All the North East criminals locked up in February 2025 – from murderers to danger drivers

Many North East offenders found themselves behind bars in February 2025 – including those responsible for the deaths of innocent people.

Courts in the region heard heartbreaking details about those who had lost their lives due to the actions of criminals. The perpetrators were handed prison sentences for offences including murder, manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving.

Among those locked up was a man who murdered a toddler. Christopher Stockton murdered 22-month-old Charlie Roberts after the child was left in his care by his mother. Charlie suffered catastrophic, fatal injuries, after being “shaken or thrown with considerable force”. Stockton was found guilty of murder and child cruelty by a jury and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.

In another horrific case, a savage murderer left a harmless homeless man dying in a park. Craig Curry subjected Neil Selkirk to a sustained attack which left him unconscious and with a series of injuries. Curry, who was found guilty of murder, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years and 181 days.

Meanwhile, a dad was given a life sentence for murdering his teenage daughter by stabbing her through the heart. Simon Vickers was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars after he was found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett in the kitchen of their family home.

Further details of these cases as well as others covered by ChronicleLive in February 2025, where defendants received prison sentences, are outlined below.

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Ian Bloy

A drug addict fleeced a vulnerable brain injury victim to bankroll his habit.

The victim suffered a brain injury in 1986 and lacked mental capacity regarding his finances, Newcastle Crown Court heard. A social worker became concerned in March last year after the man reported having only £40 left due to Bloy taking his money.

There was also often limited food in his cupboards and in June last year he only had £10 left from the £200 he had received the previous day and he said he wanted Bloy to stay away from him. Prosecutors said it was impossible to put a precise figure on how much Bloy had defrauded the victim by.

Bloy pleaded guilty to fraud and was jailed for 15 months. Here’s the full court report.

Paul Nicholson

Paul Nicholson left a charity with a £65,000 bill after causing damage and loss “like a tornado” while burgling a cancer support centre.

Nicholson broke into the Fighting All Cancers Together (FACT) charity, on Springwell Road, Wrekenton, Gateshead, in June last year. At the time of the break-in, the building had recently undergone a £500,000 renovation, including getting new furniture, fixtures and fittings. Nicholson forced entry through a downstairs window by throwing a large piece of metal through it.

The 31-year-old, of Albert Street, Amble, Northumberland, and an accomplice barricaded themselves into a loft to try to escape when police turned up. He tried to force his way out of the roof, causing substantial damage to it.

When that failed, he cut into plaster board to try to hide, causing further damage and he was found hiding in the wall cavity by police. Shocked charity workers then found several other items had also been damaged, including mobile phones, laptops, crockery, kitchen appliances, computer monitors, raffle prizes and a photocopier.

The total value of the damage and replacements was £64,868. When he was arrested, Nicholson was aggressive, had to have a spit hood fitted and later injured an officer’s leg by kicking him. After being released on bail, he went on to commit a spree of other burglaries.

Nicholson pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary and assaulting an emergency worker. He was jailed for 63 months. Read the full story here.

Jason William Halliday

A man was jailed for launching violent, unprovoked attacks on a woman and a bouncer, leaving them unconscious.

Jason William Halliday attacked a woman and punched her to the floor in 2022, before going on to viciously attack a nightclub bouncer in 2024. Police say the attacks left the victims with “serious injuries and life-long trauma”.

Halliday, of Chester-le-Street, appeared at Durham Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to two assaults. The 25-year-old was jailed for 15 months. Here’s the full story.

Ethan McLoud, Brooklyn Gray

A shop worker was subjected to a terrifying attack during a robbery.

The victim was working as a door supervisor at a Go Local Extra store, on Hylton Road, Sunderland, when Brooklyn Gray and Ethan McLoud went in. When told only one person was allowed in at the same time, McLoud responded by threatening to stab him.

He then punched him in the face with something wrapped around his knuckle. The victim tried to restrain him and then stumbled to the ground and McLoud ended up straddled on top of him. He then continued to punch him to the head and body and the victim had his hands up to cover his face. During the attack, he also made a racist comment, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Gray began helping herself to a number of bottle of spirits and tried to spray the victim in the face with an aerosol canister, affecting his ability to see and breathe. Mcloud used a bottle to hit the victim over the head, causing it to smash and gestured with the broken bottle. They took alcohol and vapes worth around £300 from the shelves before leaving.

McLoud, 26, pleaded guilty to robbery and racially aggravated wounding and Gray, 23, admitted robbery. McLoud was sentenced to five years and ten months and Gray got four years and four months. Here’s the full court report.

Thomas Dodds

A rapist who attacked a woman as she was bent over being sick was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Thomas Dodds took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability in a horrendous sexual attack which she says ruined her life. Newcastle Crown Court heard the woman, who had been drinking alcohol, began to feel unwell during the evening and ended up lying on a bed with a bucket nearby after being sick. After feeling unwell again, she crawled to the bucket.

