Newcastle Crown Court Sentencing Results

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.

Ian Coates, of The Grove, 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.

Kieran Connor, 22, of Trotter Terrace, Shotton Colliery, Durham, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 on Darras Road, Darras Hall, 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.

Police discovered a cannabis farm with 99 plants in a property on Darras Road, Darras Hall, 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.

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.

Joseph Henderson drove the Range Rover as part of an organised crime group's operation on August 24, 2024, assisting in the kidnapping of a taxi driver and passenger from Jesmond Vale to Gateshead at gunpoint for financial gain.

Callum Armstrong was seen on CCTV wearing a white polo shirt and black shorts, walking with two other men during a riot in Sunderland in August 2024. He threw a can of beer towards two men who were inside an open window, striking the window sill, which was described as an attempted assault. This occurred amid widespread public disorder that involved jeering, racial slurs, and missiles being thrown by the crowd, leading to damage to buildings, shops, and police vehicles, with injuries to police officers and terror for the public.

Clifford Redman, a 57-year-old DWP decision maker from Sunderland, fraudulently claimed £19,000 in Personal Independence Payments (PIP) by failing to report improvements in his mobility from March 2020 to February 2023. He had initially made a legitimate claim in July 2017 for conditions including spinal arthritis and diabetes, claiming he needed help with daily activities. However, surveillance from August 1 to August 24, 2022, captured him walking up to three miles, attending the gym regularly, lifting furniture, and engaging in activities without apparent discomfort, contradicting his claims. Evidence from his Facebook also showed him walking on sand and bending easily.

Darren Hutchinson engaged in a violent altercation in Newcastle city centre on August 28, 2023, following a row in a bar. The incident escalated when Hutchinson threatened the victim, leading to a physical fight in a bus shelter. During the attack, Hutchinson bit off part of the victim's ear, causing excruciating pain and permanent disfigurement. The victim was apologising at the time, and the assault continued with punches until members of the public and police intervened. The victim has suffered ongoing anxiety, panic attacks, and self-consciousness about the injury.

Andrew Tait was found with a collection of chemicals and items that could be used to make improvised explosive devices at his family home on Pennywell Road in Sunderland. Police conducted a search on April 26, 2025, after receiving intelligence about potential explosives, discovering 11 chemicals including a litre of hydrogen peroxide, fireworks, a spent smoke grenade, spent ammunition cartridges, a 3D printer with 3D-printed knuckle dusters, laboratory equipment, and documents detailing the manufacture of explosives and detonators. He claimed he was experimenting as part of his interest in chemistry from studying at the Open University and had no intention of causing harm.

Lee Ellis strangled and assaulted his former partner in two separate attacks. On October 28, 2024, during an argument, he pulled her into a bedroom, pinned her down by her neck, applied pressure making her fear suffocation, covered her mouth, and tried to snap her fingers, damaging her nails. In December 2024, he waited outside her home, grabbed her by the neck, pushed her, and caused her to fall and sprain her wrist while her young daughter watched from the car. The victim reported ongoing trauma from the abuse throughout their relationship.

Nevruz Debrova was caught tending to a cannabis farm in a house on Tunstall Terrace, Sunderland, which had been converted into a drugs factory. Police raided the property on July 29, 2025, finding around 200 cannabis plants, including 100 young plants in a bedroom and 80-100 saplings under the stairs, along with 2-3 kilos of cannabis in a vacuum-sealed bag. The setup was sophisticated, with the electricity meter tampered to bypass usage. He had been working there for about 20 days and claimed he participated due to debts and inability to find legitimate work.

Daniel Kirtley attended a protest in Sunderland city centre on August 2, 2024, which escalated into violent disorder. He joined a group heading towards a mosque, stood in front of police officers protecting the area, was pushed back multiple times, and eventually picked up and threw a missile towards the police line. This occurred amid widespread disorder that cost £1.5m in policing expenses, though there was no evidence he was motivated by religious hostility.