These are the faces of North East offenders who are starting 2025 behind bars.
The following criminals were all jailed in December, with some defendants earning themselves a prison term of more than 10 years. Courts heard details of offences including attempted murder, rape, manslaughter and assault as well as death by dangerous driving.
In one case, a former college lecturer tried to murder his partner in a ferocious knife attack when she told him they were finished. He was jailed for 20 years.
The court heard the victim had been in a relationship with Steven Corner for four years. The woman said things had been good until Corner lost his job a year before the offence and developed anxiety and began to drink to excess regularly. Corner pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possessing a bladed article.
In another case, a sick paedophile was jailed for historic sex offences thanks to the bravery of his survivors. John Corby, 66, subjected three young victims to sexual offences in Newcastle more than 30 years ago. He was charged with two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency. He denied all offences but, following a trial, was found guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to 18 years behind bars.
Meanwhile, a mother whose unsupervised infant son drowned in the bath as she played games on her phone was jailed. Danielle Massey had been bathing her seven-month-old son, Charlie Goodall, when he tragically died.
The 31-year-old had been bathing Charlie at their home in a bath seat, which was not suitable as it couldn’t be properly fit and had clear instructions a child should not be left unsupervised. Massey, of West Chilton Terrace, Ferryhill, was sentenced to seven years in prison. She had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of cannabis.
Further details about these cases, as well as others where defendants were jailed in December 2024, are given below. The length of sentences mean the criminals will be behind bars on New Year’s Day.
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Daniel McLaughlin
Daniel McLaughlin, jailed for robbery and assault
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A vulnerable man was left battered and bloodied after falling victim to a violent street robbery.
The victim, who lived in supported accommodation as a result of him suffering a head injury seven years ago, had been visiting a corner shop on Briardale Road, Blyth, when he came across Daniel McLaughlin outside. Newcastle Crown Court heard McLaughlin followed the man, who he knew, for a while before putting his arm around him, grappling with him then punching and kicking him several times and knocking him to the ground. He tried to get up but was hit again, knocking him back down.
Ben Whittingham, prosecuting, said: “The defendant’s final act was to rifle through the victim’s pockets until he found his bank card and £40 in cash. He took the cash but seems to have dropped the notes.”
McLaughlin, 34, of Briardale Road, Blyth, pleaded guilty to robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the basis the victim owed him money. He was jailed for 40 months. Here’s the full court report.
James Cooper
James Cooper, jailed for attacking shopkeepers with a knife
(Image: Northumbria Police)
Two shopkeepers were attacked with a knife by a thug who shouted “I will kill you” after they tried to stop him stealing alcohol.
James Cooper had helped himself to four bottles of high quality spirts at the Village Store, Donwell, Washington, in August last year. Newcastle Crown Court heard when the owner approached him Cooper got him in a headlock, slashed his face and head with a knife and left him needing 25 stitches.
When the shopkeeper’s wife tried to help her husband, she suffered a knife wound to the arm. Cooper, 42, of Coach Road Estate, Washington, admitted two charges of wounding with intent, having a bladed article and theft.
He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years behind bars with a two-and-a-half year extended licence. Here’s the full story.
Neil Vaughan
Neil Vaughan, jailed for attempted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A gun-toting raider left city centre building society staff terrified in an armed heist.
Neil Vaughan, who had no previous convictions, decided to take drastic action after becoming frustrated with his lack of money on benefits. Newcastle Crown Court heard it was on July 2 that a woman in her 60s was working at the Yorkshire Building Society, on Northumberland Street, Newcastle.
She was about to do a till balance and was about to start counting notes when she noticed a man at the counter who she thought was a customer. It was, in fact, Vaughan, wearing dark clothing and a black woollen hat and he shouted at her: “Put the money in the f****** bag”, which he repeated.
The victim then noticed he was carrying what looked like a small black handgun and large bag. The terrified woman ran to a secure space and alerted colleagues to the armed robber’s presence and she was also able to press an alarm. The premises were secured and the armed response unit from Northumbria Police attended, although Vaughan had fled the scene.
