Murderer and vile rapists among North East criminals locked up in March 2025

These offenders are behind bars for some despicable crimes.

The following defendants appeared in North East courts for offences ranging from murder and manslaughter to rape and other sex offences. And a number of criminals were sent down for more than 10 years.

Among them was Alec Calvert, a child rapist, who was jailed for 24 years. He was brought to the attention of the police after brave victims disclosed abuse to officers. He was charged with several offences including rape, assault on a child by touching, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, engaging in sexual communication with a child, making indecent photographs of a child and possession of extreme pornography. Calvert disputed the charges but unanimous guilty verdicts were returned on all counts by a jury.

Meanwhile, a murderer who savagely bludgeoned a "hero" neighbour to death was jailed for life. When crack cocaine addict George Ness tried to force entry into a woman's flat, her 63-year-old neighbour and friend, John Smyth, bravely went outside to try to chase him away and paid with his life.

Ness bludgeoned the dad to death with a lump of wood before despicably stealing his phone as he lay fatally injured in the back yard. Ness, who was convicted of murder, was told he will serve a minimum of 22 years of a life sentence behind bars.

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More details of these cases, and others covered by ChronicleLive in March 2025 where the defendants were handed jail sentences, are outlined below.

Paul Railton

A man who distributed more than £200k worth of cocaine was jailed for over eight years.

Paul Railton, also known as Paul Richardson, used contacts in the North West to move and supply Class A and B drugs across the North East via courier drops whilst subject to a covert drugs policing operation between December 2018 and May 2019. In 2020, the 38-year-old was arrested for the offences and interviewed along with some of his network members.

Following a lengthy court process, Railton was remanded into custody after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. Railton, of Stanley, appeared at Durham Crown Court and was sentenced to eight years and four months for his role in the drug organisation. Here's the full story.

Mason Ibbotson

A hero soldier who served his country with distinction was killed in a one-punch attack by a teenager.

Dad-of-four Corporal Shaun Roberts was enjoying a night out with army colleagues while training in the North East when they appear to have been singled out for not being local. An altercation took place between Mason Ibbotson's group and the four soldiers after leaving a nightclub in Blyth.

This ended in Corporal Roberts, who served in the Royal Anglian Regiment as a sniper and had been mentioned in dispatches for running into the line of fire to save a fellow solider, being felled with a single punch by Ibbotson. The 18-year-old, of Norham Close, Blyth, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sent to a young offenders institution for six years. Read the full court report here.

Ricky Duddin and Graeme Hampton

Two men caught with drugs worth more than £150,000 were jailed.

Police seized 112 kilos of amphetamine and hundreds of MDMA tablets from Ricky Duddin and more than 10,000 MDMA tablets from Graeme Hampton. Both men pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs with intent to supply on the basis they were "warehousing" them for others after being put under pressure to do so and prosecutors accepted that version of events.

Duddin, 31, of Factory Road, Blaydon, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to possessing MDMA and amphetamine with intent to supply, and Hampton, 44, of Rawling Road, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to possessing MDMA with intent to supply. Duddin was jailed for five years and three months and Hampton got four-and-a-half years. Here's the full report.

Scott Fearman

A woman was "driven to self-harm" by her ex-partner who breached a restraining order and bombarded her with multiple calls and messages.

Scott Fearman carried out a campaign of harassment against his ex-partner shortly after being released from prison for breaching a restraining order against her. The 41-year-old could not get over the fact that the pair had split following a six-year relationship and would "confess his undying love" for her.

Fearman, of Renwick Road, Blyth, appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall to be sentenced for harassment, possession of cannabis and breach of a restraining order. He had admitted the offences. He was jailed for 30 months. Here's the full story.

George McGinley

A thug robbed a vulnerable man in his own home.

George McGinley barged into the property of a disabled man in Gateshead in June last year. Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim went to his door at around 8.30am as he was expecting his friend.

But the victim was confronted by McGinley, of Braeside, Dunston, and a second man wearing a face covering who pushed past. The defendant ran into the living room and pulled the gold chain from around the victim's neck, the court heard.

The court was told the male wearing the face covering restrained the victim to the hallway wall and his mobility scooter. The victim's wallet, £800 and golden chain valued at £1,800 were stolen.

McGinley was found guilty at trial to one count of robbery of a dwelling. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, with a further four years on extended licence. Here's the full story.

Curtis Hughes

A domestic abuser left his ex-partner battling an eating disorder after subjecting her to a campaign of violence and controlling behaviour.

Curtis Hughes violently attacked the mother of his two children on multiple occasions and even threatened to burn her house down after she tried to end their relationship. The 24-year-old slammed a door in her face, smashed up her belongings and threatened to kill her, leaving her terrified.