While she was on her hands and knees, Dodds, who had come into the room, raped her. Dodds, 56, of Thames Road, Hebburn, South Tyneside, was convicted of rape by a jury after a trial. Read the full story.

Gary Denley

A motorbike menace left a mum blind in one eye and with life-changing injuries by smashing into her.

Gary Denley had already sped along a footpath and on the wrong side of the road while almost ten times the limit for a cocaine breakdown product when he rode into the woman as she crossed a road in North Shields. Newcastle Crown Court heard she was left blind in one eye and with multiple fractures, including to her leg, which was left “horrifically disfigured” and facing the wrong way.

Denley, 22, of Avon Avenue, North Shields, was jailed for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drug driving and having no insurance. He was jailed for three years and eight months. Here’s the full story.

Kanga Jacinto Rodrigues

A thug who robbed a student, attacked a burglary victim and assaulted his partner during a violent crime spree was jailed.

Kanga Jacinto Rodrigues was already subject to a court order for violent and sexual offences when he left three people injured and traumatised within the space of a few weeks, Newcastle Crown Court heard. He pleaded guilty to burglary, assault and threats to kill a man, robbery of a student and assaulting his partner.

He was jailed for a total of four years and four months. Read the full court report here.

Gary Clews, Colin Brown

A blind man was punched to the ground and stamped on by an armed thug during a “disgraceful” attack.

The victim was assaulted by his “friend”, Gary Clews, who accused him of disrespecting his girlfriend. After a verbal altercation, Clews punched him to the ground, stamped on him, threatened he had acid, then attacked and damaged his front door with a claw hammer.

He then summoned Colin Brown, who turned up armed with a knife and involved himself with threats and support for Clews, Newcastle Crown Court heard. At one point, the victim went to arm himself with a meat cleaver and all three men were in the street with weapons.

Clews pleaded guilty to assault, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage, and Brown was found guilty after a trial of affray and having a bladed article. Clews, of Whinlaw, Beacon Lough, Gateshead, was jailed for 34 months and Brown, 39, of Springfield Place, Gateshead, got 26 months. Here’s the full story.

Christopher Stockton and Paula Roberts

A Darlington man who murdered a toddler who had been cruelly neglected was jailed for life.

Christopher Stockton murdered 22-month-old Charlie Roberts on January 12 last year after the child was left in his care by his mother, Paula Roberts. Charlie suffered catastrophic, fatal injuries, including to his brain after being “shaken or thrown with considerable force”.

Stockton, 38, of Darlington, was found guilty of murder and child cruelty by a jury at Teesside Crown Court after having denied both charges. Roberts, 41, who was also facing trial, went on to admit a charge of child cruelty for failing to seek medical attention for several injuries Charlie sustained over a nine-month period.

Stockton was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years. An eight year prison sentence was imposed for child cruelty, which will be served concurrently. Paula Roberts was jailed for four years. Read the full court report here.

Scott Gibson

A domestic violence thug who choked his partner and fractured her jaw while on bail for an earlier attack was jailed.

The victim had met Scott Gibson through a mutual friend in April last year and they began a relationship. She said he was nice at first but after a couple of weeks he began to change.

In early May, she told him she wanted to leave his home to go and see her family but he stood by the door and hid the key, preventing her from leaving. He then flipped over a sofa she was on and struck her to the back of the head causing swelling.

She stopped seeing him after that but resumed the relationship after he apologised. On May 14 they were out in Sunderland city centre and he began talking nonsense in a pub after taking cocaine.

He then went on to swill her with his drink and struck her, causing her to lose consciousness and fall to the floor. When she came round, they got the bus to her sister’s home but he dragged her back from her door by her hair and threw her into a garden gate.

Gibson, 23, of Pancras Road, Plains Farm, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to GBH, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assault by beating. He was jailed for three years and nine months. Read the full story here.

William Martin

A pregnant woman was left seriously injured by an “idiotic” hit and run driver who should not have been on the roads.

The mum was knocked down by William Martin, who then sped off from the scene leaving her lying in the road. Newcastle Crown Court heard he had bought the car just hours earlier despite never having held a driving licence.

The victim, who was 25 weeks pregnant, suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, a fractured collarbone, bruised lung, bruising to her hip, knee and lower leg and pain to the right side of her body. Martin, of Victoria Terrace, Bedlington, fled the scene but handed himself in the following day.

He pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and having no licence or insurance. He was jailed for 10 months. Read the full court report here.

Dylan Curry

An alcoholic was locked up after he assaulted a garage worker whilst stealing booze and chocolate.

Dylan Curry was part of a three-strong gang who targeted Morrisons Garage, in Cowgate. A court heard that the 29-year-old was in the process of making off with beer when a staff member tried to intervene and grab some of the bottles.

Rather than give up any of his loot, the prolific crook shoved the worker twice, prosecutors said. The whole incident was captured on CCTV and Curry was later arrested.

