Faces of all the North East criminals jailed in January 2025 including six murderers

These criminals were all locked up in January 2025 for heinous crimes. North East courts heard details of some despicable offences, ranging from murder to sex offences.

And the perpetrators earned themselves a spell behind bars, with several people being handed sentences of more than 10 years. Among them was Ian Black, who brutally stamped and kicked Christopher Henderson to death. Black saw red after being accused of infidelity in a hospital toilet and savagely set upon Christopher for sharing the allegation with his fiancee.

Black, of Gateshead, changed his plea to murder from not guilty to guilty and was jailed for life. He was told he would have to serve at least 19-and-a-half years behind bars before any chance of parole.

In another case, a mum was stabbed and slashed 27 times by a brutal murderer. Laura Robson had only properly met Ben Hughes the day before her death and it appeared they were at the beginning of a relationship. But on her second night at his flat, he murdered her. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of at least 17-and-a-half years before he can be considered for parole.

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Meanwhile, teenage killers who savagely killed a dad in his own home were locked up for a total of at least 72 years. Kriesha Stroud was 15 when she recruited boyfriend Jordan Tams, 17, and Leandro Lopes, then 17 and now 18, to attack Gary Belfield and his son, Luke Williams, in a “senseless” attack in their home.

Stroud, Tams and Lopes were all detained at His Majesty’s pleasure, which is effectively a life sentence for youths. Tams and Lopes must serve at least 26 years while Stroud has to do 20 years. The killers were named after the Chronicle made representations for the judge to lift reporting restrictions.

Yet another murder case saw John Baldwin jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars for killing his girlfriend Eve McIntyre in scenes of “indescribable horror”. More details about his sentence hearing and all the court cases covered by ChronicleLive in January 2025, where the defendants were jailed, are outlined below.

Gordon Glass

A control freak left his partner living in fear he would kill her.

Gordon Glass began a relationship with the woman in 2023 and she said things were initially problem-free, although on occasions he would ask her to send photographs showing where she was at any given time, which she didn’t mind at first. However in May last year he became controlling towards her, having begun working in Preston during the week.

Between May and June last year, she said he “bombarded” her with texts and calls and she, in fear, had given him permission to track her phone. The court heard Glass, 43, would frequently monitor the woman’s social media usage and made demands to know who she was messaging and asked to read messages she had sent.

Glass, of no fixed address, admitted controlling or coercive behaviour, assault by beating and two counts of criminal damage. He was jailed for two years. Here’s the full story.

Klodian Sulovari, Eldison Kalemi

Two illegal immigrants were found looking after a £240,000 cannabis farm in a former restaurant.

Police executed a search warrant at Riverside Lodge, High Stanners, Morpeth, Northumberland, in October last year. As the raid took place, Klodian Sulovari and Eldison Kalemi tried to escape via the roof, putting themselves and officers in danger, but were arrested.

Inside, police found 533 cannabis plants, 183 of which were well-developed and four to five feet in height. The other 350 were between two and three-and-a-half fee tall and there were also 224 cuttings about four inches in height.

Police said the value of the cannabis farm could have been as high as £240,000 and there was evidence there had been a previous crop. Newcastle Crown Court heard Kalemi, 27, is an Albanian national in the UK illegally who was jailed for four months in May 2022 at Manchester Crown Court for producing cannabis. Sulovari, 45, also an Albanian illegal immigrant, had no previous convictions.

They both pleaded guilty to producing cannabis. Kalemi was jailed for two years and Sulovari got 20 months. Read the full story here.

Mark James

A convicted rapist tried to rob his partner after downing around 18 cans of lager – because she wouldn’t give him £10 to buy more drink.

Mark James had already persuaded the woman to give him £20 for alcohol but after consuming it all, he demanded more. She eventually gave in to his request for £10 but he then raised his demand to £20.

When she refused, he turned aggressive, throwing beer over her before repeatedly punching her and twisting her arm while threatening to break it. The attack only came to an end when a concerned neighbour banged on the window and told him to get off her.

James, 52, of Shaftoe Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for three-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of a further two years. Here’s the full court report.

Leslie Crossan

A child sex offender left one of his victims terrified after following her on social media just days after getting out of prison.

Leslie Crossan was locked up for 12 years in 2018 after being convicted of a series of offences of sexual assault of a child and sexual activity with a child in relation to four victims under the age of 16. As part of his sentence, he was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning him from contacting any of the victims.

Having served half of his sentence, the 64-year-old, of Kearsley Close, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, was released from custody on licence on November 14 last year. Shortly after that, he reactivated one of his social media accounts.