The woman was left so scared of Hughes, she dropped six dress sizes after living on a diet of painkillers and Red Bull due to his abuse. Hughes, of Redhills Way, Hetton-le-Hole, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for controlling and coercive behaviour, criminal damage, stalking, intimidation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He had pleaded guilty to the offences. He was jailed for 54 months. Read the full report here.

Samantha Oliver

A serial shoplifter stole goods from the Co-op, Boots, Morrisons and Tesco Express worth almost £3,000.

Samantha Oliver went on a shoplifting spree earlier this year and targeted the Co-op on Front Street, Tynemouth, on numerous occasions. Newcastle Crown Court heard Oliver, of Durham Street, Wallsend, had been banned from entering the outlet after being sentenced for previous thefts from the shop - but breached the order 11 times in just two months.

The court was told Oliver would carry out the acts alone or as part of a group. The defendant also targeted Boots, Morrisons and Tesco Express - with a range of items from cosmetics to food stolen - the court heard. Oliver, who pleaded guilty to 16 counts of theft and 10 counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order, was jailed for 16 months. Here's the full story.

Asim Kayani

A thief stole 150 bars of chocolate during a shop raid then claimed he was at home sticking to his tagged curfew.

Asim Kayani kicked his way into a store in the dead of night and helped himself to £300 of sweet treats and 160 vapes worth £800, Newcastle Crown Court heard. He claimed he couldn't have been responsible as he was on a tagged curfew as part of a community order but inquiries showed he had gone out at the time of the break-in.

Kayani, 44, of Grosvenor Gardens, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for nine months. Here's the full story.

Aaron Whitwell

A pervert pretended to be 17-years-old and groomed an underage girl into engaging in sexual activity with him.

Aaron Whitwell began chatting to the girl on social media, gave a false name and lied about his age. Whitwell, who was in his mid-twenties at the time, pretended to be a teenage boy and met up with the girl and engaged in sexual activity and kissed her.

Whitwell, 28, carried out the offences whilst on bail for other child sex offences and was finally arrested when a concerned parent notified the police. When his vulnerable victim found out his real name and age, she was left battling mental health issues and self-harm.

Whitwell, who is currently serving a seven year prison sentence at HMP Moorland, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link to be sentenced for offences of sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breach of a sexual harm prevention order. He was given a 12-year extended prison sentence, seven years of which will be custodial and must be served after his current jail sentence ends. Here's the full story.

Casey Bell

A thug left hospital patients upset by attacking police because they took him to be checked by medics against his will.

In June last year, officers attended the premises where Casey Bell was living to arrest him so he could be recalled to prison. On learning he'd had a medical episode the night before but refused to go to hospital in an ambulance, the officers decided to take him to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle for assessment.

Judge Julie Clemitson, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: "You clearly didn't want to go. You were verbally abusive and refused to get out of the police vehicle. You were taken in a wheelchair and spat at one of the officers."

Other officers attended with a spit hood but Bell continued to threaten the police. He was treated by a nurse but then continued to shout and swear and threatened to spit.

Judge Clemitson said: "You refused further treatment, you refused to modify your behaviour despite upsetting other patients. You were taken to a private room and you spat at a police officer and were able to, to a degree. While kicking out, (a female officer) tried to put foot on yours and you stamped on her foot, causing her pain."

Bell, 31, of Ellesmere Road, Benwell, Newcastle, admitted two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, was jailed for four weeks. However he was recalled to prison for breaching his licence from a previous offence and is not due for release until January next year. Here's the full story.

Paul Clemmett

A rapist who sexually abused children was caged for 16 years.

Paul Clemmett committed heinous sex offences against youngsters and was branded a "significant risk to children" by a judge. The 53-year-old was said to have a "deviant sexual interest in children" when he appeared at Durham Crown Court.

Clemmett, of Sherburn Hill, appeared at the court to be sentenced for one count of rape of a child and five counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 16 years. Here's the full court report.

George Ness

A murderer who savagely bludgeoned to death a "hero" neighbour was jailed for life.

When crack cocaine addict George Ness tried to force entry into a woman's flat in Wallsend in the early hours of the morning, her 63-year-old neighbour and friend, John Smyth, bravely went outside to try to chase him away and paid with his life. Ness bludgeoned the dad to death with a lump of wood before despicably stealing his phone as he lay fatally injured in the back yard.

Ness, 41, of Avon Avenue, North Shields, who was convicted of murder, was told he will serve a minimum of 22 years of a life sentence behind bars. Here's the full court report.

Lee Dunn

A robber who "frogmarched" a vulnerable victim to a cash machine was jailed.

Lee Dunn, 39, followed his victim home. He saw that the victim, who had cerebral palsy, had mobility issues and pretended he wanted to sell his mobile phone, scanning the property as he did.