He was identified from CCTV, which showed he had also attended the building society the previous day. He was arrested on Shields Road, Byker, around an hour after the raid and found to be in possession of a BB gun, a black bag and pepper spray.
Vaughan, 56, of Melrose Gardens, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm. He was jailed for five years. Read the full report here.
Marshall Scurfield
Marshall Scurfield
(Image: National Crime Agency)
A man who attempted to have thousands of skull-shaped ecstasy tablets delivered to his former home in South Tyneside in a deal arranged over Snapchat was jailed.
The National Crime Agency was notified by Border Force officers at Birmingham Airport a parcel had been intercepted and found to contain 29,000 green skull-shaped tablets. It was sent from the Netherlands and was addressed to Marshall Scurfield, 22, who at the time lived in Coniston Avenue, in Hebburn.
The tablets later tested positive for MDMA and had an estimated street value of £140,000. As part of the investigation, the tablets were removed and a dummy package was sent to Scurfield, who had been receiving parcel tracking updates via Snapchat.
Scurfield, later of Rose Bank, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, was arrested by NCA officers in February 2022, after being observed accepting the package. When questioned, Scurfield admitted he had agreed to accept the parcel to settle a drugs debt, and that arrangements for its delivery had been made using Snapchat.
He pleaded guilty to importing class A drugs at Newcastle Crown Court. He was sentenced to four years in prison. Here’s the full story.
Shay Russell
Shay Russell, jailed for rape
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A rapist who attacked a sleeping woman was jailed for seven years.
The victim had dozed off after a night out drinking when Shay Russell took advantage of her vulnerable state. Newcastle Crown Court heard the woman asked questions about her clothing and quizzed Russell and he said he didn’t know before leaving quickly.
Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said: “He’d had penetrative intercourse with her while she was asleep. After he left she began to think about how she was in this state. She felt like she did after she’d had sex and came to the realisation he must have had sex with her. She was not sure but the signs suggested he had.”
When she later challenged him, he confirmed her worst fears. Miss Richardson said: “He replied saying how very sorry he was and how she had every right to be angry and it was a stupid thing to do. He continued to apologise, saying he didn’t know what he was thinking about.”
The woman told her mother, who advised her to go to the police, which she did. Russell, 21, of Bronte Way, South Shields, denied rape but was found guilty by a jury. Read the full report here.
James Harris
James Harris, 42, was jailed for two years and eight months
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A drug smuggler was jailed for his role in a conspiracy attempting to bring cannabis into the UK from Thailand.
James Harris, 42, admitted to Importing Class B Drugs after officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit and UK Border Force officials at Newcastle International Airport intercepted two large suitcases. These were filled with a total of 50 kilos of cannabis – which carried an estimated street value of £172,000.
Harris, of Kirkstone Place, Newton Aycliffe, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to two years and eight months behind bars. Here’s the full story.
Aiden Battye
Aiden Battye was jailed at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of attempted rape by jury
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
“I just want to scrub the memory of it off my skin” – those were the words of a brave survivor of attempted rape whose attacker was jailed.
The teenager was sleeping in her home when she awoke to find Aiden Battye on her bed, pulling her underwear down and attempting to rape her. Battye, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was ordered to leave after the girl told her family what had happened.
An investigation was launched by officers and Battye, now 21, was charged with attempted rape. He was also charged with a count of sexual assault in relation to a separate incident involving another teenage girl.
He denied both charges but was found guilty of attempted rape following a week-long trial at Durham Crown Court. A jury found him not guilty of the sexual assault. Battye was jailed for four years. Here’s the full story.
Elliot Cook
Elliot Cook, jailed for being concerned in the supply of ketamine and MDMA
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A drug dealer retained messages on his phone for four years showing what he had been up to.
A search warrant was executed at Elliot Cook’s home at Glanton Wynd, Gosforth, Newcastle, on January 4 last year and nine bags of a substance were seized from his bedroom, along with scales, bags, £565 cash and a phone. The substance was later found to be 78.26g of ketamine, worth up to £1,280.
Newcastle Crown Court heard messages on his phone showed he had been dealing directly to drug users. His main trade was in ketamine but messages from four years earlier showed he had also been involved in the supply of MDMA.