On November 28, one of his victims looked at her phone and was horrified to see a notification telling her Crossan had followed her. Crossan was arrested and when his phone was examined it showed searches had been made for the victim and he had sent a message saying he was going to try to contact her. He pleaded guilty to breaching the sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard Crossan had been recalled to prison to serve out the rest of his 12 year sentence. For the new offence, he was jailed for 15 months. Here’s the full story.

Ali Abdughari-Abud

A man was jailed after a live firearm found its way into the hands of children as young as nine years old.

Northumbria Police received a report that children aged between nine and 11 had found a firearm while playing in Byker, Newcastle, in May 2023. The revolver-style firearm contained ammunition at the time, however, no-one was injured.

As part of an investigation, officers carried out a search of Ali Abdughari-Abud’s phone and found a video from the same month showing at least one firearm lying on a cloth before the camera is turned to his face. The firearm appeared to be the same weapon found by children playing in the Byker area in the same month.

It was found to be a viable firearm following forensic testing and detectives were able to match it with that of the one seen in the video. Abdughari-Abud was then charged with firearms offences.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate. Abdughari-Abud, of Copland Terrace, Shieldfield, Newcastle, was sentenced to a total of five years in prison. Here’s the full story.

Andrew Mackay

A pervert who raped an unconscious child after giving her alcohol was jailed for 14 years.

The youngster woke to find Andrew Mackay, 64, forcing himself on her. She made her objections clear and he said it wasn’t fair. She lapsed back into unconsciousness, only to come round to find him continuing to abuse her.

Mackay, of Bute Drive, High Spen, Gateshead, denied the attack but was found guilty by jurors of two counts of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration. Read the full court report here.

Mark Dodds

A vile paedophile who targeted young girls on Snapchat was jailed. Mark Dodds, 38, physically and emotionally abused a large number of children between the ages of eight and 15 over a ten year period, often blackmailing them if they refused to send him naked images or perform sexual acts during the contact.

His offending came to light when Durham Constabulary were notified by another police force that he was having sexual contact over Snapchat with a 12-year-old. Newcastle Crown Court heard officers attended the defendant’s home in Spennymoor in August 2020 to arrest him after an investigation by the other force.

The court heard Dodds asked his victims to perform sex acts on video calls and would record them without their knowledge. When the victims wanted to stop speaking to Dodds, he would threaten to distribute the videos and images.

Dodds pleaded guilty to offences which included sexual communication with children; blackmail; taking, possessing and distributing indecent images. Last October, he pleaded not guilty to six counts of sexual assaults on a child at Durham Crown Court. Following a three-day trial, in which the victim provided evidence, it took jury members just 11 minutes to find him guilty of all six counts.

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court on January 6, he was sentenced to 20 years in jail and six years on extended licence. Here’s the full story.

Muhon Miah

A drug dealer caught with large stockpiles of cocaine and cash in a hotel room and his home was jailed for more than eight years.

In April last year, police went to the Grand Hotel, in Seaburn, Sunderland, and asked if any rooms had been booked out in Muhon Miah’s name. He had been staying there for a year, under his own name and thereafter under the name Peter Wilkinson.

On being shown a picture of him, staff confirmed he was there and directed officers to his current room. Officers went to his room and after finding a small amount of cannabis, they found 296g of cocaine and £30,825 cash in the ceiling and under a mattress.

Police also went to Saint Judes Terrace, South Shields, an address provided by Miah, 25, as his home, and they found £89,340 cash in the loft and a further £78,990 in suitcases behind new plaster board. Miah pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, two counts of concealing criminal property and possessing cannabis. He was jailed for eight years and seven months. Here’s the full story.

Paul McNeill

Paul McNeill dragged an 81-year-old woman to the ground and caused her to bang her head in a sickening street robbery. The desperate drug addict spotted the pensioner standing near a Newcastle shop early one morning as she waited for newspapers to be delivered.

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, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for four years and ten months. Read the full court report here.

Dean Graham and Armindo Silva

Two drunken thugs pounced on and attacked a man for no reason as he made his way home in a terrifying episode of “mindless violence”.

It was shortly before midnight on May 7 last year that the victim was walking home in Byker, Newcastle, having collected something to eat from a fast food restaurant. Dean Graham and Armindo Silva were loitering in the area and Silva approached the victim and asked who he was and where he was going, before Graham joined them.

Nick Lane, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “The complainant became concerned he was going to be chased and began to move on. Both defendants gave chase and Graham jumped on to his back, causing both to fall to the ground.

“The victim got up and tried to continue to run away. He was taken to the ground by Silva, who punched and kicked him to the head while on the floor and choked him. “

Graham picked up an item from the ground and threw it but it’s not clear if it connected, the court heard. The assault came to an end when a member of the public intervened but they took the victim’s coat and mobile phone before making off.