Dunn, who had recently been released from prison, returned to the victim's property asking for a "cup of sugar for his bairn" before pushing his way in and threatening to stab the man. He then pretended to call an accomplice, telling the fake person to blow up the house if the victim didn't do as he said.

He snatched the victim's phone, before making him walk to a cash machine and withdraw £200. Dunn, of Chilton, County Durham, left and the victim called the police.

Officers from Durham Constabulary identified Dunn and despite him trying to flee, he was arrested and charged with robbery. He denied the offence but changed his plea to guilty on the day his trial was due to start.

Dunn was sentenced to six years and three months in prison. Here's the full story.

Craig Stewart Jepson

A brazen burglar blew up a cash machine at a train station in Northumberland.

Craig Stewart Jepson, 48, struck at Berwick Train Station during the early hours of March 4, 2020. Manchester Crown Court heard how Jepson turned off the lines to the concourse at around 3am.

The metal casing from the ATM was removed and an explosive device attached before Jepson took cover. CCTV footage showed the concourse full of dust, glass, and smoke as the machine was breached.

Jepson then left the scene with around £100,000 in cash from the ATM but also left a trail of money behind. He was also linked to another incident in Lancaster.

Jepson, of Swanage Road, Eccles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle Lancaster and Berwick railway station ATM and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He was jailed for 11 years at Manchester Crown Court.

Matthew Mark Doyle, 41, of Gorsey Brow Courtyard, Bury; Daniel Ashley Grant, 41 of Kentmere Drive, Blackley; and Michael Peter Waine, 42, of Broughville Drive, Manchester, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle Lancaster railway station ATM. Grant, Doyle and Waine were each sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Here's the full story.

Shaun Mason

The kingpin of a drugs gang caught operating from behind the walls of North East prisons was jailed for more than ten years.

Serving inmate Shaun Mason and fellow prisoners conspired with others to smuggle drugs into HMP Northumberland and HMP Durham. Newcastle Crown Court heard that a prison nurse even helped the gang smuggle contraband behind bars.

A probe was first launched back in August 2022 by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and the Counter Corruption Teams at the two prisons. A search of 34-year-old Mason's cell uncovered a secret compartment inside a speaker which hid a WIFI device, a smartphone, phone charger, USB stick and an HDMI Switch box – all of which are prohibited items within prison.

The items were seized and hundreds of hours were spent downloading, decoding and reviewing voice notes, images, texts and emails unearthing the plot. During the investigation it was revealed that Mason had been working with two other prisoners to bring drugs into both HMP Northumberland and HMP Durham.

Further enquiries uncovered a further five offenders involved. Mason, who was already serving time in prison, pleaded guilty to counts of conspiracy to supply class B and C drugs and conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison.

He also admitted separate charges of conspiracy to supply around 10 kilos of MDMA, which was intercepted by Border Force in 2020 and conspiracy to supply ketamine, after he was nailed for that by EncroChat messages. He was jailed for a total of ten years and eleven months. Here's the full story.

Andrew Harston

A former Durham University director was jailed for 14 years after sexually assaulting two women.

Andrew Harston sexually assaulted one woman and while being investigated by police, went on to sexually assault a second woman in a separate incident. The 39-year-old denied the offences, but was found guilty following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Harston, of Shiell Heights, Aykley Heads, Durham, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration. The charges date back to when Harston was Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the university.

The jury found that Harston sexually assaulted a drunk, sleeping woman at a home and committed assault by penetration. The second sexual assault related to another woman, who was also said to be intoxicated at the time. The court heard the offences dated back to while Harston was under police investigation for the first set of allegations.

Harston was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Read the full story here.

Michael Wright

A shoplifter was put behind bars after stealing from Co-op and Sainsbury's stores.

Michael Wright, 35, stole laundry products, toiletries and food from the South Shields shops in the span of a month. He was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison. Here's the full story.

Timothy Gardner

A paedophile ex priest who gave a "foster carer" advice on how to abuse vulnerable children in his care was jailed.

Timothy Gardner engaged in sickening chats about the sexual abuse of very young children with a man he believed to be a foster carer but who was, in fact, an undercover police officer. Gardner pretended to be a GP who was engaged in abusing his own children and offered advice on how the other man should molest his foster children.

Gardner, formerly of Newcastle and convicted of having child abuse images in the past, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for encouraging or assisting the commission of a sexual offence against a child and a series of breaches of court orders imposed to curb offending. Read the full court report here.

Jackson Bainbridge

Campervan owners around the North East were left devastated when thieves stole "pride and joy" vehicles worth £142,000.

Jackson Bainbridge stole five motorhomes from addresses in Northumberland, Gateshead and County Durham. And accomplice Steven Stewart cut them up and converted them to try to disguise them to sell them on undetected.