Curry, of Linum Place, in Fenham, was jailed for 25 weeks after he pleaded guilty to shop theft and assault by beating. He also admitted being in breach of conditional discharges. Here’s the full story.

Colin French

A prolific thief was jailed after he stole £500-worth of sunglasses and bacon whilst already on a suspended sentence.

Colin French, who as jailed last year for shoplifting, was captured on CCTV targeting the Sunglasses Hut and Tesco, both in Newcastle City Centre, within the space of 24 hours. The 26-year-old helped himself to £445-worth of sunglasses from the former and £71.20-worth of bacon from the latter, a court heard.

French, of Bedale Green, in Kenton, was already on a suspended sentence at the time of these offences and was jailed for 12 weeks after he admitted two counts of shop theft. Here’s the full story.

Simon Vickers

A dad was given a life sentence for murdering his teenage daughter by stabbing her through the heart.

Simon Vickers must serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars after he was found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett in the kitchen of their family home in Geneva Road, Darlington. The schoolgirl died after sustaining a single stab wound through her heart on July 5 last year.

Exactly how the murder came about remains something of a mystery and Teesside Crown Court heard that only Vickers knowns “precisely what happened”. Vickers was jailed for life and must serve a minimum term of 15 years. Here’s the full court report.

Sophie Waugh

Killer driver Sophie Waugh had been “persistently” on social media in the moments before she drove into “much-loved” grandfather Ian Morris, who was riding his bike.

Waugh, 31, was a serving soldier at the time of the offence. Formerly of Longleat Gardens, South Shields, and later of Broadway West, Dormanstown, Redcar, she was at the wheel of a Ford Focus which “veered” into the back of Mr Morris on his bike. This took place at around 2.15pm on June 28 2023 on the A6055 near to Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

She was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison at Teesside Crown Court. She had previously admitted the offence of causing Mr Morris’s death by dangerous driving. Here’s the full court report.

Linda Youens

A woman who fraudulently used a bank card within minutes of it being snatched from an 81-year-old woman in a street robbery was jailed.

Lowlife Paul McNeill dragged the pensioner to the ground and caused her to bang her head in a sickening attack. He approached her from behind and yanked her shopping bag so hard he caused her to fall to the ground and strike her head on the pavement.

The 43-year-old, of Wilfred Street, Byker, was jailed in January. And in February, Linda Youens, 42, of Pandon court, Shieldfield, who used the victim’s stolen card, joined him behind bars.

McNeill was spotted on camera entering Youens’ block of flats around 7am with the victim’s bag. He then gave Youens the stolen bank card, a court heard. Shortly before 7.15am, Youens went into a Nisa store with the stolen bank card and bought cigarettes and scratch cards. She then made two further unsuccessful attempts to use the card.

Youens admitted three counts of fraud and receiving stolen goods. For those offences, and being in breach of a two year suspended sentence for possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, she was jailed for 11 months. Here’s the full story.

Scott King

A “paranoid” tradesman left his wife a “wreck” after subjecting her to a campaign of harassment and assaults during their divorce, a court heard.

Scott King bombarded his wife with unwanted calls as the pair were going through a divorce and subjected her to terrifying assaults over a number of months. During one incident, the 40-year-old carpenter pinned her to a flight of stairs with his hands around her throat after he became angry when she answered a phone call.

King, of All Saints Road, Shildon, County Durham, appeared in court to be sentenced for harassment and two counts of assault by beating. He had pleaded guilty to the charges. He was jailed for 16 months. Read the full story here.

Dean English

A burglar was jailed for 12 months after his DNA was found on socks he used as makeshift gloves.

Dean English’s DNA was found on a sock he left at the scene of one of his crimes. The 43-year-old was clocked on CCTV wearing two socks as gloves just before he raided a shop, in Peterlee, last November.

The 43-year-old left behind his crowbar and one of the socks in his haste to steal phones, vapes and accessories, meaning detectives could match up the DNA left at the scene. Just days before, on Halloween, English also stole chocolate, steak and chicken from a Sainsbury’s store, while wearing the same clothes.

He was also linked to a burglary at the Horden Centennial Centre in January. English, of Peterlee, was charged with two counts of burglary, theft and failing to remain at an assessment following a drugs test in custody.

He was put before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Here’s the full story.

Lloyd Richardson and Declan Munro

A van driver who crashed into a police car and a homeless man who pretended he was behind the wheel were jailed for lying to the police.

When Lloyd Richardson collided with the back of an unmarked Northumbria Police vehicle, he made off in his Ford Transit. When he later got a Section 172 Notice asking who had been driving, he allowed a friend to “sort things out” for him to avoid him taking responsibility.

Homeless addict Declan Munro agreed to pretend he had been driving the van in return for £100. But when he was arrested for dangerous driving, he “spilled the beans”. Richardson, 31, of Waterloo Place, North Shields, and Munro, 25, from Throckley, Newcastle, both admitted perverting the course of justice. Richardson was jailed for eight months and Munro got six months. Here’s the full report.