Cook, 23, admitted being concerned in the supply of ketamine and MDMA and was locked up for 13 months. Here’s the full report.
Arnold Rickerby
Arnold Rickerby
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A burglar broke into a store – and was jailed for it the following day.
On November 28, Northumbria Police were informed of a burglary at a site on Jackson Street in Gateshead city centre. It was reported that a man had broken in to the store by smashing the window and forcing the shutters open, before pocketing a substantial amount of stock and fleeing the area on foot.
The eagle-eyed store manager, who was in the area responding to the alarm company’s call, spotted the offender in a nearby supermarket and quickly alerted officers who were already at the scene. The police tracked down the offender, identified as Arnold Rickerby, and found a stash of jewellery, along with a selection of household appliances, which were confirmed to have been stolen from the store.
Rickerby, 49, of Shaftoe Street, Newcastle, was subsequently charged with burglary and appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court the following day where he was sentenced to six months in prison. Here’s the full story.
Steven Corner
Steven Corner, jailed for attempted murder
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A former college lecturer who tried to murder his partner in a ferocious knife attack when she told him they were finished was jailed for 20 years.
The court heard the victim, 51, had been in a relationship with Steven Corner for four years and they lived together in South Shields. The woman said things had been good until Corner lost his job a year before the offence and developed anxiety and began to drink to excess regularly.
Corner, 54, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possessing a bladed article. Read the full report here.
John Kavanagh
John Kavanagh
(Image: handout)
A cruel fraudster who claimed to own a haulage company scammed an elderly woman out of her life savings.
John Kavanagh, 58, met a woman on a dating app and shortly after the relationship began he said he had financial problems. Newcastle Crown Court heard the woman gave him £250 and a further £1,200 in 18 separate transactions over seven months.
The court heard Kavanagh told the woman and her 84-year-old mum that he owned a large haulage company ‘Kavanagh QC Transport Limited’ but due to an accident involving a javelin missile he had received a fine and was “struggling to make ends meet”. The woman discussed the issue with her mum who offered to help Kavanagh financially on the understanding the money was paid back.
The court was told Kavanagh provided a range of excuses for the cash, which included new tyres for trucks, staff wages, insurance payments and money to transport a fictional truck on a ferry from Saudi Arabia. Kavanagh, of Abbingdon Square, Cramlington, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and was sentenced to four years in prison. Here’s the full story.
Nathan Thomas
Nathan Thomas
(Image: Northumbria Police Copyright – No Reproduction Without Permission)
A pervert who talked about raping children was caught with images and videos that included a young baby being sexually abused.
Nathan Thomas, 23, was caught by police when they attended his home and seized his phone in November 2021. Newcastle Crown Court heard the Samsung Galaxy contained 22 Category A images, which included 12 still images and 10 videos, five category B images – all stills – and two images of extreme pornography.
Thomas, of Haggerston Crescent, Newbiggin Hall Estate, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to the distribution of category A moving images, making (downloading) Category A indecent images of children and moving images, making indecent images of Category B possession of extreme pornography and was jailed for two years and three months. Here’s the full court report.
Tinh Nguyen
Tinh Nguyen, jailed for producing cannabis
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A large cannabis farm found in a Northumberland house was busted after a neighbour heard a suspicious humming noise.
It was in July this year that police officers executed a search warrant at a two-bedroom terraced house in Mickley, Northumberland, and found a cannabis farm containing more than 300 plants. Lighting and ventilation had been installed and the electricity supply had been bypassed.
A police drugs expert said the potential yield was up to 28 kilos with a value which could have been as high as £140,000. Tinh Nguyen was found in the kitchen and arrested.
Nguyen, 45, of Oak Street, West Mickley, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and prosecutors accepted he had been exploited and played no part in setting it up. He was jailed for 12 months. Here’s the full story.
John Corby
John Corby, who has been jailed for 18 years for historic sex offences
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A sick paedophile was jailed for historic sex offences thanks to the bravery of his survivors.
John Corby, 66, subjected three young victims to sexual offences in Newcastle more than 30 years ago. After one of his victims reported him in November 2021, Northumbria Police launched an investigation.