Newcastle Crown Court heard motorhomes and campervans were stolen from five locations around the North East in June and July 2020. Bainbridge, 23, of School Road, Houghton-le-Spring, and Stewart, 36, of Hartside Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to five counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

Gary Richardson, 37, of Tanfield Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, admitted handling one of the stolen vehicles. Bainbridge also admitted separate charges of burglary, attempted burglary and vehicle interference at two farms in Chester-le-Street.

Bainbridge was jailed for 38 months, Stewart got 19 months suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work and Richardson got six months suspended for 18 months. Here's the full report.

Taylor Moore

A teenage dad who bit, punched, kicked and stabbed a woman in a "terrifying" attack was locked up.

Police were sent to Dovecrest Court, Howdon, Wallsend, after reports a woman had barricaded herself in a bathroom following a domestic incident. When they got there, they heard Taylor Moore shouting from an upstairs window "f*** off, get away from this house".

Newcastle Crown Court heard he also shouted "watch what will happen if you come in you will need more people", adding "I belted her all over". He also threatened to set a dog on the police officer, the court heard.

Back up arrived and Moore, 19, of Dovecrest Court, was arrested. Moore, who was on a suspended prison sentence at the time, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault and was sent to a young offenders institution for 12 months. Read the full story here.

Lewis McMahon

A thug attacked a man with a claw hammer outside a Newcastle social club.

Lewis McMahon, 30, was caught on CCTV outside the Lemington Labour Club, on Union Hall Road, with a knuckle duster and claw hammer over a period of half an hour. Newcastle Crown Court heard McMahon had been drinking at the club when he went outside and was standing.

The court heard at around 9.55pm a man approached the steps and McMahon, of Wooler House, Throckley, then pulled him before swinging a blow at him with the hammer. The court heard McMahon didn't stop and struck him another five times before a by-stander intervened.

McMahon pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and two counts of being in possession of an offensive weapon. He also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of driving whilst disqualified and without insurance. He was jailed for five years and four months. Here's the full story.

Kenneth Dick

Vile paedophile Kenneth Dick was jailed for 14 years for abusing a schoolgirl.

The 66-year-old raped and sexually assaulted the girl, forcing her to perform sexual acts with him. His victim told a family member what had happened to her in June 2021 and Dick was arrested.

He denied the allegations against him but was convicted of rape, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and causing a child to watch a sexual act, by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court. Dick, of Ryde Terrace in Dunston, Gateshead, was jailed for 14 years. Read the full story here.

Philip Longstaff

A drunken lout threatened to attack street wardens with a wine bottle in Durham city centre.

Philip Longstaff became aggressive when street warden staff spotted him drinking in the city and warned him about his behaviour. Despite the warning, Longstaff continued to drink booze and threatened to attack the wardens if they made him leave the area.

The 53-year-old was later arrested and charged with a public order offence. He appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court where he was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison. Here's the full story.

Jason Howe

An obsessive stalker threatened to kill his ex-partner and set fire to her friends' and family’s homes.

Jason Howe was arrested after a tracker was placed on his former partner’s car while she was at work in May last year. The woman alerted police and the 54-year-old was arrested after he unwittingly followed an unmarked police car that was being used to transport the recovered tracker to Seaham police station.

The incident was the culmination of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment against the woman, which had begun in December 2023 when the pair split up. For several months, Howe, of Murton, bombarded the woman with threatening calls and texts, telling her he would throw acid in her face, ram her vehicle off the road, and set fire to her home and her friends' and family’s homes.

Howe was charged with stalking and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. He initially denied the offences but changed his pleas to guilty at court. He was jailed for three years and four months. Read the full story here.

Raymond Graham

Jailed for life aged just 14 for a violent rape, Raymond Graham was back behind bars for breaching his sex offender registration requirements.

Graham was locked up in 2003 for raping a woman in her 40s after smashing his way into her home and attacking her. When he was given the life sentence, it came with a recommendation he serve at least three years and 10 months behind bars.

He was back in trouble in 2010 after escaping custody by walking out of an open prison and he was jailed for a further 12 months. Since being released, Graham, also known as Connor, now 37, had formed a relationship with a woman in South Shields and had moved in with her and her eight-year-old daughter.

He had not informed the authorities of this, which was in breach of the requirements of his sex offenders registration. He was arrested after police received intelligence he had failed to register the address or notify that he was living somewhere where a child resides. He was also six days late for his annual registration and pleaded guilty to three breaches of the sex offenders registration requirements.

He was jailed for four months for the breaches. Read the full story here.

Dale Forrest

A prolific thief stole from the same two shops 10 times in a month, despite already being on a community order.