Graham, 31, of Wraysbury Court, Kingston Park, Newcastle, and Silva, 29, of Brock Square, Byker Newcastle, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and Silva also admitted theft. Graham also admitted a separate offence of common assault on a woman working in Newcastle city centre.

Graham was jailed for a total of 32 months while Silva got 29 months. Here’s the full story.

Gary Hughes

Seriously ill children were left terrified as a delusional man caused chaos in a hospital for nine hours.

Gary Hughes had formed the belief organised groups who were in cahoots with hospital staff intended to kill him, harvest his organs and harm his family, Newcastle Crown Court heard. He climbed onto an internal roof in the RVI, in Newcastle, and started tearing up and smashing tiles and throwing pieces of them towards NHS staff, police officers and members of the public.

Youngsters at a nearby ward for the Great North Children’s Hospital, some of who were being treated for cancer, were left petrified and hundreds of patients and staff suffered huge disruption. Hughes, 41, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance and criminal damage.

He had been released on prison on licence at the time and was recalled. He was jailed for 16 months for the latest offending. Here’s the full story.

Ben Hughes

A mum was stabbed and slashed 27 times by a brutal murderer who told her “you’re going to die” as she screamed for help.

Laura Robson had only properly met Ben Hughes the day before her death and they got on well and it appeared they were at the beginning of a relationship. But on her second night at his flat in Gateshead, he murdered her for no apparent reason.

Hughes’ upstairs neighbour heard the horrifying sounds of Laura being murdered and begging for help and savage Hughes’ callous reply as her life ebbed away. Sentencing Hughes to life imprisonment with a minimum term of at least 17-and-a-half years before he can even be considered for parole, Judge Paul Sloan KC said this was a “sustained and particularly brutal attack involving gratuitous violence” and added: “It will have been a terrifying ordeal for Miss Robson and will have resulted in her experiencing extreme physical pain and mental suffering before she succumbed.” Here’s the full court report.

Jordan Spedding

A thug barged his way into his ex-partner’s house while brandishing a six inch knife, a court heard.

Jordan Spedding, 29, committed a series of offences against his former partner that included throwing a paving slab through her window and sending a message threatening to blow up her home. Newcastle Crown Court was told the defendant, of Causeway, Deckham, Gateshead, smashed a window at the property in January last year before returning during the early hours wearing a balaclava and brandishing a knife.

Spedding pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, being in possession of a bladed article, two counts of criminal damage and threats to commit criminal damage. He was jailed for seven and a half years. Here’s the full story.

Tuan Pham, Yong Tran

A cannabis farm maintenance man linked to drugs factories worth more than £800,000 was jailed.

Vietnamese national Tuan Pham was involved with five cannabis farms in Ashington and Lynemouth, Northumberland, containing more than 2,000 plants and capable of providing users with around 16,000 deals of the drugs, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Pham and a “gardener” at one of the properties, Yong Tran, both of who came to the UK illegally and sought asylum, were given prison sentences.

Pham admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis, by maintaining equipment, between April 2022 and May 2024, in relation to five addresses and more than 2,000 plants worth up to £821,000. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Tran admitted producing cannabis and was jailed for nine months, although he had served seven months on remand so was time-served. Here’s the full story.

Artur Pietka

A patient groped a doctor while she examined him for chest pains.

Artur Pietka had been put in a cubicle after he arrived at a hospital and the medic attended to examine him. But as the doctor leaned over Pietka to listen to his chest, he reached around and sexually assaulted her, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The clinician completed her consultation with Pietka but said what happened had affected her professional and personal life. Pietka, 45, a Polish national, of Brancepeth Avenue, Newcastle, who admitted sexual assault, was given a prison sentence.

Pietka was sentenced to 20 weeks behind bars, most of which he had already served on remand which meant he was to be released imminently. Read the full story here.

Robert Wilkinson

A prisoner who sat waiting in another inmate’s cell, before launching a vicious attack, had another sentence added to his 11 years.

Robert Wilkinson, 31, punched the Holme House Prison inmate to his nose, causing the man to fall back and lose consciousness. The prisoner described “the room going black and seeing bright white stars” on February 14, 2022.

When the victim came round, he was lying in blood, and he had a shoe print on his right temple. His nose was bleeding and he was left with abdominal pain, which he said lasted for two months.

Wilkinson had slipped into the victim’s cell at the Stockton prison when the prisoner had gone out to get his medication. Wilkinson was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after standing trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court.

In mitigation, Calum McNicholas told the court that Wilkinson carried out the assault before he was handed an 11-year sentence for arson. He posted a lit firework through a woman’s letterbox in Shotton Colliery, East Durham. The woman managed to escape but fire spread throughout her house.

Wilkinson, originally from Peterlee, was handed a nine-month sentence, which will start after he has served his 11-month prison term. Here’s the full story.

