Newcastle Crown Court Sentencing Results

On October 8, 2023, Beth Watson, while intoxicated in The Phoenix nightclub in Hexham, headbutted a woman who accidentally bumped into her, threw her drink over her, grabbed her hair, and struck her in the head as she lay on the ground. She then punched another woman in the face, causing the first victim to suffer grazing to her forehead, redness, and a lip injury, and the second victim to sustain a black eye. Both victims required hospital treatment, and the first victim reported ongoing headaches and reduced social activity.

Carlo Ramhane, along with three others, broke into the ITZ Prints warehouse on Eddison Road in Washington in the early hours of February 24, 2025. They stole nearly £46,000 worth of vapes and related products. The group used two vans to transport the goods and fled when confronted by the warehouse owners, who arrived after a security alert. Police later tracked down the defendants in a white van in Thirsk, where a box of vapes worth £1,600 was found.

Dishad Ahmade Kalke, along with three others, broke into the ITZ Prints warehouse on Eddison Road in Washington in the early hours of February 24, 2025. They stole nearly £46,000 worth of vapes and related products. The group used two vans to transport the goods and fled when confronted by the warehouse owners, who arrived after a security alert. Police later tracked down the defendants in a white van in Thirsk, where a box of vapes worth £1,600 was found.

Dlshad Ahmade Kalke was part of a gang that broke into a storage facility in Washington, near Sunderland, in the early hours of February 24, stealing electronic cigarettes worth £46,000. The gang fled the scene, narrowly avoiding hitting a business owner with a van. He was arrested in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, along with three others, and items including a box of vapes worth £1,600, bolt cutters, and a crowbar were found in the van. The burglary caused £3,600 in damage to the building.

Mohammed Namq, along with three others, broke into the ITZ Prints warehouse on Eddison Road in Washington in the early hours of February 24, 2025. They stole nearly £46,000 worth of vapes and related products. The group used two vans to transport the goods and fled when confronted by the warehouse owners, who arrived after a security alert. Police later tracked down the defendants in a white van in Thirsk, where a box of vapes worth £1,600 was found.

On February 22, 2025, Lee Dodds, who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, entered a Co-op in Ellington armed with a 12-inch knife. He threatened the shop assistant by making jabbing motions with the knife and demanding money, from which he stole £121 in cash and £200 worth of vapes. After fleeing, he became aware that a witness was following him in her car and attacked the vehicle twice with a metal bar, causing damage. He was arrested shortly after and has a history of similar offences, including a 2017 conviction for attempted robbery.

Rebvar Saghezi, along with three others, broke into the ITZ Prints warehouse on Eddison Road in Washington in the early hours of February 24, 2025. They stole nearly £46,000 worth of vapes and related products. The group used two vans to transport the goods and fled when confronted by the warehouse owners, who arrived after a security alert. Police later tracked down the defendants in a white van in Thirsk, where a box of vapes worth £1,600 was found.

Steven Winters sexually assaulted a sleeping woman in the Newcastle area, where the victim woke up to find him standing over her and he stated, 'I didn't know you were awake'. This incident had a profound impact on the victim, who reported feeling violated and losing her peace of mind. The assault occurred years before his subsequent child sex offences, and he was sentenced for this specific crime.

Joseph McDonough and Danielle Donald broke into Ateres High School in Gateshead on August 21, 2023, stealing items worth £18,789, including a flat screen TV, computer server, safe containing petty cash, and 30 tablet computers. Donald was seen on CCTV pretending to clean a cupboard while rummaging through it, with her face uncovered.

Joseph McDonough and Danielle Donald broke into Ateres High School in Gateshead on August 21, 2023, stealing items worth £18,789, including a flat screen TV, computer server, safe containing petty cash, and 30 tablet computers. McDonough, who was casually employed by a cleaning company, was seen on CCTV attempting to disable cameras with spray paint and later tried to escape arrest by jumping from a second-floor window. The burglary involved an untidy search of offices and other areas.

Kai Lucas, who had been released on licence from a jail sentence for robbery, approached the owner of a vape shop in Sunderland and his friend while they were unloading stock around 5pm on October 14, 2024. He accused them of being 'illegal' and launched a sustained, racially motivated attack, punching one victim multiple times in the face and body, then turning to the shop owner and striking him repeatedly, knocking him unconscious after he hit his head on a wall and the path. Both victims required hospital treatment for bruising, cuts, and other injuries. Lucas shouted xenophobic remarks, including 'This is my country, go back to your country', and continued the assault despite attempts to intervene.

Glen Irwin, during a drunken altercation in November, took his former partner's phone and punched her each time she attempted to retrieve it. He also kicked her in the head and stomach, leaving her with extensive bruising to her forehead, both eyes, arm, and hand, as well as blood on her clothing and the floor. The attack occurred at his father's home after their five-year relationship ended due to prior violence while abroad on holiday.

