South Tyneside Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 20 verdicts at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court (South Shields). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

January 2026 1 case

Clarice Mole

Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal *

Sentence

£200 fine, £1,700 costs, £80 victim surcharge

Clarice Mole caused unnecessary suffering to her seven-year-old female bulldog, Beast, by failing to deal with the causes of her poor bodily condition and weight loss, leading to the dog's death by starvation. In March 2025, Mole took Beast’s body to a vet after the dog died at home. Staff at the veterinary centre contacted the RSPCA amid concerns about the pet's body condition. A post-mortem by a veterinary pathologist at Liverpool University indicated that Beast had starved to death. The dog's body was in a thin condition, scored 2 out of 9, smelt strongly of urine, was covered in faeces, and had slightly overgrown nails with paws caked in mud or faeces.

In mitigation, she hadn't realised the dog wasn't eating and believed other dogs were eating its share. She said she had tried her best but hadn't been able to cope.

6 Jan 2026

December 2025 7 cases

Mark Thompson

Burglary of a non-dwelling *

Sentence

£80 fine, £85 costs, £32 victim surcharge

Richard Teague, 34, and Mark Thompson, 57, both of Harrow Street in Shiremoor, squeezed through a gap in a makeshift fence outside Sainsbury's in Whitley Bay at 4am on December 17, 2025. They entered a marquee storing drinks, stole £560-worth of fizzy drinks, loaded them into a trolley, and made off. They were spotted by a passing paramedic who alerted police. Thompson was detained at a nearby Metro station, and Teague was arrested while riding a bike in possession of some stolen items.

Pleaded guilty to burglary of a non-dwelling. On a community order for a previous shop burglary at the time of the offence. Offence was opportunistic; goods recovered.

20 Dec 2025

Richard Teague

Burglary of a non-dwelling *

Sentence

£80 fine, £85 costs, £32 victim surcharge

Pleaded guilty to burglary of a non-dwelling. Recently finished a suspended sentence and awaiting sentence at crown court for another burglary. Offence was opportunistic; goods recovered.

20 Dec 2025

Jordan Proctor

Fly-tipping *

Sentence

£200 fine, £275.72 costs, £207.60 compensation, £80 victim surcharge

Jordan Proctor, 32, and Ashleigh Reed, 37, of Somerset Street, Silksworth, dumped waste from a property in Carley Road across both sides of a back lane between Carley Road and Edward Burdis Street in Southwick, Sunderland. The waste included white goods, furniture, household waste, bin bags, wood and a road works street sign. They were caught on CCTV during a council investigation into environmental crime. They ignored interview appointments and failed to engage with inquiries by the Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations (SARA) team.

Admitted fly-tipping. Failed to attend initial interviews and court, leading to arrest warrant.

12 Dec 2025

Ashleigh Reed

Fly-tipping *

Sentence

£200 fine, £465.72 costs, £220.61 compensation, £80 victim surcharge

Admitted fly-tipping. Failed to attend initial interviews and court, leading to arrest warrant.

12 Dec 2025

Ian Irwin

Shop theft *

Sentence

£120 fine, £85 costs, £48 victim surcharge

On October 27, 2024, Ian Irwin attempted to steal five Marvel action figures from Iceland in Byker by concealing them under his jacket. An officer spotted a woman acting suspiciously outside the store, entered, and noticed Irwin's bulging jacket. When stopped, Irwin admitted 'Banged to rights, I was shoplifting'. The items were recovered from inside his jacket.

Pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft. Has 109 previous offences including 65 for theft. Stayed out of trouble since March 2024 but had a partial relapse due to living in a hostel.

7 Dec 2025

Julie Lowery

Racially-aggravated public order offence and shop theft *

Sentence

£120 fine, £85 costs, £48 victim surcharge

Julie Lowery, 43, of Pattinson Gardens in Gateshead, entered the Durham City branch of Subway at around 11.30pm on June 9, 2025, with a male companion. After the staff refused to call the police for her cut lip, she became aggressive, screaming and shouting racist slurs including 'p**** b******' at the student worker, who felt intimidated and distressed. She then took packets of crisps without paying and left.

Pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated public order offence and shop theft. Extensive criminal record, last convicted of shop theft in 2024. Remorseful, had been victim of assault prior to incident.

7 Dec 2025

Sarah White

Shoplifting *

Sentence

£80 fine, £85 costs, £32 victim surcharge

On October 1, 2025, Sarah White, 34, of Walker Park Close in Walker, entered John Lewis in Newcastle city centre and concealed a bottle of Paco Rabanne perfume on her person, intending to leave the store. She was challenged by security, who retrieved the perfume. The incident was captured on CCTV. During police interview, she admitted the offence and stated she planned to sell the perfume. She had previous cautions and reprimands for shoplifting but no convictions.