Liam Jones

A pervert who targeted two schoolgirls online was jailed.

In May 2021, chats between Liam Jones and one victim spanning a week were found on her phone. She told him about events in her life and he asked her to send a “naughty” picture and said he loved her.

Around a year later, Jones, 30, was arrested at his home in Newcastle and his phone was seized, which revealed sexual chats between him and the girl. Newcastle Crown Court heard further examination of his phone showed he had also had an illegal conversation with another underage girl.

While on bail for those offences, Jones was caught trying to communicate sexually with another 13-year-old but this time it was an adult member of a vigilante group posing as a child online. Jones, of Warton Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts engaging in sexual communication with a child and making indecent images.

He also admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He was jailed for 38 months.

Jones, who has cerebral palsy, anxiety and depression, said he was ashamed and embarrassed by his offending. Here’s the full story.

Liam Dugdale

A brute choked, kicked, stamped on and spat at his partner during a “terrifying episode”.

Liam Dugdale had gone out to Durham for the night while his girlfriend was out in Sunderland with her friends. Newcastle Crown Court heard during the evening, Dugdale called the woman and accused her of cheating and made similar claims when she got home.

Prosecutor Jessica Slaughter said when the victim asked Dugdale why he had waited for her to return, he replied “so I can do this” and punched her in the face. Miss Slaughter said the woman was then dragged around, pushed, stamped on, spat at and kicked.

Dugdale, 31, of Keelboat Lodge, Sunderland, admitted assault, intentional strangulation and criminal damage in relation to him smashing the victim’s phone and laptop. He was sentenced to two years and three months behind bars. Read the full court report here.

Shaun Dixon

An “opportunistic” burglar tried to break into over a dozen homes and vehicles in one night.

Shaun Dixon carried out a crime spree in Northumberland which began at around 3am on August 7 when he tried to break into a property and car on Tweed Avenue in Ellington. Over the course of the next three hours, the 39-year-old attempted to enter homes and vehicles on the same housing estate.

Dixon stole vehicle keys from one address which were later recovered, but his offending was captured on a series of CCTV and doorbell cameras. He was later arrested and charged with six counts of attempted burglary, six counts of attempted theft from a vehicle, burglary and possession of cannabis.

Dixon, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to all offences and was jailed for four years and eight months. Here’s the full story.

Callum Goodwin

A city centre ranger was bitten on the arm by a drug addict who accused him of spilling his burger.

The NE1 ranger was sent to check on the welfare of Callum Goodwin after he was spotted slumped on the path in Newcastle. He shook him to try to rouse him and make sure he was alive and well and after initially failing to respond, he stood up.

Goodwin then realised he had dropped a burger onto the ground and blamed the ranger, sparking violent scenes which culminated in him wrapping his teeth around his arm. The yob went on to injure two more people in Jesmond weeks later.

Goodwin, 31, of Walker Road, Walker, Newcastle, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the ranger and affray. He was jailed for 16 months. Here’s the full court report.

Elijah Hind

A pensioner was hospitalised after a knife-wielding intruder raided his home in the middle of the night and made off with his car.

Elijah Hind, 24, and Tammy Hedley, 34, entered the victim’s home uninvited before making off with his wallet, bank cards and his Ford Mondeo. Hind was in possession of a carving knife during the terrifying incident and hit the victim over the head with a hard object, resulting in the man sustaining a laceration.

Hind, of Sixth Street, Horden, Peterlee, and Hedley, of Eleventh Street, Horden, Peterlee, appeared at Durham Crown Court. Hind was sentenced for aggravated burglary and Hedley was sentenced for handling stolen goods and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. They had pleaded guilty to the offences.

Hind was given a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years. Hedley was given four weeks prison. Read the full story here.

Dilovan Sindi

An arsonist torched a Westerhope barber shop.

Dilovan Sindi, 39, entered Amed’s Hair Design, on Stamfordham Road, in May 2023 before dousing the shop in petrol to the horror of onlookers. Newcastle Crown Court heard Sindi had been in a dispute with the owner of the business. The defendant had been sacked by the owner who believed Sindi had been stealing from the business, the court was told.

In September last year, as he was due to go on trial, Sindi entered guilty pleas to arson with intent to endanger life, grievous bodily harm and attempted wounding. He was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison. Here’s the full story.

Antony McNamara

A beast who sexually abused an underage girl in County Durham was jailed for 13 years.

Antony McNamara groomed and raped the victim and was branded a “child molester” by a judge. The 46-year-old monster left the vulnerable victim feeling “haunted” by his abuse as well as battling suicidal thoughts.