In 2022, Corby was interviewed and later charged with two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency. He denied all offences.
Following an eight-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Corby was found guilty on all counts by a jury. Corby, of Hallow Drive, Throckley, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars. Here’s the full story.
Alexander Hindmarsh
Alexander Hindmarsh, jailed for domestic violence
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A domestic abuse thug was caught on camera when a brave child recorded him attacking his partner.
Alexander Hindmarsh flew into a jealous rage and started assaulting the woman despite the fact there were youngsters present at the scene. One of them courageously filmed what he was doing and the sounds of distressed children can be heard on the footage.
Having admitted that attack, Hindmarsh then failed to turn up to be sentenced and, while wanted on a warrant, attacked the woman again after climbing in through a window. The 35-year-old brute was jailed for four years.
Hindmarsh, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, strangulation and threatening with an offensive weapon. Read the full story here.
Michael Thompson
Michael Thompson, jailed for assaults
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A thug strangled and bit his partner while on bail for slashing a man’s face during a pub brawl.
Michael Thompson left a man with knife wounds to his face following a row at a bar which resulted in the pair fighting. Having pleaded guilty to that attack, he was bailed pending sentence but just two weeks later he attacked his then-girlfriend.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he left her in intense pain by biting her cheek for around ten seconds and also grabbed her neck. In December, the 28-year-old, of Fourstones, West Denton, Newcastle, was locked up.
Thompson pleaded guilty to wounding the first victim and strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the woman. He was jailed for three years. Here’s the full report.
Ivan Dyer
Ivan Dyer, caught trying to smuggle cannabis through Newcastle Airport
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A drugs courier tried to import 25 kilos of cannabis through Newcastle Airport so he could afford to buy his partner an engagement ring.
Ivan Dyer was stopped coming through Newcastle Airport on November 10 this year after arriving on a flight from Paris, having been to Bangkok, Singapore and Shanghai. Newcastle Crown Court heard an X-ray machine showed there was suspicious material in two suitcases he had.
Having initially said he had packed the cases, when the drugs were found he said he hadn’t. A total of 25 kilos of cannabis was found in 50 500g packages.
The 43-year-old, of Garretts Green Lane, Sheldon, Birmingham, was jailed for two years after he admitted being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis. Read the full story here.
Kane Rodden
Kane Rodden, jailed for robbery
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A grandma feared she was going to be killed by a masked shop raider who threw her to the floor and pointed a knife at her neck in an ‘absolutely terrifying’ armed robbery.
Kane Rodden left a 63-year-old woman and her 20-year-old colleague injured and traumatised in a violent attack on the shop where they were working. Newcastle Crown Court heard he also attacked a brave customer who sought to intervene in shocking scenes.
Rodden, 23, of Meadow Rise, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a bladed article and was jailed for four years and eight months, of which he must serve two-thirds behind bars. Here’s the full story.
Christian Willoughby
Christian Willoughby
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A ‘senseless’ burglar had only been released from police custody for a matter of hours before he was caught on CCTV breaking in to a property.
Christian Willoughby was arrested just after 4pm on May 30 on suspicion of burglary at a premises on Gallowgate in Newcastle earlier that day. He was released on bail pending further enquiries.
But after travelling to Morpeth by train upon his release, the 42-year-old was caught on CCTV shortly after 9pm – still wearing his custody clothes – gaining entry to a room on Staithes Lane, in Morpeth, before leaving the scene having stolen £1,500 in cash and a mobile phone. An investigation was launched and Willoughby was later arrested and charged with two counts of burglary.
Willoughby, of Candlesby Road, Grimsby, pleaded guilty to the offence in Newcastle and was sentenced to six months behind bars. In December, he also pleaded guilty to the offence in Morpeth and was jailed for 30 months. Read the full story here.
Billy Conroy
Billy Conroy, jailed for causing the death of Conner Loder by dangerous driving
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A boy racer who left his 15-year-old friend dying in a crashed car while banned from the roads was locked up.
