Newcastle Crown Court Sentencing Results

Bradley Hall, 26, leaned out of a top window at his home in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, holding a kitchen knife with a 6ins blade, and threatened to stab police officers and himself after they arrived for a welfare check prompted by a concerning Facebook post. He shouted threats including 'Knock on this door again and I will stick this knife in my throat, if you come inside, I will stick it in your throat' and falsely claimed to have a gun. No gun was found during the search of his home. He refused to engage initially but was eventually arrested.

On Sunday May 11, Bridgette Hope, 31, of Birtley, Gateshead, visited her mother around 3pm and mentioned she was going to have a fire at home, which her mother thought meant in the garden. Just before 9pm, she deliberately set fire to clothes and other items in the middle of her living room at Rutland Square, Birtley. She then left the property, telling a neighbour who smelled smoke that 'it's just my oven'. Thick black smoke was seen, but the blaze did not spread far, causing damage to the floor and ceiling estimated in thousands of pounds, with a massive financial impact on the landlord. A second fire site in the bedroom was noted but not confirmed for the same day. Police found her by a river bank with ash on her hands. She has been sectioned twice in the last three years, has a traumatic childhood, was depressed, isolated, self-harming, and addicted to drugs at the time, though not psychotic.

Dean Wilkinson held a woman captive in her own home in Kenton, Newcastle, between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day 2023. He subjected her to physical and mental abuse, including slapping, spitting, strangling, hitting her with a dog lead, confining her in a fabric-enclosed dog kennel for hours without food or water, and threatening to rape her or arrange for others to do so. He also recorded the abuse, watched her in the bath, made derogatory comments, and prevented her from leaving by setting up a booby trap. The victim, who was withdrawing from heroin, escaped by jumping out of a second-floor window, fracturing her ankle and vertebrae.

Ian Coates, of Ashbrooke, evaded police for ten months while wanted on prison recall, hiding in plain sight in a Sunderland flat despite extensive searches including a Crimestoppers appeal.

Dale Fowler assisted in holding a woman captive in her home in Kenton, Newcastle, between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day 2023. He participated in the abuse by laughing at her while she was confined in a dog kennel, recording the incident, and helping to prevent her from escaping. The victim was subjected to physical and mental torment, including being denied food and water, and she eventually escaped by jumping out of a second-floor window.

Connor Ormston, 31, of Fawdon, Newcastle, posed as a 16-year-old online to engage a nine-year-old girl in sickening contact, getting her to send sexual videos and images, calling it 'our little secret'; the girl's mother discovered it by checking her phone.

Kieran Connor, 22, of Shotton Colliery, drove at 125mph with lights off during a police chase on the A19, ramming cars, smashing through a closed road section, and doing 80mph in a 20mph zone, risking lives in a horrendous display.

Jack Miles took part in a pre-planned violent disturbance at HMP Northumberland on November 20, 2022, where a group of inmates targeted and attacked another prisoner in his cell. Miles entered the cell and participated in the second phase of the assault, contributing to the victim sustaining multiple stab wounds.

Casey Sistrunk, co-owner of Reptile Recovery and Discovery in Ashington with her father, accepted animals from the public that overwhelmed their resources, resulting in neglect. RSPCA visits revealed animals in poor conditions, such as multiple bearded dragons sharing vivariums, lack of heat and UV light, and some animals deceased or malnourished. The business, intended to help unwanted pets, spiralled out of control, with over 170 animals in a small space lacking adequate care.

Scott Steanson participated in a coordinated group attack on an inmate at HMP Northumberland on November 20, 2022. The victim was targeted in his cell by a group of prisoners, some armed with makeshift weapons. Steanson attempted to enter the cell while armed but was unsuccessful, and the attack left the victim with multiple stab wounds.

Mark Hall was involved in a pre-planned and coordinated violent attack on an inmate at HMP Northumberland on November 20, 2022. The incident occurred in the house block 7, where a group of prisoners assaulted the victim in his cell using makeshift weapons. Hall threw a pool ball at the victim during the disturbance but was unable to enter the cell.

Paul Young, co-owner of Reptile Recovery and Discovery in Ashington, took in more animals than the facility could handle, leading to neglect. In March of the previous year, RSPCA inspections found animals in inadequate conditions, including multiple bearded dragons in a single vivarium, some in plastic tubs without proper ventilation, heat, or UV light. Deceased and malnourished animals were discovered, and further visits confirmed ongoing issues with underweight animals. Despite warnings, the conditions persisted due to overwhelming numbers of incoming pets.

Armet Asprilla Cortes was part of a Colombian gang that targeted elderly people withdrawing large sums of cash from banks in the North East and other areas. The gang loitered in banking halls, identified victims, followed them, and used skilled distraction techniques to steal money. This included incidents in Hexham, where £7,000 was stolen from a woman's car; Gosforth, where £15,000 was taken; Newcastle, where £10,000 was stolen from a victim's home; Sunderland, where £3,000 was taken from a car; and Whitley Bay, where £1,000 was swapped using a similar envelope. The gang stole over £60,000 from 14 victims between August 2024 and April 2025.

Willmer Guzman was part of a Colombian gang that targeted elderly people withdrawing large sums of cash from banks in the North East and other areas. The gang loitered in banking halls, identified victims, followed them, and used skilled distraction techniques to steal money. This included incidents in Hexham, where £7,000 was stolen from a woman's car; Gosforth, where £15,000 was taken; Newcastle, where £10,000 was stolen from a victim's home; Sunderland, where £3,000 was taken from a car; and Whitley Bay, where £1,000 was swapped using a similar envelope. The gang stole over £60,000 from 14 victims between August 2024 and April 2025.

Mark Twizell helped Jake McIntyre hide the Mitsubishi Shogun used on the night of the attack and provided him with a BMW to use. He allowed the vehicle to be stored on land available to him in Stannington, Northumberland, and later moved it, knowing McIntyre was involved in an assault, though he claimed he did not know the full severity at first.

Takayama Silva, after being deported to Brazil in March for stalking his former partner, continued to contact the victim and her family via messages and social media. He breached a restraining order by sending messages declaring his love, attempting to follow the victim's accounts, and uploading photos of their past relationship. By May, he had re-entered the UK illegally, was found in Northern Ireland, and attempted to board a flight to Scotland. He was arrested at Belfast Airport on May 21.

Police discovered a cannabis farm with 99 plants in a property in Ponteland on October 7, 2019. Scott Patterson was found inside moving soil and was an account manager who knowingly supplied hydroponic equipment for the production of cannabis. The setup was elaborate and sophisticated, with a potential yield of over ten kilos worth up to £52,000.

Police discovered a cannabis farm with 99 plants in a property in Ponteland on October 7, 2019. Martin Hawdon was found inside moving soil and had messages on his phone seeking advice on managing the plants. The setup was elaborate and sophisticated, with a potential yield of over ten kilos worth up to £52,000.

Cameron Foale attended a mass riot in Sunderland on August 2, out of curiosity and while intoxicated. He threw a pole towards police officers attempting to manage the violent disorder, but it did not hit anyone. He was captured on CCTV committing the act.

Kyle Kirkpatrick approached children at the back of a home in North Tyneside in June 2025, prompting their mother to confront him. He became aggressive, shouting threats to stab her and reaching into his trousers, making her fear for her safety. He also threatened a neighbour, saying he would 'slice' him, and pulled a 20cm kitchen knife from his trousers. Police arrived, arrested him, and found the knife under a van. He was intoxicated at the time.