Dale Forrest helped himself to more than £1,200-worth of chocolate, soap, steaks and booze by repeatedly targeting the Co-op and The One Stop, both in Wallsend. A court heard that the crook was only given a community order in January this year for similar offending but was back to his stealing ways after less than four weeks.

Forrest, who had also not complied with an unpaid work requirement of his order, was arrested and appeared in the dock, where he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of shop theft. He was jailed for 34 weeks. Here's the full report.

Baraa Hassan

A frightened teenager was chased through the streets of Newcastle city centre by a pair of robbers targeting his watch.

The 19-year-old had been out socialising with friends in Newcastle city centre and was heading to a taxi rank when he became aware of two men - Baraa Hassan and Hmetee Ramzi - following him. One of them then grabbed the teenager by the wrists and asked "are you alright mate" and the other approached him from behind.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim pleaded for them to get off him and leave him alone. They let go of him but continued following him towards a taxi rank and when the teenager started running, they chased after him.

As he was chased, the victim took off his watch, which looked like a Rolex but was a fake, and put it in his pocket. He turned left onto Hood Street and at that point Hassan and Ramzi grabbed him, wrestling with him on the ground before they ran off with his watch having stolen it from his pocket and which was worth £50.

Hassan, 31, and Ramzi, 28, both living in Sheffield at the time, pleaded guilty to robbery. Ramzi was jailed for 30 months last June and now Hassan has been locked up for three years. Here's the full report.

Robert Coles

A County Durham burglar was caught after his own electronic tag put him inside the victim's home at the time of the incident.

Robert Coles entered the address in Argent Street, Easington, in the early hours and stole numerous items including cash, an iPhone, a diamond ring, a camera, passport and a bag containing a driving licence and bank cards. The 48-year-old, of Coronation Avenue, Horden, also took two sets of car keys belonging to two vehicles outside and after he had finished taking items from within the house he stole a Mitsubishi Outlander.

His electronic tag, having captured him inside the house, then recorded his route as he drove away from the scene. CCTV taken from nearby also captured Coles in the area at the time of the incident.

He pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and was jailed for three years and one month. Here's the full story.

Robert Green

A rapist was caged for 14 years after his teenage victim confided in a nurse during a hospital visit.

Robert Green abused his teenage victim, raping her multiple times as well as subjecting her to a number of assaults. The 30-year-old's offending came to light when the victim attended a hospital appointment where a nurse became concerned about her demeanour.

After support had been offered by the nurse, the victim disclosed what had happened to her and police were contacted. Green was arrested and after a complex investigation by officers in Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, he was charged with a number of offences.

Green, of no fixed address, was convicted of four offences, including rape, assault, and non-fatal strangulation. A judge sentenced him to 14 years in prison. Here's the full story.

Daniel Allison

A stalker bombarded his ex partner with hundreds of unwanted calls and texts and was branded "naughty" by their young child.

Daniel Allison, 30, had been in a relationship with the victim between 2016 and 2021 but she ended things in April 2021. He was given a restraining order in 2022 for criminal damage then a further restraining order in 2023, which he breached on several occasions.

In February this year, the woman was in a pub when she noticed Allison so she and her friend left. She stayed at her friend's home and the next day she got numerous phone calls from a no caller ID number and recognised Allison's voice. She then got further calls from his number.

In total that day, she got 29 no caller ID missed calls and one from his mobile. She blocked the withheld number calls and the following day she got 41 missed calls from Allison, with 58 the following day and 44 the day after that.

Over the space of four days, he also sent her 112 text messages, none of which she replied to. He also tried to contact her through her friend. Allison went on to send 145 texts over another four days and continued calling her upwards of ten times a day.

Allison, of Holystone Avenue, Newsham, Blyth, pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress and breaching the restraining order. He was jailed for 16 months. Here's the full story.

Karla Dodds

A grieving mum branded a speeding drink driver who killed her son then fled the scene "wicked and cowardly".

Karla Dodds had seven people crammed into a very small Hyundai i10 car, was well over the drink drive limit and going too fast when she lost control and crashed, killing Truman Hub, who had been hanging out of the window to feel the wind in his hair. As the 22-year-old from North Shields lay fatally injured, with his girlfriend doing CPR, Dodds ran away from the scene with her friend.

As the 25-year-old was jailed for 12 years, Truman’s mum, Rozalind Hub, said in a victim impact statement she is "overwhelmed with grief and emotions" following the death of her youngest son, who had autism and ADHD. She said: "Truman was full of sunshine, laughter, mischief and love, whose presence would light up any room." Here's the full court report.

Daniel Duffy

A danger driver drove at 98mph and ran red lights with a three year old in his car.

Daniel Duffy clearly had no regard for the three-year-old in his backseat when he drove at 98mph on the A690 and ran red lights last October. After crashing into a curb, the 39-year-old abandoned the vehicle, leaving his partner Kelly Unsworth and the child in the car.