Billy Conroy already had serious driving offences on his record when he lost control of a powerful Mazda 6 and killed back seat passenger Conner Loder. Conroy, 16 at the time, then ran off, leaving his pal fatally injured and another youth badly hurt.
Even after causing Connor’s death, Conroy, of Ellesmere Road, Benwell, Newcastle, was spotted riding a motorbike despite his driving disqualification. Conroy, now 17, was sentenced to youth detention at Newcastle Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance. Judge Tim Gittins said that because he is a youth the starting point for his sentence had to be half what it would have been for an adult.
He was locked up for five-and-a-half years, of which he must serve two-thirds, with an extended licence period of a further three years. Read the full story here.
Lee Wooden
Lee Wooden, jailed for burglary
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A career burglar who has repeatedly preyed on elderly victims to feed his drug habit was put back behind bars.
Time and time again, Lee Wooden has targeted the most vulnerable members of the community to steal from them. The 52-year-old has more than 80 convictions and has spent most of his adult life in prison, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
His latest victim was a 79-year-old man whose health and mobility had been adversely affected by a series of strokes. The victim’s wallet went missing – it had between £300 and £400 and two bank cards. Wooden fraudulently used a bank card to buy scratch cards, tobacco and chewing gum worth more than £70.
He was identified from CCTV showing him entering and leaving the victim’s home and was also identified using the card in a local shop. When arrested, Wooden said he was a drug user who burgled elderly victims.
Wooden, 52, of Brookside Avenue, Cowpen, Blyth, pleaded guilty to burglary and fraud and was jailed for four years and three months. Here’s the full story.
Christopher Costello
Christopher Costello
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A yob who hurled vile abuse and threats at shopkeepers claimed he couldn’t be racist as he’d enjoyed a holiday in the Caribbean.
Christopher Costello targeted three workers at the family run Sam’s Convenience Store in Hebburn, South Tyneside. As well as using racist insults, he threatened to burn the shop down and “kill all of you”.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the victims, who are related, were left in fear but Costello bizarrely told police he could not be racist due to his holiday. Costello, 54, of Victoria Road East, Hebburn, admitted possessing an offensive weapon, two racially aggravated public order offences and racially aggravated harassment.
He was sentenced to 14 months. Here’s the full story.
Arkadiusz Golab
Arkadiusz Golab, caught smuggling cannabis into Newcastle Airport
(Image: National Crime Agency)
A drugs smuggler caught trying to bring almost £100,000 of cannabis into the UK at Newcastle Airport said he had been pressured by an organised crime group.
In August this year, Border Force were monitoring passengers arriving at Newcastle Airport. Newcastle Crown Court heard they stopped and quizzed Arkadiusz Golab, a Polish national arriving on a flight from Dubai.
He said he had travelled to Thailand from Manchester then stopped over in Dubai before flying to Newcastle. He initially denied anyone had asked him to carry anything back into the UK.
His suitcase was searched and 40 packages of cannabis were found, weighing 23.6 kilos and with a wholesale value of £94,000. Golab, 20, of Gunby Road, Scunthorpe, pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis and was sent to a young offenders institution for two years. Here’s the full story.
Danielle Massey
Danielle Massey
(Image: PA)
A mother whose unsupervised infant son drowned in the bath as she played games on her phone was jailed.
Danielle Massey had been bathing her seven-month-old son, Charlie Goodall, in February 2022 when he tragically died. The 31-year-old had been bathing Charlie at their home in a bath seat, which was not suitable as it couldn’t be properly fit and had clear instructions a child should not be left unsupervised.
At one stage, Massey left Charlie unattended in the bath seat for a prolonged period whilst she played a cooking game on her phone. Tragically, during this time Charlie fell over in the seat and drowned.
She initially claimed she left Charlie unsupervised for only a few minutes to make a bottle and find a towel for him. But she later claimed that she fell asleep on the sofa after she couldn’t find a bottle.
However, there was no evidence at the scene to corroborate her version of events – no prepared bottles were found during the police search of the scene and there were no clean towels found within the vicinity of the bathroom. A digital forensic examination of her phone found that it had been in use for a period of 26 minutes and, at times, had been connected to an online game.