Aaron Evans

A dad dealt Class A drugs from the home where he lived with his partner and four children.

When police raided the Scotswood home of Aaron Evans, 34, in 2022, they found white powder which was later identified as cocaine, cash, drug paraphernalia and weighing scales. Officers also discovered a fake electrical socket behind which he had hidden cocaine.

Evans pleaded guilty to concealing criminal property and possession with intent to supply a class A drug. Evans, of Armstrong Road, was sentenced to three years and four months behind bars. Read the full story here.

Ian Campbell

A pervert who sexually abused a young girl was caught after boasting about it to a police officer.

Ian Campbell was talking to what he thought was a fellow pervert online but it was an undercover officer posing as a paedophile. Newcastle Crown Court heard Campbell told the officer he had engaged in sexual activity with a child.

Campbell explained what he had done to the youngster before saying he wish he’d been “brave enough” to rape her. His admissions sparked an investigation which led to his victim being identified and spoken to by police.

She disclosed the sexual abuse he had subjected her to and said he had also taken indecent images of her. He later threatened to post the pictures he had taken of her on the internet if she didn’t agree to his demands.

Campbell admitted sexually assaulting the girl and causing or inciting her to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted a separate sexual assault on another child.

The 34-year-old, formerly of Gateshead but latterly of Mill Road, Kettering, admitted nine offences, including assault by penetration, sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was jailed for eight years with an extended licence period of a further four years. Here’s the full story.

Mark Dixon

An arsonist set fire to his flat because “he was bored of living there”.

It was around 4am on July 10 last year that Mark Dixon’s neighbour was woken from her sleep by banging from his adjoining terraced property in Walker, Newcastle. Ellen Wright, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “She put her ear to the wall and could hear a fire alarm going off inside the defendant’s address.

“She looked out of her window and could see smoke coming from the defendant’s address. She decided to leave her address and contacted the fire brigade.

“The defendant left his address and contacted the fire brigade from a local phone box. He said he had set his flat on fire.” Police went to the phone box and when they got there, Dixon said “lock me up for arson then”.

Miss Wright said: “He said he set fire to his flat because he was bored of living there.” Dixon was arrested and while at the police station he smeared excrement around his cell.

The 56-year-old, of Benson Road, Walker, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and criminal damage to the cell. He was jailed for 23 months. Here’s the full report.

George Eastland

A robber threatened a shopkeeper with a metal bar during a spate of offences on Tyneside shops.

In November last year, George Eastland went into a Premier shop in Gateshead. He had previously been barred and entered the shop wearing a hood and face mask to try to disguise his appearance.

He used a bread container to wedge open the door, in the knowledge the shopkeeper had the facility to lock the door with a switch behind the counter. The owner told him he was banned from the shop but he ignored him.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: “He stood in front of the shop counter, pulled out an iron bar from a bag and began shouting ‘open the till’. The defendant raised the bar and the victim thought he would be struck with it.

“However he refused to open the till and pressed the alarm and ran from the till area.” He saw Eastland leaning over the counter and he stole a bottle of vodka and fled.

Around half an hour later, Eastland was stealing £60 of meat from Aldi before being arrested. He then had a fit and was taken to hospital but after being allowed to leave he carried out further offences at the Co-op at Beacon Lough, where he assaulted two members of staff.

The 29-year-old, of Hewitson Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, was sentenced to a total of 32 months in prison. Here’s the full story.

Daniel Annis

A ‘predatory’ bus driver who met and kissed a child after grooming her was jailed.

Daniel Annis contacted the youngster on Snapchat out of the blue on the day she turned 13. Having wished her a happy birthday and been told her age, he embarked on a campaign of grooming and contacted her daily after that.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he spoke about everyday matters to begin with, then moved the conversation to flattery and then the chat became sexualised. He told her his age but went on to talk about them being boyfriend and girlfriend.

Annis asked her to meet him numerous times and they eventually did meet on two consecutive days. On the second day, he put his hand on her leg and kissed her.

Annis, 33, of Pelaw, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child, sexual activity with a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming. He was also convicted of attempted sexual communication, in relation to a decoy profile, while on bail for the first set of offences. He was jailed for three years and five months. Read the full court report here.

Sean Tait

A thug kicked a peacemaker in the head and stamped on him in “disgraceful” city centre violence.

The victim had met his friend in South Shields and they had a drink before going to Jarrow and then on to Newcastle city centre. Later that night, they were about to leave Newcastle to head back to South Tyneside when trouble flared.

As they walked down Bath Lane, on the edge of the city centre, the victim’s friend was approached by one of Sean Tait’s group and they confronted each other. The victim, who had been a little way behind, caught up and tried to put his arm around his friend and attempted to act as a peacemaker.