Unsworth refused to give the police Duffy’s name and instead claimed a stranger called James had been driving. Duffy, of East Rainton, was later arrested and charged with dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance.

He was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Here's the full story.

Theo McLean

A brave woman who jumped from a first-storey window to escape her violent and abusive husband has seen him brought to justice.

Theo McLean, 49, held the woman captive in their Darlington home over several days in November last year and subjected her to a tirade of horrifying abuse which left her with more than 70 injuries. The 49-year-old repeatedly punched his wife’s face, cut her thigh with a pair of scissors, threw her down the stairs, strangled her, and urinated on her.

The woman made several attempts to escape but was stopped by McLean, who also deprived her of food and clothing, and repeatedly told her he would kill her. On November 24, when a takeaway delivery driver came to their door, the woman seized the opportunity to flee and jumped from a first-floor window before shouting to the driver for help.

McLean, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and controlling and coercive behaviour. He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for six years and nine months. Read the full story here.

Terry Lee

An out of control pit bull terrier injured two dog walkers on the same street in the space of three days.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Angela Coxon and Michael Aldus had been out with their pets in Jarrow, South Tyneside, when the beast, called Moon, attacked the dogs and hurt their owners. Terry Lee, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, in relation to the incident, which happen on July 22 and July 25 last year.

At a sentencing hearing, Lee was jailed for 14 months. The sentence dealt with those offences along with the fact that Lee had breached the conditions of a previous suspended sentence. Previously he was convicted of two offences of cheating the public revenue. Read the full story here.

Alec Calvert

A child rapist from Bishop Auckland was jailed for 24 years.

Alec Calvert was brought to the attention of Durham Constabulary after one of the brave victims disclosed the abuse to police officers. She told officers how Calvert had abused her by sexually touching her on numerous occasions.

Another victim came forward the following month and disclosed he had also been sexually touched and raped and that Calvert had also taken photos of him when he was naked. Officers carried out a search of Calvert’s address and seized several electronic devices. They were analysed by specialist officers who found a number of indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

Calvert was interviewed and bailed with strict conditions not to communicate with a child. But while the investigation was under way, Calvert disregarded these conditions and was found nearly naked in his car with a child, parked in a disused docks area.

He was charged with several offences including rape, assault on a child by touching, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, engaging in sexual communication with a child, making indecent photographs of a child and possession of extreme pornography. Calvert disputed the charges but unanimous guilty verdicts were returned on all 11 counts by a jury.

The 77-year-old was jailed for 24 years. Here's the full story.

Peter Robertson

A woman was subjected to a terrifying attack during which she was repeatedly grabbed round the throat, hit with a glass jar and headbutted.

The victim had been in a relationship with Peter Robertson for around five years and she said he had never been violent towards her before. However in October last year they had an argument and he accused her of cheating on him and became aggressive.

Robertson, 37, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He was also in breach of a community order for eight offences of theft and one of criminal damage. He was jailed for 18 months. Here's the full court report.

Liam Ainslie

A dangerous driver who hit speeds of up to 130mph in a stolen car on the A19 was caught by a police drone.

Liam Ainslie was spotted driving the stolen Citroen near Castle Eden in July last year. Ainslie, of Wingate, drove at a dangerously high speed and narrowly missed oncoming vehicles.

The car was displaying false number plates, and failed to stop when traffic cops tried to pull him over. Durham Constabulary said that in his attempt to escape, Ainslie reached speeds of over 130mph before losing control when he made a sudden right turn.

Crossing onto the opposing carriageway and mounting the grass verge at high speed, the car came within inches of two oncoming vehicles. Ainslie fled from the car into a nearby field but made it only half a kilometre before noticing a police drone.

Ainslie gave himself up to officers and was charged with multiple driving offences. The 35-year-old was found guilty of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance, and was given a 12-month prison sentence. Read the full story here.

Andrei Andrei and Valentin Corneanu

Attackers who repeatedly kicked an unconscious man in the head like they were booting a football were jailed.

Andrei Andrei and Valentin Corneanu subjected the victim to a sustained attack in which he was kicked in the head 20 times in 30 seconds as he lay knocked out on the ground in a city centre. Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim had been out drinking in Sunderland city centre in October last year and in the early hours of the following morning he was near Park Lane bus station. His next recollection was waking up in Sunderland Royal Hospital.

What happened to him was pieced together when police looked at CCTV, which showed he had been outside The Railway Club at 2.23am alongside Andrei Andrei and Valentin Corneanu, who had also been out drinking. After a conversation between them, the footage showed Andrei twice slapping the victim to the head, the second blow causing him to stumble.

