AN 80-year-old man has been hit with a £2,231 bill after attacking another man.

Harry Sowerby, of Redwood Close, Hemyock, denied a charge of assault by beating when his case was heard at Taunton Magistrates' Court.

But magistrates found him guilty of the assault in Taunton on May 20 last year.

Sowerby was fined £1,096 and ordered to pay his victim £250 compensation.

He must also pay £775 towards the Crown Prosecution costs and a £110 victim surcharge.

KELVIN Lee Holmes admitted assault by beating another man in Taunton on July 9 last year.

Holmes, 41, whose address was given as Exeter Prison, was order to pay his victim £100 compensation.

A VAN driver who tested positive for drug driving has been banned for 36 months.

Luke Birchley, 29, of Stoney Ridge, Langport Road, Langport, pleaded guilty to driving with a quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol in his blood and also a quantity of benzoylecgonine.

He had been stopped by police on the M5 at Bridgwater on April 25 last year.

Birchley was fined £240 with a £36 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

On the same day he was driving without insurance, for which he was fined £120 by the court.

He received no separate penalty for driving without the correct licence.