As he walked away, he was chased by Tait and others and Tait pulled the victim to the ground and kicked him in the head and stamped on him. The attack was brought to an end by the arrival of a police van and Tait ran off.

Tait, 36, of Belgrave Parade, Elswick, Newcastle, was convicted after trial of GBH with intent, having admitted the lesser charge of GBH. He also admitted two Bail Act Offences. He was jailed for a total of 66 months. Read the full story here.

Marian Spirache, Samoila Vasile

A thief tricked an 81-year-old woman out of hundreds of pounds in a city centre cashpoint scam.

Marian Spirache and accomplice Samoila Vasile stole £400 from the pensioner as she tried to withdraw money from a cashpoint at Lloyds Bank, on Grey Street, in Newcastle. A court heard she was left feeling shaken up by the offence and feeling “silly” at falling for the con.

Vasile, 20, and Spirache, 28, both admitted theft. Spirache also admitted knowingly entering the UK in breach of a deportation order. Vasile was jailed for one year and Spirache got two years. Read the full report here.

Christopher Williams

A man was jailed for running an illegal tip in Rowlands Gill.

Stanley man Christopher Williams, 66, admitted two charges of operating a waste site without an enviromental permit at the Whinfield Industrial Estate in the Gateshead village. Williams was jailed for 44 weeks at a hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

This follows a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency. An initial sentence of 26 weeks was increased to 44 because Williams, of Acton Dene, had breached a previously imposed suspended sentence for environmental offences. Here’s the full story.

Callum Shipley

A bully forced his partner to have his baby then banned her from breastfeeding during a campaign of controlling and abusive behaviour.

Callum Shipley had been in a relationship with the victim for around two-and-a-half years and she said it was controlling and abusive from the outset, towards both her and her children, Newcastle Crown Court heard. It was said Shipley assaulted the woman, including when she was pregnant and she installed CCTV in her home as a result. That captured him headbutting her during a row last July.

He was arrested in September then released with bail conditions not to contact her but later went on to smash her car window with a brick. Shipley, 32, of Ringwood Square, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour, assault by beating and criminal damage.

He was jailed for 34 months and given an indefinite restraining order. Here’s the full court report.

Lee Goldsborough

A woman who narrowly missed out on a life-changing lottery win was savagely attacked by her boyfriend who blamed her for the loss.

Residents in the victim’s street scooped £167,000 each on the Postcode Lottery but she was devastated to realise she was still registered at her old address so would get nothing. Newcastle Crown Court heard instead of receiving sympathy from partner, Lee Goldsborough, she received abuse and name calling.

He then launched a terrifying attack, squeezing and twisting her neck with such force she believed he was trying to break it and feared she would die. Goldsborough, 50, of Cedar Road, Fenham, Newcastle, who has a record for serious violence and received indefinite imprisonment for public protection (IPP) in 2006, was jailed for offences against the woman.

Goldsborough admitted intentional strangulation, assault and criminal damage charges. Sentencing him to four years in prison, Recorder Simon Goldberg KC told him: “She thought she was going to die.” Read the full story here.

Sean Gibson

An attack victim used a games console to send a message pleading for help as she was attacked by man she feared would kill her.

Sean Gibson attacked the woman on several occasions, often pinning her to the floor and restricting her breathing, police say. But after being controlled and abused to the point she thought she was ‘going to die’, the victim managed to send a message to her friend using a PlayStation console, asking her to call 999 on her behalf.

Following the 999 call, officers from Durham Constabulary arrested Gibson. The 34-year-old was charged with assault by beating, intentional strangulation and intentional suffocation. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was handed a 27-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court. Here’s the full story.

Scott Atkinson

A dangerous driver seriously injured two children after crashing into the side of a car while travelling twice the speed limit.

Nissan worker Scott Atkinson, 30, ploughed into the side of a Vauxhall Astra in Jarrow, in October 2022. Newcastle Crown Court heard Atkinson, of Collingwood Road, North Shields, was estimated to be driving at around 59mph in a 30mph area.

The court was told the incident happened at around 6pm and the driver of the Astra saw the headlights of the defendant’s vehicle approaching. The court heard the woman believed she had time to pull out of a junction and make a right turn but the defendant ploughed into the side of her car causing it to spin around, with two young children in the back.

Atkinson pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by driving. He was jailed for 29 months and banned from driving for 62 months. Here’s the full story.

Ciaran Parker

A man who crashed a stolen motorbike in a busy town centre after leading police officers on a high speed chase was jailed.

Ciaran Parker, 20, was riding a stolen Kawasaki 300 motorbike in Pelton when he was spotted by a police motorcyclist. He ignored the officer’s blue lights and demands to stop, instead speeding towards South Pelaw at speeds of around 60mph in a 30mph zone.

Parker, who was not wearing a helmet, continued to ride dangerously, overtaking vehicles at junctions, riding on the wrong side of the road, and shooting through a pedestrian crossing despite the green man. As he approached Chester-le-Street town centre, he failed to give way at a junction and forced a bus to stop.