McNamara appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for four counts of rape, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, assault by penetration and sexual activity with a child. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

McNamara, of Manor Park, East London, was jailed for 13 years. Here’s the full story.

Peter Swinney, Scott Wilson

A class A drug supply smuggling operation inside North East prisons led to offenders being sentenced.

An investigation launched by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit, and teams at HM Prison Northumberland and HM Prison Durham, shut down the attempted criminal enterprise. The targeted action started when, in August 2022, a cell search of Shaun Mason, 34, uncovered a secret compartment which hid a WIFI device, a smartphone, phone charger, USB stick and an HDMI Switch box, all prohibited items in prison.

These items were seized, and hundreds of hours was then spent downloading, decoding and reviewing voice notes, images, texts and emails, leading to the unearthing of a criminal drug conspiracy. It was soon revealed that Shaun Mason had been working with two other prisoners, Gladstone Allen, 33 and Scott Wilson, 35, to brings drugs into both HMP Northumberland and HMP Durham.

Further enquiries uncovered five other names of offenders involved: Peter Swinney, 23, Kayleigh Mason, 35, Alexandra Wallace, 30, Kalvin Thomas, 26 and the prison nurse, Kimberley Finn, 33. All were arrested and they all pleaded guilty during legal proceedings.

Gladstone Allen, who was already serving time in prison, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison and one count of conveying prohibited articles into prison. He was sentenced to 14 months behind bars.

Peter Swinney, of Copley Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison, two counts of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and one count of possession with intent to supply. He was sentenced to six years and three months behind bars.

Scott Wilson, who was already serving time in prison, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and conspiracy to supply drugs. He was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars.

Shaun and Kayleigh Mason were both due to be sentenced in March for their involvement. Here’s the full story.

George Taylor

Raging George Taylor video-called his partner to show he was setting her house on fire as their 28 year relationship went up in flames.

The victim, who said their relationship had been “rocky” and “controlling”, told how matters spiralled out of control in June 2023. She returned home from shopping one day and he began screaming and shouting at her and she ended up leaving, intending to seek refuge at her friend’s home.

Taylor followed her, got in his Mercedes car and began chasing her, shouting: “I’m going to kill you then your son, I’m going to leave you with nothing”. Later, Taylor made a video call from inside her house saying her home had gone or was going to be gone.

The woman hung up and hoped he wouldn’t set fire to her home but some time later her neighbour phoned her to say her house was on fire and three fire engines were there. The entire downstairs of the property was destroyed.

Taylor, 53, formerly of Leam Lane, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, affray, common assault, making malicious communications and possessing cannabis. He was jailed for six years and two months. Here’s the full story.

Ian Hall

A man stole a bike worth £6,000 from a shop and was found by police after officers discovered his DNA at the scene.

On April 22 last year, Ian Hall, also known by the nickname ‘Chicken’, targeted a bike shop in Byker. Hall broke through a padlock to get into the premises before stealing a £6,000 bike.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation and found another bike that had been left at the scene. The bike was found to have Hall’s DNA on its handlebars.

The 37-year-old returned to the same shop on the evening of May 1, where he used a crowbar to break through metal shutters, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. On that occasion Hall failed to get inside and left the area empty-handed.

Hall was arrested on May 2 and charged with a string of offences, including stealing lead from the roof of listed building in Wallsend in August 2023 and stealing lead frames from the roof of a garage a month later. He was also charged in relation to the theft of cable from an engineering company in the same area, in November 2023.

He admitted multiple counts of burglary, a count of attempted burglary, and one count of theft. At Newcastle Crown Court, Hall was jailed for 32 months for the offences. Here’s the full story.

Ashley Wilkinson

A rioter who brought shame on two areas of the North East in three days blamed “misinformation” he consumed on the “right wing media”.

Ashley Wilkinson, 35, took part in widespread disorder in Hartlepool before travelling to Sunderland three days later and rioting. Footage showed him masked, wielding a baton and hurling missiles at police including a beer keg in actions which a judge said shamed the St George’s flag he was in possession of.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Wilkinson has since taken part in a meeting with an Imam while remanded in custody and is remorseful for his behaviour, which happened after he became immersed in online right wing material when his mental health deteriorated. Wilkinson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to violent disorder in relation to what happened in Hartlepool and riot in relation to his actions in Sunderland. He was jailed for six years. Here’s the full story.

Ryan Rushford

An arsonist who set fire to his terraced house was jailed.

Ryan Rushford was living on Chestnut Street, in Ashington. On July 13 last year, he deliberately set fire to his house, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

A fire investigation showed the blaze was started at the bottom of the stairs behind the front door, with a naked flame applied to combustible material. The fire spread to the front door and carpets and there was smoke damage in the property.

Rushford pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and was jailed for 42 months. Here’s the full report.

