South Tyneside Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

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.

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.

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.