Pleaded guilty to shop theft. No prior convictions but owed £1,314 in Metro fines. Failed to appear in court earlier, leading to arrest warrant.

4 Dec 2025

November 2025 6 cases

Rachel Hardy-Gent

Outraging public decency *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment

Rachel Hardy-Gent was seen by a delivery driver engaging in sexual intercourse with a male outside Park View Shopping Centre in full view of passers-by and shoppers. She was naked from the waist down with her chest exposed, and the male had his trousers and underwear pulled down. The incident occurred during the day, leading to police involvement. Upon arrest, a jagged broken wine bottle neck was found in her bra. Hardy-Gent, who had recently moved to the North East from Carlisle, had consumed excessive alcohol and blacked out, with no recollection of the events. She carried the bottle for self-protection without intent to use it.

Pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, possession of an offensive weapon and breaching a suspended sentence. Has 58 previous offences. Defendant requested imprisonment for help with alcohol misuse and housing issues.

30 Nov 2025

Curtis Telford

Theft, assault and criminal damage *

Sentence

8-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, £50 compensation, £85 costs

Curtis Telford, 26, was staying with his grandparents in Stakeford, Northumberland, when he asked for money on November 26, 2025, which they refused believing he would use it to buy drugs. He flew into a rage, stole a TV sound bar belonging to his grandfather to sell for drugs, and while leaving the house, barged past his grandfather causing an assault with no injury, and knocked a photo frame off the wall causing criminal damage. He owned the TV but intended to sell the sound bar.

Pleaded guilty to theft, assault and criminal damage. Prior convictions including robbery of a shop at knifepoint and offences against his grandparents. Given one final chance to stay out of prison.

29 Nov 2025

Cheryl Gough

Failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation *

Sentence

£660 fine, £155 compensation, £364 costs

On 6 March 2025, waste identifying Cheryl Gough of Fuller Road was found at a fly-tipping incident on Fuller Road in Hendon, Sunderland. She was served a formal notice to attend an interview with Sunderland City Council's Community Safety team but did not attend or provide a reasonable excuse, ignored further notices and warnings, and failed to appear in court.

Case proven in absence for failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation. Waste identifying her was found at a fly-tipping incident on Fuller Road on 6 March 2025. Failed to attend interview, comply with notices and warnings, and attend court.

27 Nov 2025

Stacey Loughlin

Failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation *

Sentence

£660 fine, £264 compensation, £356 costs

Stacey Loughlin, of Hastings Street, was served a formal notice to attend an interview with Sunderland City Council's Community Safety team regarding fly-tipping incidents in the Hendon area captured on CCTV between November 2024 and January 2025. She did not attend or provide a reasonable excuse, ignored further notices and warnings, and failed to appear in court.

Case proven in absence for failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation. Failed to attend interview, comply with notices and warnings, and attend court.

27 Nov 2025

Toni Steele

Failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation *

Sentence

£660 fine, £310 compensation, £492 costs

Toni Steele, of Hastings Street, was served a formal notice to attend an interview with Sunderland City Council's Community Safety team regarding fly-tipping incidents in the Hendon area captured on CCTV between November 2024 and January 2025. She did not attend or provide a reasonable excuse, ignored further notices and warnings, and failed to appear in court.

Case proven in absence for failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation. Failed to attend interview, comply with notices and warnings, and attend court.

27 Nov 2025

Penn Elcom Limited

Breach of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 *

Sentence

£80,000 fine

Penn Elcom Limited failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and visiting workers by not having suitable and sufficient measures in place to prevent falls from height during loading and unloading operations at their site in Washington. On November 18, 2024, Graham Davis, a 65-year-old driver employed by Dobbs Logistics Ltd, suffered a brain injury and multiple fractures after falling from an HGV trailer while manually moving cages during the loading process. One wheel of a cage became stuck, causing the cage to fall and Davis to step backwards off the trailer. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that if HSE guidance had been followed, the risks could have been identified and eliminated by changing how the work was done.

Pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Ordered to pay £4537.32 in costs.

18 Nov 2025

June 2025 2 cases

Kevin Wood

Burglary *

Sentence

68 weeks imprisonment

Kevin Wood, a 46-year-old with no fixed abode, was spotted by Northumbria Police officers committing an attempted robbery in Sunderland city centre. He terrorised local businesses through repeat offending and opportunistic actions, leading to charges for criminal damage, burglary, and multiple thefts.

Charged with one count of criminal damage, one count of burglary, and 10 counts of theft. Inspector Jamie Southwell commented that Wood's actions brought unrest to Sunderland city centre.