Massey, of West Chilton Terrace, Ferryhill, was sentenced to seven years in prison. She had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of cannabis. Read the full story here.
Ryan Anderson
Ryan Anderson, jailed for offences including assault and theft
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A son left his dad fearing death when a “temper tantrum” escalated into a sustained attack during which he kicked him like a football, tried to stab him with a candle lighter and brandished a poker.
During the incident, Ryan Anderson, 33, of Hedley Close, South Shields, demanded money from his parents but when they refused to give him cash for a taxi, he “flipped” and began to punch his dad, who tried to calm him down. He said he was going to smash the house up and his dad turned to walk away, at which point he felt a forceful impact to the back of his head which stunned him.
He turned to see Anderson holding an iron fire poker, although he pleaded guilty on the basis he did not use that to hit his dad and only brandished it towards him. The pair ended up wrestling on the floor and his dad was asking him what he was doing and telling him he loved him. Anderson then broke free, got up and punched his dad with full force to the head and body.
Anderson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft, two counts of criminal damage and assaulting an emergency worker. He was jailed for two years and five months. Read the full story here.
Shane Youll
Shane Youll
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A man from Stanley who raped and attempted to suffocate his victim was jailed for over ten years.
Shane Youll, 37, physically and sexually assaulted the woman, leaving her with cuts and bruises. Fortunately, she managed to raise the alarm using a stranger’s phone after Youll attacked her in the early hours of May 17.
He was found guilty of rape, assault by penetration, intentional strangulation, causing actual bodily harm and common assault, and was jailed for ten years and six months at Teesside Crown Court. Here’s the full story.
Kieran McMahon
Kieran McMahon, jailed for burglary and theft
(Image: Northumbria Police)
Ram-raiders made off with cars worth £100,000 after forcing their way into a vehicle repair shop.
Using a stolen car with stolen registration plates, the thieves broke into the garage in Newcastle and drove off with three Mercedes and a BMW. As well as taking the high value cars, they also caused damage worth thousands of pounds to repair, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
It was just after midnight on March 3 that Kieran McMahon and others were involved in stealing a VW Polo from a woman in Ellesmere Road, Benwell, Newcastle. He was then also involved in stealing registration plates from a car in Fenham which were put on the Polo.
McMahon, 22, and others then went to the Newcastle Repair Centre, on Condercum Road, Newcastle. The men then reversed the Polo to ram the shutters of the repair shop and break in. At that point, McMahon was keeping watch while an accomplice went in and stole car keys. They left then returned twice, stealing four cars in total.
McMahon personally stole a Mercedes C-class while another Mercedes C-class, a BMW 5-series and a Mercedes E-class were also taken. McMahon, of Edward Road, Birtley, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and theft of registration plates. He was jailed for three years. Here’s the full court report.
Andrew Fowler
Andrew Fowler was jailed for 17 years at Teesside Crown Court after repeatedly stabbing his ex
(Image: Durham Police)
A man who stabbed a much-loved mother 35 times was jailed.
Andrew Fowler stabbed his ex, Anastasia Wade, on her arms, back and neck while telling her: “If I can’t have you, no one can.” Fowler also hit her over the head with a brick after she tried to flee the attack, which happened at a house in Ridsdale Street, Darlington, in June last year.
Anastasia fled from the back yard into an alleyway behind the property where she screamed for help from passers-by. She was later taken to hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Anastasia died in September this year at the age of 30, and her death is not being treated as suspicious by police. A file has been prepared for the coroner.
Fowler was arrested shortly after the knife attack by armed officers following a short stand-off during which he tried to set fire to the home before jumping from a first-floor window. Fowler, of Ridsdale Street, Darlington, was later charged with attempted murder.
The 35-year-old admitted the offence and was jailed for 17 years. Here’s the full story.
Kenneth Walton
Kenneth Walton
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
An attacker who stabbed a man 10 times was caged for the “ferocious assault”.
Kenneth Walton was found guilty of wounding with intent following a trial and was jailed for 15 years. Police were called shortly before 11pm on June 22 to an address in Stanley where a man had sustained serious injuries to his head, face, chest and neck.