He sped down a pedestrianised section of Front Street in excess of 40mph before losing control of the bike, which skidded down the road and narrowly missed a mother and her children. Parker sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

He was later charged with several offences including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance, and driving while under the influence of drugs. Parker, of The Avenue, Pelton, pleaded guilty to the offences at Durham Crown Court and was sentenced to 14 months in a Young Offender Institution. Here’s the full story.

Paul Howell

A burglar was caught in a homeowner’s trap made of string and a bucket of water.

The court heard the victim, who lives in a detached house in Blyth, had been targeted by burglars several times in the past and became so fed up, he set up the makeshift trap. If anyone walked through the piece of string towards his property, the bucket of water would tip and spill.

On November 9 last year, the trap was sprung by serial thief Paul Howell, who fled after the bucket of water tipped over. The victim, who had also installed CCTV after the earlier offences, checked footage and saw a man with his face covered trying to break into his home before urinating at the side of it.

Howell, 56, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary of the man’s house and burglary of another house and its shed. He was jailed for 43 months. Read the full court report here.

Michael Stewart

A woman who was sexually abused by a perverted postman took her own life while on the phone to Royal Mail management about her ordeal.

Behind the facade of respectability given to him by his postman’s uniform, Michael Stewart was a serial sex attacker who abused his position of trust. He was convicted of sexually assaulting five women while employed by Royal Mail and some of the victims criticised the way the company handled their complaints.

One woman tragically hanged herself while on the phone to Royal Mail about how the abuse and the way it was handled had impacted on her mental health. Stewart was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and three of exposure against the woman.

Stewart, 63, of Windsor Terrace, Amble, Northumberland, was jailed for six-and-a-half years. Read the full court report here.

Darren Cornish

A domestic violence brute attacked his heavily pregnant ex shortly after getting out of prison for assaulting her.

Darren Cornish falsely accused the woman of cheating on him after encountering her in the street near her home and punched her around six times, leaving her with cuts to her face and head. Cornish, 33, Tennyson Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for two years. Here’s the full story.

Lewis Nicholson

A thug who racially abused a Metro guard and suffocated a former partner was jailed.

During a torrent of abuse Lewis Nicholson, 26, told the guard at North Shields Metro Station to go back to his home country, along with other racially aggravated language, and threatened to throw staff on the tracks. A court was told as officers attempted to handcuff Nicholson, of Clifton Gardens, North Shields, he continued to be verbally abusive.

In a separate incident, Nicholson attacked his former partner. He pleaded guilty to racially aggravated public disorder offence, assault by beating and intentional suffocation.

He was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison, which included the activation of a suspended sentence. Read the full story here.

Brian Coakley

A prolific crook used a stolen car to raid a petrol station then took police on a 100mph pursuit.

Brian Coakley and another man travelled to Windermere, in Cumbria, in the vehicle then stole £1,500-worth of booze, cigarettes and vapes from the garage. A court heard that, just a few hours later, officers spotted the 46-year-old behind the wheel of the VW Golf in Ashington and a chase began.

Coakley clocked speeds in excess of 100mph along the A189, Newbiggin Road and College Road as he tried to evade capture before skidding and coming to a stop beside a wall. The crook then attempted to make-off on foot and hide in a nearby garden but was tracked down and arrested.

Coakley, of Oakville, in Ashington, was jailed for 52 weeks after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, burglary of a non-dwelling, receiving stolen goods and driving without insurance. Read the full court report here.

Ryan Elsender

A teenager out riding his bike with friends was knocked off and killed by a speeding danger driver who had the victim’s cousin and a toddler in the car.

When Ryan Elsender saw a group of youths riding bikes ahead of him, he sped up to 71mph on a 30mph road to accelerate past them. But he slammed into 16-year-old Jayden McGuinness, leaving the “happy loving boy with a heart of gold” fatally injured.

The crash happened weeks after the boy’s father had died and the court heard he also lost his mother when he was just 12. In a further tragic turn for the family, Elsender’s passenger was Jayden’s cousin who was faced with the heartbreaking discovery that he was the victim of the fatal collision when he got out of the car.

Elsender, 29, of Lichfield Avenue, Walker, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving after the collision. He was jailed for eight years. Here’s the full story.

Pearse Kavanagh

A violent bully killed his partner’s frail brother when he told the 19-stone brute to stop attacking his sister.

Abusive control freak Pearse Kavanagh attacked Sarah McQueeney in front of her brother, Philip, punching her repeatedly in the face. Philip, 40, who weighed just 7.5 stone and was in poor health, bravely told Kavanagh to get off his sister, prompting the thug to turn his violence on him.

He punched him, then kicked him so hard he caused a tear to his liver and internal bleeding. Kavanagh, 46, of Coldwell Terrace, Gateshead, was found guilty of manslaughter and was jailed for nine-and-a-half years. Read the full court report here.