The man retaliated with a punch and at that point Corneanu became involved, punching him to the face and knocking him to the ground. As he lay there, limp and unresponsive, he was repeatedly punched and kicked to the head by the pair.

Andrei and Corneanu both admitted GBH with intent and were jailed for 34 months. Read the full story here.

Michael Thompson

Bad blood exploded into savage street violence when a man took hold of his attacker's bike.

There had been previous tension between Michael Thompson and another man, who knew each other. As they walked down a street, the victim took hold of Thompson's bike and he responded by punching, kicking and stamping on him several times, rendering him unconscious and fracturing his skull.

In March, the 62-year-old was jailed after he pleaded guilty to causing GBH with intent following the attack in Blyth, Northumberland. Thompson, of Union Street, Blyth, was sent to prison for three years and ten months. Here's the full story.

Robert Donald

Convicted killer Robert Donald was back behind bars for an unprovoked Boxing Day Metro station attack on a stranger.

Donald was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and jailed for nine years in 2013 for stabbing his friend to death in Wallsend. It was in that same town where he carried out his latest attack on a student, leaving him with a broken shoulder.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 29-year-old victim was walking to Wallsend Metro Station on December 26 when he was approached by Donald. The 41-year-old, of Salters Close, Gosforth, pleaded guilty to GBH on the main victim and common assault on a witness. For those offences and for breaching a suspended sentence, he was jailed for a total of 23 months. Here's the full report.

Gary Biggins

A gambling addict robbed a bookies after losing his benefits on fruit machines.

Gary Biggins had gambled away his week's allowance in a Ladbrokes store before he threatened a worker with a screwdriver to get his hands on more cash. Newcastle Crown Court heard the terrified victim was warned she would be stabbed before she eventually handed over £110 from the till.

Biggins, 43, admitted robbery. He was sentenced to three years and ten months behind bars. Read the full story here.

Jessica Prentice

A burglar raided a student’s home just hours after being in court for the same offence.

Jessica Prentice, and her accomplice Kasey Willis, were caught outside Durham Crown Court with property taken from a student's home. They were found with a MacBook computer, wallet and 17 packets of cigarettes on January 28, after they sneaked in through a door which was left open.

A neighbour saw the duo acting suspiciously and contacted the victim, who returned home to find their possessions missing. Thankfully, the laptop had a tracking device attached to it, leading them right to Prentice and Willis, who were smoking the stolen cigarettes.

Durham Constabulary officers were called to the scene, where they arrested both perpetrators with the stolen items still on them. They were charged with burglary, and both pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court.

Jessica Prentice, 34, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. Kasey Willis, 32, of Hartlepool, was sentenced to eight months in prison. Here's the full story.

Wayne Mooney

A drug dealer was jailed after being arrested three separate times, as cash totalling almost £30,000 and illegal substances were also seized.

Wayne Mooney, 39, was taken into custody on three separate occasions, as Northumbria Police officers uncovered his crimes. He was charged with one count of possession with intent to supply of a Class A drug, two counts of possession with intent to supply of Class B drugs, two counts of possession with intent to supply of Class C drugs, and three counts of possession of criminal property.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, having already spent nearly 13 months on remand. Here's the full story.

Joshua Norman

A disqualified driver led police on an 80mph pursuit through the centre of Darlington.

Joshua Norman was spotted by officers driving a white Mini Cooper in the early hours of February 20. They illuminated their blue lights and signalled for him to pull over but were ignored by the 30-year-old who instead drove off at high speed.

A pursuit was authorised and a chase began, which saw Norman driving at 80mph in a 30mph zone, on the wrong side of the road, and through a red light in an attempt to evade capture. He eventually crashed the car and tried to run off, but was detained by police officers at the scene.

On searching the car, officers also found a machete in the passenger’s seat footwell. Norman, of Darlington, was charged with possession of a blade or sharply pointed article, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

He admitted the offences at court, which put him in breach of a previous suspended sentence order. Norman was jailed for two years and six months. Here's the full story.

Lee Fenwick

A man who went to a police station seeking medical help was arrested after being found with a loaded crossbow in his car.

Lee Fenwick attended a police station while feeling unwell, seeking help from the police, which was not forthcoming. He later attended the civic centre for assistance and was subsequently found to have meningitis.

However, while his MG car was parked outside Gateshead Police Station, officers noticed he had a crossbow in the front passenger footwell. Firearms officers were called during the incident to make it safe and found it was loaded with two darts with the string pulled back. He said his intention was to bring it to the police and hand it in.

While on bail and waiting for that offence to be dealt with, Fenwick, 39, of Newland Drive, Jarrow, went on to attack his former partner. Fenwick admitted assault, breaching a non molestation order, having an offensive weapon and having no insurance. He was jailed for 26 months. Here's the full court report.