The victim was rushed to hospital and required lengthy treatment. Walton, of Ferryhill, was arrested in the early hours of the following day and was later charged. At Teesside Crown Court, the 30-year-old was handed the lengthy prison sentence. Here’s the full story.
Christopher Bertram
Christopher Bertram
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
An arsonist torched his ex-partner’s home after their break-up and left her homeless.
Christopher Bertram smashed the living room window of the woman’s County Durham home, lit a piece of paper or card and threw it inside, setting the house ablaze. The arson attack was carried out moments after the homeowner’s teenage son was forced to flee the home when Bertram burst into his bedroom after breaking in.
Neighbours heard a “massive bang” before the home set alight, with police and firefighters responding to the scene. Bertram fled, but returned around an hour later and began casually chatting with a police community support officer (PCSO) before he was arrested.
Bertram, of Palmer Street, Stanley, County Durham, appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for arson and two counts of criminal damage. The 42-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offences. He was jailed for three years. Here’s the full court report.
Izmir Dema
Izmir Dema, jailed for producing cannabis
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A cannabis farm gardener who twice entered the UK illegally was jailed.
Police executed a search warrant at a semi-detached house on North Dene, Birtley, Gateshead, in September this year. As they did so, Izmir Dema was seen fleeing through a back door and jumping over a garden fence, ignoring shouts from police to stay where he was.
He was found on the garage roof of a nearby property and arrested in the back garden. Within the home he had fled, police found cannabis plants growing in two bedrooms, the garage and the conservatory.
In total there were 55 well-established, bushy cannabis plants and 104 cuttings. Dema, 26, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to producing cannabis on the basis his role was that of a gardener. He was jailed for nine months. Here’s the full story.
Leonard Tyler
Leonard Tyler, jailed for strangling and assaulting his partner
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A violent thug left his partner fearing death by strangling her three times after rejecting a cuddle.
Leonard Tyler turned nasty for no apparent reason after spending the night at his then-girlfriend’s home. Newcastle Crown Court heard he repeatedly wrapped his hands around her neck and threw her to the floor in an attack spanning 20 minutes.
After being arrested, he then smeared his own excrement on the walls and door of his police cell in a sickening dirty protest. Tyler, who had been released from prison on licence after being locked up for robbery, was put back behind bars in December.
Tyler, 35, of Eden Terrace, Lynemouth, admitted strangulation, assault by beating and criminal damage to the police cell. He was jailed for 16 months and two weeks. Here’s the full story.
Jason Andrewartha
Jason Andrewartha, jailed for assault
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A first date ended in horror when a woman was attacked in her own home by a violent thug.
The victim had met Jason Andrewartha on an online app and when they met in person, things seemed to be going well and she invited him back to her home. Newcastle Crown Court heard that at some point the 46-year-old, who had a history of assaulting women, suddenly turned aggressive and violent.
He dragged the woman around her bedroom, leaving her bruised and with clumps of hair pulled out and she ended up fleeing her home naked to escape the prolonged attack. Andrewartha, of Coldstream Gardens, Howdon, Wallsend, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a trial and was jailed for two years and three months. Read the full report here.
Darren Benson
Darren Benson has been jailed for five years and four months
(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A man subjected a woman to a prolonged assault, which included knocking her unconscious and resulted in extensive facial injuries.
Darren Benson pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, affray and witness intimidation at Durham Crown Court. Paramedics were called to an address in Chester-le-Street in the early hours of May 26. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for facial injuries.
Later that day Benson, of no fixed abode, threatened another man at the same address with a knife. The 22-year-old was arrested a short time later having been spotted nearby in a car.
He was jailed for five years and four months. Here’s the full story.
Brandon Courtney
Brandon Courtney, jailed for attacking his former partner
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A thug strangled his former partner until she feared he was going to kill her, then bit her nose.
Brandon Courtney had been in a relationship with the victim, during which she said he was abusive at times, and they split up in 2022. They remained in contact and he ended up attending her home saying he’d had a fight with the stepfather of his new partner.
The 23-year-old, of Fern Drive, Dudley, North Tyneside, was being friendly to the victim so she let him in, but he became angry because of phone calls he was receiving from his partner. He then became paranoid, convincing himself he was being recorded by his ex.