Edward Castor

A drunken son brutally attacked his own mother, burned her with hot oil and bit her during a violent outburst in her own home.

Edward Castor refused to leave his mother’s Newcastle home after she asked him to leave when he began verbally abusing her after a day of drinking booze. The 22-year-old soon turned violent and assaulted her before heading into the kitchen and throwing frying bacon at her. His mother sustained burns to her face from the “scalding” oil.

The thug, who was subject to a restraining order at the time after assaulting and spitting on his mother last year, also caused nearly £2,000-worth of damage to her home during the incident by smashing up possessions. When police turned up, Castor then kicked and attempted to bite one officer and headbutted another by throwing his head backwards.

Castor, of Lowbiggin, in Newbiggin Hall, appeared in court to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, breaching a restraining order and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker by beating. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

Castor was made subject of a new three-year restraining order and was jailed for 17 months. Here’s the full report.

Robert Evans

A paedophile who put his young victim through ‘absolute hell’ was jailed.

Robert Evans was put behind behind bars after the girl bravely shared her experience of being sexually assaulted at a Northumberland address in November 2022. His offending was reported to police and Evans was arrested and charged with sexual assault and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Evans, 58, of Foul Ford, Berwick-upon-Tweed, was found guilty on both counts by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court in December, before being sentenced to two years and three months in prison at the same court in February. Read the full story here.

Owen Rutherford

A family birthday celebration turned from joy to tragedy when a killer driver rushing to have his Sunday lunch left one of them dead and three badly injured.

Having gathered for the 60th birthday party in Northumberland, some members of the Hain family had decided to take a trip to Kielder Forest for a walk. But as they made their way there, their lives were changed forever by a speeding driver.

Owen Rutherford, who had been aggressively overtaking other cars on a notoriously dangerous stretch of the A68, was doing at least 85mph when he raced over a blind summit just before its junction with a minor road. David Hain had just pulled out and Rutherford’s Seat Leon FR suddenly smashed into him.

Mr Hain, 69, died, his 25-year-old daughter, Megan, suffered severe brain injuries and has been left unable to communicate and living in a care home in Whitley Bay. His wife, Phillipa, and another person were also seriously injured while the family dog, Millie, was killed.

Rutherford, 25, of Ridsdale, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was jailed for eleven years and four months. Read the full court report here.

Stephen Hawkins

A man was jailed after attacking a woman in the street and trying to strangle her.

Stephen Hawkins assaulted the woman on Newgate Street, in Bishop Auckland, in October last year. He was caught on CCTV pushing the woman to the ground and hitting her in the face with a pizza box before attempting to strangle her.

The woman managed to run away and hide before calling the police. Hawkins was arrested and charged with assault, possession of a sharply pointed article in a public place – a pair of scissors – and harassment after breaching a restraining order put in place early last year to protect the woman.

Hawkins, of Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, admitted the offences and was jailed for 16 months. Here’s the full story.

Thomas Huntington

A woman told a court about the impact of the horrifying abuse her former partner inflicted on her.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Thomas Huntington would tell his victim to look into his eyes to see that “nice Tom was back” and “nasty Tom had gone” following violent outbursts, which included strangling her on two separate occasions.

Huntington, 37, of Ridsdale Avenue, West Denton, was jailed for his actions. He pleaded guilty to occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, and was jailed for two years and six months. Here’s the full court report.

Jake Clapham-Richmond

A danger driver crashed into a bridge on the A19 in Sunderland and seriously injured three friends.

Jake Clapham-Richmond took his mum’s Mitsubishi Outlander without her consent from outside her home before picking up his then-girlfriend Charlotte Mason and friends Luke Fergus and Leyton Kennedy. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 27-year-old, who did not have a driving licence or insurance, took the group on an erratic drive as they begged for him to slow down.

On sentencing, Judge Stephen Earl said the defendant, of Coach Road Estate, Washington, was driving in conditions described as “pretty appalling” and “dreadful”. The court was told he then crashed into the central reservation barrier on the A19 at the junction of the A690 in Sunderland.

His friends suffered serious injuries, with Charlotte Mason suffering a brain bleed and left in a coma for a week, while Luke Fergus suffered a fractured vertebrae and Leyton Kennedy was left with a broken leg. The defendant also suffered serious injuries including two broken legs, the court heard. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Here’s the full story.

Connor Dodds

A thug launched a brutal shovel attack on a man who tried to help after a car crash.

Connor Dodds was driving in Easington, County Durham, when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle on Station Road, police say. Dodds got out of his car and attempted to attack the other driver using a shovel handle. And when another man tried to intervene he was struck multiple times by Dodds and his co-accused Kent Wallace.

