistent nature of his offending and his failure to comply with court-ordered restrictions, the presiding magistrates sentenced Hamilton to a total of eight weeks of immediate imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay £260 in compensation to his victims.

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What Were the Details of William Keeling’s Indecent Images Conviction?

The court addressed a serious case involving the possession and creation of indecent materials depicting children. William Keeling, 37, of Gidley Way, Horspath, Oxford, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. As reported by Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, these offences occurred in Oxford over a five-month window between July 15, 2023, and December 24, 2023.

The prosecution detailed the exact categories of the illegal media recovered during the investigation:

• Category A: The most severe tier of abusive imagery, comprising four distinct still and moving images.
• Category B: Comprising nine moving images.
• Category C: Comprising 15 moving images.

In addition to these charges, Keeling admitted to being in possession of 116 prohibited images of children.

Taking into account the defendant’s circumstances and pleas, magistrates handed Keeling a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a period of 18 months. The court also attached several strict community-level requirements to the suspended sentence. Keeling was ordered to undergo six months of mental health rehabilitation under supervision, and he must comply with the directives of his responsible officer, which includes attending appointments for a maximum of 20 days.

Furthermore, Keeling must perform 150 hours of unpaid work within the community and pay court costs of £85 alongside a victim surcharge of £154. The magistrates also authorized a forfeiture and destruction order for Keeling’s laptop and computer tower. He was placed on the sex offenders register under strict notification requirements for a duration of five years and made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

How Did the Court Address Louie Withers’ Restraining Order Breach?

The issue of domestic protective order violations arose again in the case of Louie Withers, 37, of Bullingdon Road, Oxford. According to court records compiled by Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, Withers pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a restraining order in Oxford on May 18.

The bench decided to impose a custodial sentence but chose to hold the threat of imprisonment over the defendant to encourage compliance with rehabilitation programs. Withers was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

To address underlying issues related to his offending, the court ordered Withers to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation program. To monitor his compliance, magistrates ordered that he be fitted with an electronic tag for six months. Withers is also required to complete 26 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement under the supervision of the probation service and must pay £85 in court costs.

What Fine Was Imposed for Class A Drug Possession in Kidlington?

A drug possession case was resolved involving James Barrett, 22, of Cots Green, Kidlington. As reported by Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, Barrett entered a guilty plea to a single count of possessing a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine.

The arrest occurred in Oxford on January 24, where police officers discovered him in possession of the illicit substance. Following his admission of guilt, the magistrates fined Barrett £161.

He was further ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £64. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the bench issued an order for the seized cocaine to be officially confiscated and destroyed by the police.

Why Was Serial Shop Thief Stephen Belcher Sent to Prison?

The court dealt firmly with retail crime by handing down a custodial sentence to Stephen Belcher, 48, of Claypit Lane, East Challow, Wantage. As reported by Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, Belcher pleaded guilty to five separate counts of shoplifting.

The thefts occurred over a multi-month period between June and November of last year. Belcher targeted various commercial retail outlets located across Witney, Wantage, and Abingdon. The cumulative value of the items stolen during his shoplifting spree was calculated at £1,122.62.

Citing his extensive history of dishonesty and the repeated targeting of local businesses, magistrates determined that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate. Belcher was sentenced to 12 weeks of imprisonment.

What Were the Terms of Danielle Herbert’s Stalking Sentence?

A case of stalking was concluded involving Danielle Herbert, 34, of Stigand Close, Wallingford. According to court registries published by Toby Oliver of the Bicester Advertiser, Herbert pleaded guilty to one count of stalking.

The charge related to a course of conduct carried out in Wallingford between October 27 and November 22 of last year. Magistrates handed down an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

As part of her suspended sentence conditions, Herbert was ordered to pay a fine of £120, prosecution costs of £85, and a victim surcharge of £154. Additionally, the court ordered her to complete six weeks of mental health rehabilitation to address the root causes of her behavior.

How Does the Oxford Magistrates’ Court Process Local Criminal Cases?

Oxford Magistrates’ Court serves as the initial venue for all criminal cases arising within Oxfordshire. The court handles “summary offences,” which are less serious crimes such as motoring violations, minor assaults, and low-value thefts. It also conducts the initial hearings for “either-way” offences—which can be tried either by magistrates or in a Crown Court—and sends the most serious “indictable-only” cases, such as murder or major sexual assaults, directly to Oxford Crown Court.

Magistrates, who are typically advised on matters of law by a qualified legal clerk, have the power to impose prison sentences of up to six months for a single offence, or up to 12 months consecutively for multiple offences. They can also issue unlimited fines, community service mandates, and rehabilitation programs designed to lower reoffending rates across the local community.