He took her phone and damaged it beyond repair. Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, told the court: “The complainant became extremely upset and panicked because she no longer had her phone and the defendant told her to calm down.
“She continued crying and he grabbed her by the neck with both hands and began to choke her. Because she continued crying, he increased the pressure until she couldn’t breathe. She believed he was going to kill her.
“He then bit her to the nose, causing it to bleed. She began to scream and, on seeing her nose, he began to cry.”
Courtney pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage. He was locked up for three years. Here’s the full story.
Badr Hai
Badr Hai
(Image: Northumbria Police)
An offshore worker tried to pay-off a victim with £1,000 after leaving him with a facial “deformity” from a punch.
Badr Hai was a teenager when he punched another lad in the face following a “misunderstanding” in Newcastle city centre. The victim was hit to the ground and sustained a fractured cheekbone due to the force of the blow.
The victim had to have a metal plate fitted into his face, which he says has left him “deformed”. But days after the assault, Hai offered to pay £1,000 to the victim if he didn’t report it to the police.
Hai, of Sunstar Grove, Middlesbrough, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice. The 22-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offences, which he committed after drinking alcohol and inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons. Hai was jailed for 10 months. Read the full story here.
Ricki Kendall
Ricki Kendall, aka Curry, jailed for perverting the course of justice and robbery
(Image: Northumbria Police)
Innocent members of a family sitting eating their tea were arrested at gunpoint and held in custody for 15 hours after a made up kidnapping claim.
Ricki Kendall, aka Curry, had “completely fabricated” a report to police that he had seen balaclava-clad people armed with a machete dragging a man into a house on Denton Road, Newcastle. Newcastle Crown Court heard that as a result of Kendall’s 999 call, Northumbria Police’s armed response unit were sent to the scene.
Four people were arrested and two young children were present during the raid. Kendall, 30, of Valley View, Lemington, Newcastle, doubled down on his false claim in a statement to police, in which he gave a description of the individuals and their clothing.
Police launched an investigation and extensive CCTV inquiries were made and no footage was found to support his story. There were also no weapons recovered from the house and no one else reported such an incident.
While on bail for perverting the course of justice, Kendall went on to rob a taxi driver. Kendall, 30, pleaded guilty to robbery. For that and the perverting justice offence, which he also admitted, he was jailed for a total of 53 months. Read the full court report here.
Shuaib Muhammad
Shuaib Muhammad, jailed for stalking
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A predatory stalker subjected a complete stranger to a campaign of terror in a case which a judge said was like a Hollywood film.
Shuaib Muhammad started targeting the woman soon after he had been released from prison on licence for stalking another woman. It began when the victim got a handwritten note through the door asking her to call a number because there was a parcel for her.
Newcastle Crown Court heard she thought it was strange as she wasn’t expecting anything so she ignored it. A few weeks later she noticed two of four latches on her kitchen window were missing and she replaced them.
The woman was letting her dog out around 9pm one night when she disturbed a man lurking in her garden. When two further latches from her kitchen window were again removed, this caused her to start panicking. Muhammad then continued to turn up at her home and was seen looking inside and reaching in through a partially opened window trying to undo the window on the inside.
She installed a camera at her property and it was found the window pane had been painted white to obscure the view of the camera. The court heard the campaign of terror continued and what ensued was described as ‘predatory stalking behaviour’ where Muhammad ‘tracked’ the woman and was spotted stalking her on numerous occasions.
Muhammad, of Marshall Wallis Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence and was jailed for five years with an extended licence period of a further three years. Here’s the full story.
Paul Barton
Paul Barton, jailed for seven-and-a-half years for domestic violence offences
(Image: Northumbria Police)
A savage Newcastle thug repeatedly stamped on his partner and threatened to kill her while holding a knife to her throat during a “campaign of terror”.
Paul Barton subjected his then-girlfriend to a series of assaults, including stamping, punching and kicking her after she had lost consciousness. Barton, 47, of Finchley Crescent, Daisy Hill, Newcastle, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he admitted three assaults and threats to kill. Read the full story here.
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