The pair then left the scene leaving the victim with what police have described as “significant injuries”. Dodds was arrested days later and charged. While awaiting his court date he was also charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

The 24-year-old, from Peterlee, pleaded guilty to the charges of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and possession with intent to supply. In February, he was jailed for seven years and 10 months at Durham Crown Court. Wallace, 24, also of Peterlee, was jailed for seven years for his role in the assault last year. Here’s the full story.

Kim Forth

A thug who threatened to put his ex-partner in a coma was caught on the roof of her shed after being tracked on Find My iPhone.

Kim Forth, 39, sent a series of voice notes and messages to his ex-partner that included threats to smash her windows and harm her. Forth pleaded guilty to sending communication threatening death or serious harm, threat to damage / destroy property, and harassment – put in fear of violence. He was jailed for 16 months. Here’s the full report.

Lennon Cook

A delivery driver was robbed and had his car stolen while dropping off food in the early hours.

The victim was working for a local takeaway when he was sent to deliver food to an address in North Tyneside. While he was doing so, Lennon Cook stole his car and takings, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Cook, 20, of Whitfield Drive, Longbenton, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent and was found guilty of robbery after a trial. He was jailed for two years but had served nine months on remand so was likely to be released soon. Here’s the full story.

Craig Curry

A savage murderer who left a harmless homeless man dying in a park with his trousers pulled down in a final act of humiliation was jailed for life.

Craig Curry subjected Neil Selkirk to a sustained attack which left him unconscious and with a series of injuries. Had he received prompt medical attention, his life could have been saved, but instead Curry degraded him by removing his lower clothing then abandoned him as his life ebbed away.

Curry, 33, who was found guilty of murder, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years and 181 days. Read the full court report here.

John Kirtley

A man who took part in far-right disorder in Sunderland was jailed.

John Kirtley was caught on camera taking part in the widespread rioting in the city on August 2 last year. Kirtley was filmed pushing shopping trolleys and throwing bricks and a beer keg towards police officers who were protecting a mosque.

Kirtley, who was seen draped in an England flag, also shouted “Come on this is England’ at police during the disorder. He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and pleaded guilty to a charge of riot. Kirtley, of Rutherglen Road, Sunderland, was jailed for four years and eight months. Here’s the full court report.

James Hughes

A former RAF cadets leader and NHS worker was jailed for having sexual chats with a schoolboy who he invited to his home.

Trusted former RAF serviceman James Hughes engaged in prolonged communication with the underage teenager online, Newcastle Crown Court heard. The offences came to light when the boy told other youngsters he was making money online, which led to his parents being advised to check his devices.

That led to them finding Hughes had been communicating with their son and while some of it was “chit chat”, some of it was illegal in nature. The court heard he spoke of having cigars and beer for him, talked about him kissing and having sex with a girl, encouraged him to have sex and spoke about him watching pornography with him.

Hughes, 45, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, who admitted sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, was jailed for 18 months. Read the full report here.

Mark Williamson

A pervert who turned up at a train station hoping to meet an underage girl for sex was jailed.

Mark Williamson, 47, had joined a teen chatroom and despite being told he was speaking to a 14-year-old he steered the conversation to sexual matters and told her he had a foot fetish. Newcastle Crown Court heard the underage teen’s profile was a decoy that had been set up by vigilantes and no real child was involved.

When Williamson, of The Gables, Washington, arrived at Sunderland train station to meet the girl he was confronted by group members and the police. He admitted attempting to have sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange a child sex offence. He was sentenced to 30 months behind bars. Here’s the full court report.

Caitlin Hutchinson

A manipulative sex offender who groomed a young boy was jailed for four years.

Caitlin Hutchinson groomed the boy over several months, sending him sexually explicit text messages and making him carry out sex acts on her. Her offending came to light when the boy bravely told his parents about what had happened, and Hutchinson was arrested.

She initially denied the offences in interview, telling officers the boy had forced himself on her. However, the evidence proved otherwise, and she was charged with six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a boy, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and causing or inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity.

Hutchinson, 21, of Roker Avenue, in Sunderland, admitted the offences and was jailed for four years. Read the full story here.

David Stewart

A dangerous motorcyclist who killed his friend while driving 100mph trying to escape the police was jailed for more than 10 years.

Disqualified driver David Stewart sped away from police in Peterlee, County Durham, with pillion passenger, Lee Stevenson, in the early hours of March 25, 2023. Stewart crashed into a roundabout on the 30mph Passfield Way in less than a minute of the pursuit starting, throwing both himself and Mr Stevenson from the bike.

Officers immediately gave first aid to both men but sadly Mr Stevenson died at the scene. A post-mortem later concluded that the 27-year-old, who was not wearing a helmet, died as a result of a head injury.

Stewart, 34, was taken to hospital in a critical condition and remained there for several months. Toxicology reports showed Stewart had cocaine in his system at the time of the collision and was over the drug-drive limit.

He was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was due to stand trial before changing his plea to guilty. Stewart, of Stockton, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Here’s the full story.

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