Cory Lavery attacked his partner in the back of a moving taxi in Gateshead on March 14, 2025. He punched her two or three times and grabbed her neck, leaving her bloodied, bruised, and distressed. The taxi driver witnessed the incident and alerted authorities. After arriving at their destination in Bensham, Lavery continued the assault by pushing her several times outside the vehicle.

Paul Stoddart participated in a riot in Sunderland on August 2, 2024, where he was seen on CCTV kicking and breaking a window of a building. He entered a vape store during the disorder, stole numerous vapes from the stock room, and contributed to the overall chaos that made the city centre unsafe for the public. The burglary resulted in losses of around £42,000 in retail value, with total costs exceeding £83,000 due to theft, damage, and loss of trade.

Yousuf Musa, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, approached his first victim at a venue where she was helping asylum seekers. He asked for a hug, then forcefully grabbed her genitals and breast, pulling her towards him while she struggled and told him to stop. He made masturbating gestures and appeared to find the situation amusing. After his arrest and release, he followed another woman, approached her and her mother, repeatedly asked for hugs, and touched the older woman's shoulder despite refusals, causing her to feel violated and threatened. The incidents occurred in Ashington, Northumberland.

On December 23, 2024, Ryan Carney burgled a hotel room in Sunderland while the occupant was asleep, stealing gift-wrapped items including a Smeg Kettle and Toaster worth £289, and a £499 laptop needed for work. He was seen by another guest carrying the stolen items. Carney has 104 prior convictions. Additionally, on November 2, 2024, he committed affray by holding a broken bottle and approaching another man, resulting in an assault. He also admitted to criminal damage by pushing over a glass display cabinet in a Subway shop and to theft from shoplifting at Morrisons on 16 occasions between December 3 and 24, 2024. The victim reported significant emotional and financial impact.

On October 6, 2023, in Newcastle city centre, Carla Adams, who was homeless and in the process of transitioning, carried out an unprovoked attack on a pensioner in his late 60s or early 70s. The incident began when Adams hit the victim, leading to a confrontation in the Grainger Market. The victim followed Adams outside, where a scuffle occurred, and Adams struck him on the back of the head with a bottle, causing him to fall. The victim sustained a minor head injury and was treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Adams was restrained by passers-by, struggled, spat at an off-duty police officer, and was arrested.

Oussama Ettrii, armed with a knife, targeted a 20-year-old woman in an underpass on Eslington Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, around 4pm on May 26, asking for an iPhone charger while holding the knife. She panicked, shouted for help, and fled to her car. Hours later, shortly before midnight on the same day, he approached a 20-year-old man on Claremont Place, Newcastle city centre, with a knife in his tracksuit bottoms, demanding his phone and attempting to force him to log out of his iCloud. He dragged the victim towards bushes, took the phone, and left. Ettrii was arrested four days later, and the stolen phone was found at his home. The victims reported significant stress, anxiety, and terror as a result.

Ian Ashby subjected his partner to violence on two separate occasions. On July 31, 2024, while she was at his sister's home, he became angry, headbutted her nose, grabbed her head and smacked it against a door, threw a bottle of lager at her causing cuts to her arm and ankle, and strangled her, making it difficult for her to breathe. On October 26, 2024, during a drunken argument, he shoved, punched, bit her ear and breast, strangled her by putting his arm on her windpipe, and punched her seven times in the ribs, leaving her with bruising, bite marks, and other injuries. She required hospital treatment and reported a significant impact on her mental health and daily life.

In June 2023, Lyon Dunn targeted a vulnerable elderly couple in Chopwell, Gateshead, by knocking on their door and offering gardening work for £40, which he demanded in advance. He drove the victim, who had suffered a stroke, to a cashpoint while disqualified from driving, and repeatedly returned to demand more money for a broken strimmer. On June 21, 2023, he attended with Philip Byrne, demanded £60, and after limited work was done, entered the home without permission and stole the couple's TV.

Philip Byrne was involved in burgling a vulnerable elderly couple in Chopwell with Lyon Dunn on June 21, 2023, entering their home without permission and stealing a TV after demanding money for gardening work. Additionally, on August 1, 2024, and in subsequent incidents, he participated in aggravated burglaries in Birtley and Gateshead, where he and others armed with weapons like crowbars and machetes entered homes, demanded drugs and cash, threw broken bottles, smashed windows, and used substances believed to be ammonia, causing injury and terror to victims.

Christopher Ryan-Dee and his brother approached a 74-year-old woman from behind while she was walking along High Street West in Sunderland in November 2024, yanking her bag and causing her to fall and sustain a broken arm. The victim was left traumatised, anxious, and nervous about going out. Members of the public witnessed the incident and directed police to a nearby dessert shop where the brothers were arrested, with Christopher carrying the victim's bank cards.

Jay Ryan-Dee and his brother approached a 74-year-old woman from behind while she was walking along High Street West in Sunderland in November 2024, yanking her bag and causing her to fall and sustain a broken arm. The victim was left traumatised, anxious, and nervous about going out. Members of the public witnessed the incident and directed police to a nearby dessert shop where the brothers were arrested, with Jay carrying the victim's phone and other items.