Joe March

A son left his mother bloodied and cut by punching her in the face.

The attack happened on September 6 last year, when Joe March was at home with his mother in Ponteland. As he was sentenced for the assault, a judge at Newcastle Crown Court told him: “She gave birth to you. She deserves respect.”

March, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was jailed for ten-and-a-half months. Here’s the full story.

Steven Flanagan

A drunk Audi driver left a man with life-changing injuries after purposely ploughing into him on a street.

Steven Flanagan filmed himself on Snapchat behind the wheel of his Audi S3 as he smashed into a group of people in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, in the early hours of August 5, 2021. The 33-year-old carried out the collision after drinking in a pub and getting into a fight.

Flanagan left one man with life-changing injuries and narrowly missed another before he was arrested and charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. He pleaded not guilty to the offences but was found guilty by a jury at Durham Crown Court following a trial.

Flanagan, of Houghton-le-Spring, was sentenced to nine years in prison. Here’s the full report.

Michael McCarron

A schoolgirl was raped by a ‘creepy’ stranger in an alleyway in an ‘appalling’ attack.

The girl had been drinking alcohol with her friend when they were approached by middle-aged Michael McCarron in North Shields. Having engaged in grooming behaviour and spent time drinking with them, he took the victim to what he thought was a secluded alleyway where the attack happened.

McCarron, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three rape counts and sexual activity with a child. He also admitted possessing an offensive weapon – a knuckle duster found on him when he was arrested. He was jailed for nine years. Read the full story here.

Anthony Hopper

A crack cocaine dealer was caught peddling drugs to an undercover police officer in Newcastle city centre.

Anthony Hopper, who was sleeping rough and selling the class A drug to fund his own addiction, provided the undercover officer with the drug a number of times last July. Hopper, 29, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to offences of supplying crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine.

He was jailed for two years and six months. Read the full story here.

Patrick Stokes

A woman was whipped and kicked in the face when a joke about her horse ended in a sickening attack.

The victim had taken part in a “horse drive” and ended up at the same beer garden table as then-couple Chloe Blanckley and Patrick Stokes. When she joked that her horse should have won a competition that day, Blanckley took offence, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The two women argued and Stokes threw a drink over her and whipped her with her own horse whip. They all left the pub and when the victim confronted them outside, she was knocked to the ground by Stokes and held down by Blanckley while Stokes kicked her in the face, fracturing her eye socket and sinus area.

Blanckley, 25, of Norham Avenue South, South Shields, and Stokes, 30, of Jutland Road, Hartlepool, both pleaded guilty to inflicting GBH. Blanckley got 18 months suspended for 21 months with 240 hours unpaid work while Stokes was jailed for two years and three months. Here’s the full report.

Ian Black

A murderer brutally stamped and kicked a much-loved dad to death just 12 days after his son was born.

Ian Black saw red after being accused of infidelity in a hospital toilet and savagely set upon Christopher Henderson for sharing the allegation with his fiance, who was Mr Henderson’s stepdaughter. In a prolonged onslaught caught on CCTV, Black delivered 20 kicks and stamps, mainly to his head after he had been knocked out.

Black, 42, of Havelock Terrace, Gateshead, changed his plea to murder from not guilty to guilty and was jailed for life. He was told he would have to serve at least 19-and-a-half years behind bars before any chance of parole. Read the full court report here.

Christopher Sams

A rapist was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of historic offences.

Christopher Sams, 34, repeatedly targeted his victim over the course of a six-year period. The victim bravely reported the abuse in 2021, after which officers in Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department launched an investigation.

Sams, of Kenton Road, North Shields, was arrested and denied all offences. He was later charged with eight counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

A week-long trial took place at Newcastle Crown Court where Sams was found guilty by a jury on all counts. He was sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Here’s the full story.

Nasir Al Soaimi

A nurse spent her wedding day on crutches after a speeding danger driver broke her spine and pelvis while being chased by police.

Nasir Al Soaimi had sparked a police pursuit after refusing to pull over for officers who had found his car was not insured. As he travelled along Claremont Road, in Newcastle city centre, he was doing 58mph on the 30mph stretch when he smashed into the nurse’s car as she pulled out of a side street.

Newcastle Crown Court heard she was badly hurt and ended up having to get married three weeks later on crutches and cancel her honeymoon. Al Soaimi, 19, an asylum seeker from Kuwait studying at Gateshead College at the time, who had never had any training in how to drive, was sent to a young offenders institution for 28 months.

Al Soaimi pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and having no insurance. The court heard that Al Soaimi suffered a bleed on the brain, broken arm, seven broken robs and fractures to his thigh, kneecap and ankle, in the crash. Read the full court report here.