5 Jun 2025

William Johnson

Failing to provide assistance in fly-tipping investigation *

Sentence

£120 fine, £150 costs, £48 victim surcharge

William Johnson, 60, of Carley Road, Southwick, failed to provide assistance to officers investigating a fly-tipping incident in a back lane between Carley Road and Edward Burdis Street, after failing to comply with an enforcement notice. He did not attend court in June.

Found guilty in absence of failing to provide assistance to officers investigating fly-tipping after failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

1 Jun 2025

March 2025 1 case

Christine Overton

Causing unnecessary suffering to animals contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 *

Sentence

18 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months, lifetime ban from keeping animals, 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 250 hours unpaid work, £750 costs

Christine Overton, 54, moved from her property on The Close in Seghill, Northumberland, to a new address in Allerdean Close, Seaton Delaval, less than two miles away, leaving her two cats (Tom, aged 3, and Oreo, aged 2) shut in separate bedrooms and a hamster in the living room without adequate access to food or water. The decomposing remains were discovered by RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor on or around April 26, 2024, after public reports of a cat in the window. The cats had been unable to reach 80 pouches of cat food in the hallway; one room was bolted from the outside. The hamster had no water and only inedible seed husks. A vet estimated the cats had been dead for at least 23 days, possibly over three months, due to starvation and dehydration. The property was in a filthy state with rubbish, faeces, and a strong odour from a fridge freezer.

Found guilty in absence of one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Magistrates horrified at pets dying in misery due to neglect. Self-medicating with alcohol and sought fresh start.

6 Mar 2025

December 2024 1 case

Jordan Gilchrist

Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 *

Sentence

10-year disqualification from keeping animals, 12-month community order, 12 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 12-month mental health treatment requirement, £400 costs, £114 victim surcharge

Jordan Gilchrist, 30, of Salcombe Avenue in Jarrow, failed to provide veterinary care for his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Reggie, resulting in severe untreated conditions including skin disease with infections and fur loss, chronically inflamed ears with purulent discharge, red conjunctiva, swollen gums, overgrown nails growing into pads, and an overwhelming smell. The issues developed over at least six to eight weeks, likely longer, and were easily recognizable. RSPCA inspector visited on July 7, 2024, due to welfare concerns; Gilchrist claimed contact dermatitis and difficulty contacting vets, but agreed to seizure. Reggie had not seen a vet for about two years.

Pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. RSPCA prosecution.

9 Dec 2024

June 2024 1 case

Daniel Flint

Driving with excess alcohol *

Sentence

£825 fine and 24-month driving disqualification

Daniel Flint, a former Durham Constabulary officer, crashed his grey Volkswagen Transporter into street furniture near Northgate roundabout in Morpeth, Northumberland, at about 3am on February 2, 2024, while over the drink drive limit. He moved the extensively damaged vehicle from the scene before police arrived. Officers later tracked and arrested him, where a breath test showed 105mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mg. He provided no comment during his interview.

Pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after an accident. He resigned from Durham Constabulary in April and was found to have committed gross misconduct.

6 Jun 2024

July 2023 1 case

Dean Matthews

Supply of class A drugs *

Sentence

13 years imprisonment

Dean Matthews used an EncroChat encrypted phone to organise dealing large quantities of class A drugs, including 22kg of cocaine with a street value of £803,000, across Durham, South Tyneside, and Sunderland between March and May 2020. He was identified through a picture of his 'ouch' tattoo sent via messages. Matthews was arrested in May 2022, charged in 2023, and sentenced following the investigation.

Linked to drug dealing through his distinctive 'ouch' tattoo on his foot. Was a prominent member of an organised criminal network supplying cocaine.

22 Jul 2023

Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from publicly available court records and published media reports. It is provided strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as a definitive record of any individual's criminal history or legal status.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) reflect descriptions used in media reporting and may not correspond to the formal legal charge or indictment. Sentencing details are as reported and may be subject to subsequent appeal, variation, or correction by the courts.

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Millbank/Secretan Way, South Shields NE33 1RG, South Shields, NE33 1RG, United Kingdom

+441914558800

www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk

Wheelchair accessible parking, Wheelchair accessible entrance

Monday - Friday: 08:30 - 16:30

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About South Tyneside Magistrates' Court

South Tyneside Magistrates' Court, located in South Shields, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 20 sentencing records in our database, it serves the South Shields area and surrounding communities. Magistrates' Courts handle the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales, with cases heard by a bench of magistrates or a district judge.

The court can be found at Millbank/Secretan Way, South Shields NE33 1RG, NE33 1RG.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441914558800 or visit the official court website for further information.

All sentencing information published on this page has been sourced from publicly-available records and verified by our editorial team. If you believe any information is inaccurate or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above.