Mid And Se Northumberland Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Nichola Stappard, 50, of Barras Avenue in Blyth, was arrested for a domestic-related incident on August 27, 2025, and detained at Bedlington Police Station. After her handcuffs were removed by a constable, she punched him in the groin, causing severe pain but no lasting injury. She was re-arrested for the assault.

On April 5, 2025, Garry Anderson, a 59-year-old taxi driver from Penrith Court in Bedlington, crashed into a female cyclist on the A1068 Fisher Lane near Cramlington, Northumberland, in the early hours of the morning. The cyclist, who was traveling from Gosforth to Lynemouth wearing yellow reflective gear with red and white flashing lights on her bike, suffered a fractured spine and elbow, requiring treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary's major trauma centre. Anderson stayed at the scene and called emergency services.

Christian Oliver, aged 26, formerly of Blyth but now of no fixed abode, committed 11 counts of shop theft between September 4 and October 20, 2025, mainly targeting Tesco stores in Berwick, but also B&M and Farm Foods. He stole meat and other goods valued at over £1,000, which were not recovered. Identified from CCTV, he stole to sell for money due to homelessness and poverty. He had been released from prison in July 2025 and was already on an 18-month community order for shoplifting from earlier in the year.

On August 24, 2025, Danny Robinson, 33, of Wright Street in Blyth, was driving a Vauxhall Corsa at excessive speed, leading police on a dangerous pursuit through narrow residential streets in Blyth, including First Avenue, Second Avenue, Plessy Road, and Princess Louise Road. He reached speeds of 65mph in 30mph zones, drove on the wrong side of the road, forced an oncoming car onto a footpath, failed to slow for speed bumps or junctions, and evaded police after initially stopping. No damage or pedestrians were involved due to the time of night. He was arrested at the scene and failed a roadside breath test.

On August 18, council officers were evicting Zoe Crozier from her home in Ashington, Northumberland. She was found unresponsive on the floor, possibly due to alcohol withdrawal. When police arrived, she was sitting in a vehicle and immediately confessed to having a knuckleduster in her handbag, which she claimed she was disposing of for her brother to protect him from legal trouble, intending to throw it down a drain. The incident occurred during the eviction process at her address in Ashington.

On August 15, 2025, police were called to an address in Holywell, North Tyneside, for a domestic incident where Ellie Burns, aged 22, was in a distressed state around her mother and boyfriend after discovering her boyfriend had been cheating on her. She was arrested for an unrelated matter but refused to calm down, leading to her being placed on the floor for safety. While being walked to the police van, she kicked one constable in the leg, bit another on the shoulder (causing reddening but no skin break due to clothing), and spat in his mouth, with the spit landing on his face. She was restrained again and spat once more in the police vehicle, prompting the preparation of a spit hood which was not applied after she claimed she would vomit.

Helen Driver, after her 11-month relationship ended via phone on March 26, 2025, went to her ex-partner's home in Cramlington and poured two 2.5L bottles of bleach into his pond, killing his six Koi Carp fish that he had kept for seven years and valued at £1,392. She was captured on CCTV, admitted the act immediately, and the fish died despite attempts to rescue them by placing them in fresh water. The victim expressed devastation over the loss and disgust at the unnecessary killing of innocent animals.

Navid Yousefnezhad was driving a BMW on Westgate Road in Newcastle on July 21, 2025, without insurance and only holding a provisional licence. When police pulled him over, he lied about his identity, giving the name and date of birth of his 40-year-old cousin despite warnings. He maintained the deception until a driving licence photo disproved it, leading to charges for obstructing a police officer, driving without insurance, and driving not in accordance with a licence.

Mark Parfitt entered a shop in Stakeford, near Ashington, selected a single chocolate bar, and attempted to leave without paying. When confronted by a staff member, he grabbed the victim's neck and collar, pulling and pushing him in an assault. The worker broke free, recovered the chocolate bar, and Parfitt was later arrested nearby.

On July 9, 2025, Alison Nash was driving her Mini Cooper while over the drink-drive limit, crashing into a bollard and then into the front yard of a property in Ashington, becoming wedged between a house and a fence. She was spotted by a witness, attempted to exit the vehicle but had to use the boot, and was arrested after failing a breath test with a reading of 69mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mcg.

Derek Struthers entered Home Bargains in Cramlington on April 25, 26, and 27, 2025, and stole bottles of wine each time, with the goods not recovered and the total value amounting to £19.97. He admitted to the offences, stating he could not remember the third incident but pleaded guilty regardless, amid personal circumstances including homelessness and health struggles.