James Sinclair

A drug dealer was centimetres away from inflicting a fatal wound when he slashed a man across the neck in Newcastle city centre.

In April last year, Sinclair arranged to meet a man on Northumberland Street, Newcastle, to sell him his mobile phone. CCTV showed the two men began to fight and the victim, who had a cast on his arm, ended up on his back on the ground.

Sinclair, 33, of Ayton Street, Byker, Newcastle, then picked up a knife and drew it across the man’s neck while holding him down, leaving him with a four inch wound. He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and having a bladed article on the basis he picked the knife up after fell to the floor during the struggle and did not take it to the scene.

He was jailed for a total of 73 months. Here’s the full court report.

Steve Hinchan

A sex offender was jailed after a series of assaults on a victim in the 1990s.

Steve Hinchan’s victim had been living with the impact of his crimes, but after she bravely reported the abuse to police, an investigation was launched in 2021. Hinchan, 56, attended a police station to be interviewed, denying the allegations put towards him.

Later in the year, he was charged with five counts of indecent assault. He continued to deny the allegations during a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, and in November, a jury found him guilty of all offences.

In January, Hinchan, of Grosvenor Court, Newcastle, was handed a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Here’s the full story.

Dean Smith

A man who left a baby with a broken arm was jailed.

Dean Smith, 27, of Wallsend, left the child with a spiral fracture, caused by twisting, to their arm but he continues to deny responsibility and will not say how he did it. A jury found him guilty of inflicting GBH on the baby and he was jailed for 21 months. Here’s the full story.

Christopher Bell

The owner of an XL Bully that killed a man in Sunderland was jailed.

Ian Langley, 54, died in hospital after being attacked by Christopher Bell’s dog, Titan, outside a house on Maple Terrace, in Shiney Row, near Sunderland. Bell pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury resulting in death.

A court heard Mr Langley was taken to hospital but had suffered “catastrophic” injuries and was pronounced dead. Bell was jailed for three years. Read the full court report here.

Arben Meta

A large cannabis farm was being looked after by an Albanian man who was in the UK illegally.

Police went to an address on Roseville Street, Sunderland, in November last year and executed a search warrant. They found Arben Meta, 23, hiding in the kitchen. Officers found a total of 309 cannabis plants in two bedrooms and the loft, along with lighting and fans used to aid their growth.

Meta admitted his criminality on the basis he came to the UK from Albania without documentation having got in debt. He said while in the UK he was offered work to pay off his debts and was taken to the address, where the cannabis farm was, a week before he was arrested and told to look after the plants and what to do.

Meta pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis and was jailed for six months. Here’s the full story.

Brandon Holding

A savage thug repeatedly whipped his partner with a dog lead and bit her face, neck and legs in a jealous rage.

Brandon Holding had been out all night drinking when he returned to find the woman had received a flirtatious message on TikTok, to which she had not replied. After insulting her, he suddenly turned violent and launched a sustained and vicious attack.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he bit through her lips, sank his teeth into cheeks and neck, hit her with the dog lead, stamped on her, grabbed her neck, punched her and pulled her hair out. The 25-year-old brute, of Shafto Street, Scotswood, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to GBH and was jailed for 28 months. Here’s the full story.

Anthony Whitesmith

Anthony Whitesmith burgled two vulnerable elderly women as they slept in the care home where he used to work.

The callous and calculated crook broke into rooms at the Gateshead residential care home where he had formerly been employed as a cleaner in some of the flats on the block. The 45-year-old, of Coltsfoot Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and was jailed for two years and four months. Read the full report here.

Michael Bell and Mark Blaney

Two burglars targeted 85 new build homes across the North East in a crime spree which netted them items worth more than £100,000.

Over a four month period, Michael Bell and Mark Blaney repeatedly broke into properties on developments in Newcastle, Northumberland, County Durham, Sunderland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire. Newcastle Crown Court heard they stole items including boilers and white goods from the homes, some of which had already been sold.

At some of the sites, which had been built by companies including Bellway, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon, they also caused damage to French doors and flooding when they removed boilers. The pair both admitted 14 counts of burglary and were each jailed for two years. Here’s the full court report.

Syed Hassan

An international drug dealer enjoyed a “luxury lifestyle” police said.

Durham Constabulary said Syed Hassan, 31, has been jailed for 15 years on drug supply charges. The force said Hassan had used an encrypted phone to contact “criminal associates” around the UK and globally as part of an operation supplying cocaine and cannabis.

Hassan was first arrested in 2020 when suspected of drug-driving. Durham Constabulary detectives then built a picture of the criminal activity he had been involved in, which included working with others to move Class A and Class B drugs around the UK.

Hassan enjoyed luxury cars, designer clothing and travelled to places such as Malaga, Amsterdam, Pakistan and Dubai. He lived what the police described as a “lavish lifestyle”.