Daniel Chatto

A woman was kidnapped twice within a few days and subjected to shocking violence - including being stabbed with a crochet needle and having a cigarette stubbed out on her hand.

Daniel Chatto left the woman seriously injured after locking her in his flat and attacking her, including using a sword to hack off some of her hair, whipping her with a bow from a bow and arrow and repeatedly punching her. The 41-year-old, formerly of Dunston, Gateshead, was jailed for more than seven years.

Chatto admitted offences of kidnap, false imprisonment, wounding with intent, assault and two counts of GBH with intent. He also admitted dangerous driving and possession of cocaine after failing to stop for police in October 2022. He was jailed for a total of seven years and eight months with an extended licence of a further four years. Here's the full court story.

Steven Brown, Shay Brown, Jamie Pattinson, Tony Joyce-Scott, Craig Brown, Casey-Lee Hopper

A number of men were jailed over the supply of cocaine and cannabis in Alnwick, Northumberland.

Steven and Shay Brown led a cocaine dealing network, Northumbria Police said, while their brother Craig headed up a network controlling the area's cannabis supply. Each was jailed for their part, along with five others.

This follows the work of the police force's Operation Peach, which focused on supply of Class A and B drugs in Alnwick. Detectives identified Casey-Lee Hopper, Tony Joyce-Scott, Ben Pattinson and Jamie Pattinson as dealers working on behalf of Steven and Shay Brown. The pair directed their couriers to locations in the area to swap drugs for cash.

Craig Brown, assisted by Graham Atkinson, ran a separate drugs ring selling cannabis. The investigation ultimately resulted in eight men being arrested and charged with a series of drugs offences. Steven Brown and Jamie Pattinson were also each charged with violent disorder in connection with a separate offence.

They all admitted the offences. The first five were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on January 24. That date saw Steven Brown, of Vintners Court, Alnwick, jailed for 12 years and six months. He had admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, two counts of money laundering, violent disorder, and being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Shay Brown, of Cawledge View, Alnwick, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was jailed for seven years and three months.

Jamie Pattinson, also of Vintners Court, was given six years and three months behind bars. He had admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, money laundering, and violent disorder. Tony Joyce-Scott, of Upper Baresdale, Alnwick, was give four years in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine. Craig Brown, of Ravensmede, Alnwick, was jailed for three years and six months for conspiracy to supply cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Casey-Lee Hopper, 22 of Merchants Gardens, Alnwick, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and was jailed for three years and one month on the same date. Read the full story here.

Barry Lowery

A "career burglar" targeted a number of Durham University student properties and stole a hoard of belongings during a winter break spree.

Barry Lowery undertook a "tried and tested method" of breaking into student properties in Durham when he knew the victims would have returned home for the winter break. The 49-year-old stole valuables, personal belongs and sentimental items from a total of 10 students.

Lowery claimed to have committed the burglaries in order to be sent back to jail where he feels "safe and secure". He was jailed for over seven years after admitting four counts of burglary. Here's the full court report.

Niall Duffy

A former soldier robbed an Uber driver and crashed a car into a woman's home during a spree of "dangerous and destructive behaviour".

The 25-year-old banned driver threatened an Uber driver with a metal pole before subjecting his victim to racist abuse before stealing his dash-cam in County Durham. Duffy then crashed his car into a woman's home, destroying her porch and causing £60,000 worth of damage.

Duffy, of St Ives Place in Murton, appeared at Durham Crown Court after pleading guilty to robbery, a racially aggravated public order offence, possession of an offensive weapon, three counts of criminal damage, dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to provide a sample and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was jailed for four years and banned from driving for seven years. He must complete an extended re-test if he wants to drive again. Read the full court report here.

Shaun Cruddas

A prolific thief who was receiving treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary burgled a staff room and took a walled, iPad and cigarettes from hospital employees' belongings.

Shaun Cruddas, 45, of Virginia House, Elswick, was at the RVI for treatment on December 7 when he burgled the staff room. He had entered an area off limits to the public and he went through employees' belongings.

He was confronted by an NHS worker, who found that Cruddas had his wallet in his pocket and a colleague's iPad up his jumper.

As well as pleading guilty to burglary and two counts of theft, Cruddas asked for two burglaries, two attempted burglaries, and two shop thefts to be taken into account. He was jailed for 18 months. Here's the full court report.

Kelly Traynor

Prolific shoplifter Kelly Traynor threatened Tesco staff with a syringe during a robbery.

Traynor was stealing meat from the supermarket in Chester-le-Street when a security guard caught her. She threatened to use the syringe against him before fleeing the shop.

The 36-year-old of Cleadon Street, Consett, appeared at Durham Crown Court via video link after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article - the syringe. She was jailed for 20 months.

Read the full court report here.