Hassan, of Horden, received 15 years in prison. Here’s the full report.

Leandro Lopes, Jordan Tams and Kriesha Stroud

Teenage killers who savagely killed a dad in his own home were locked up.

Kriesha Stroud was just 15 when she recruited boyfriend Jordan Tams, 17, and Leandro Lopes, then 17 and now 18, to attack Gary Belfield and his son, Luke Williams, in a “senseless” attack in their home in Gateshead. After organising the fatal attack at the father and son’s home, Stroud was later covertly recorded as saying she was “glad” Mr Belfield died and “disappointed” his son had survived.

Stroud, of Eastcote Terrace, Walker, Newcastle, Tams, of Wesley Court, Felling, Gateshead, and Lopes, of Archer Street, Wallsend, were all detained at His Majesty’s pleasure, which is effectively a life sentence for youths. Tams and Lopes must serve at least 26 years while Stroud has to do 20 years. Here’s the full court report.

John Baldwin

A murderer may have tried to decapitate his girlfriend with a meat cleaver in scenes of “indescribable horror”.

John Baldwin left Eve McIntyre with 37 wounds to her head, neck and torso during a sustained attack using a cleaver and at least one knife. She was found dead in their ground floor flat in Gateshead, with her hands tied behind her back.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Baldwin had a history of controlling and violent behaviour towards the 57-year-old in the lead up to the murder last August. Baldwin was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars.

He pleaded guilty to murder as his trial was due to start, having previously admitted manslaughter, affray and having a bladed article. Here’s the full court report.

Mohammad Rahman

A man raped two schoolgirls in his car after buying them alcohol.

Mohammad Rahman, of West Vallum, Newcastle, was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty at trial of three counts of rape. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Rahman had initially spoken to the two girls outside of a corner shop, where he bought them alcohol before striking up a conversation with them.

The court heard he continued engaging with them, despite them telling him their ages. On a later date he picked the pair up in his car before driving them to a deserted car park, where he forced himself onto one of the girls despite her repeated protests.

Around a month later, the second girl had been walking home in a drunken state when Rahman stopped to offer her a lift. However, instead of driving her home, he drove her to a remote location where he raped her twice. Here’s the full story.

George Banister

A thug smashed a VK bottle before attacking a man with it in a Newcastle bar.

George Banister was in Butlers, in Nun Street, Newcastle, when the incident took place. A court was told Banister was serving a suspended sentence while committing the attack.

He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause GBH. He was sentenced to six years and four months. Read the full court report here.

Mark Charters

Hospital technician Mark Charters stole £111,000 worth of lifesaving NHS equipment and then sold it on eBay.

Anaesthetic devices and feeding pumps from both operating theatres and wards, some of which were brand new, had gone missing from the University Hospital of North Durham, prompting the police investigation.

Charters, 51, of Shiney Row, was found to have sold more than 150 items worth more than £77,000 since November 2022 after officers from Durham Constabulary reviewed his eBay account. A search of his home revealed another 68 pieces of medical equipment in his loft, worth just short of £34,000.

Charters pleaded guilty to one charge of theft by employee and a second charge of concealing criminal property and was sentenced to two years in prison at Durham Crown Court. Read the full court report here.

Gavin Hall

A show-off danger driver killed his brother’s girlfriend after losing control of his souped-up new car.

Gavin Hall, 39, had just acquired an Audi S3 which had been modified by its previous owner to give it around 350bhp. He took his brother, Tony, and both their girlfriends out for a spin in horrendous weather conditions.

Hall reached speeds of around 90mph on the 70mph A194 in Washington. His excessive speed caused him to aquaplane and the car careered out of control.

Tony’s girlfriend, Lois Davidson, was killed while Tony, Hall’s girlfriend, Kelly McHugh, and Hall himself were all seriously injured.

Hall, of Ellen Court, Jarrow, who has previous driving offences and was caught speeding after the fatal collision, was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for 12 years. Read the full court report here.

Conna Hardy

Domestic abuser and convicted drug dealer Conna Hardy subjected his partner to a terrifying attack after a night out.

Hardy and his victim had gone out to Sambucas and Wetherspoons in Whitley Bay in August last year. While out, they saw his former partner’s brother and decided to go back to Hardy’s home.

The court heard that after an argument which turned violent, Hardy would not let his victim leave even though she said she wanted to repeatedly. His victim managed to escape but he “grabbed her arms and dragged her back”, before eventually managing to escape.

Hardy, who has previous convictions for GBH and assault on a former partner, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and unrelated offences of possessing drugs, including cocaine, with intent to supply in Nottinghamshire in 2020, for which he had been released under investigation. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Read the full court report here.

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