Teesside Crown Court Sentencing Results

Christopher Stubbs

Murder

December 19, 2025

Sentence: life imprisonment with minimum term extended to 36 years

Christopher Stubbs murdered Lee Pettite in 2016 and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 24-year minimum term. He later stabbed a prison officer with a 'hook shank' during a vicious prison attack, leading to an extension of his minimum term by 12 years.

Jailed for life for the murder of Lee Pettite in 2016; 24-year jail term extended by another 12 years after stabbing a prison officer with a 'hook shank' and acting like a rabid dog.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Matthew Eeles

Fraud

December 19, 2025

Sentence: almost 2 years imprisonment

Matthew Eeles committed fraud by billing fake lorry drivers to settle a £20,000 drug debt, leading to imprisonment for breaching his suspended sentence.

Jailed for almost two years after failing to comply with a suspended sentence order for fraudulently billing fake lorry drivers to pay £20k drug debt.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Neil Charlton

Arson

December 19, 2025

Sentence: suspended sentence order

Neil Charlton set fires in his own home during a psychotic episode induced by drugs, resulting in a suspended sentence as he has rehabilitated.

Handed suspended sentence after setting fires in his own home during a drug-induced psychotic episode; has since turned his life around.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Thomas Whieldon

Possession of Indecent Images

December 19, 2025

Sentence: community order

Thomas Whieldon, 30, possessed indecent images of children after his internet use was flagged by police, leading to a community order.

30-year-old highly intelligent paedophile given community order after possession of sickening indecent images flagged by internet use.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Stefan Ciuraru

Rape

December 18, 2025

Sentence: part of total 39 years imprisonment

North East gang including Stefan Ciuraru convicted of the sexual exploitation, rape, and abuse of six girls.

Leonard Paun

Rape

December 18, 2025

Sentence: part of total 39 years imprisonment

North East gang including Leonard Paun convicted of the sexual exploitation, rape, and abuse of six girls.

Klaudio Aleksiu

Rape

December 18, 2025

Sentence: part of total 39 years imprisonment

North East gang including Klaudio Aleksiu convicted of the sexual exploitation, rape, and abuse of six girls.

Codrin Dura

Rape

December 18, 2025

Sentence: part of total 39 years imprisonment

North East gang including Codrin Dura convicted of the sexual exploitation, rape, and abuse of six girls.

Harley Rutley

Grievous Bodily Harm

December 18, 2025

Sentence: 18 months in a Youth Offender Institution

In the early hours of October 11, 2025, two Harbour police officers were patrolling Redcar seafront when they came across a parked car with bottles of nitrous oxide nearby and smelled cannabis. After speaking to Rutley, he ran off but was chased by one officer. Rutley squared up and punched the officer in the face at least twice, knocking him backwards. The officer's head hit the concrete floor with considerable force, causing a 7cm gash to the back of his head, jaw soreness, concussion for three weeks, short-term amnesia, and two weeks off work. Rutley fled but handed himself in after police contacted his family. The officer is expected to make a full recovery.

Pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm. One previous conviction for five offences, including affray and burglary. Judge noted he was trying to evade arrest rather than hurt somebody. Defendant has ADHD and was drug-influenced at the time but is now drug-free in prison.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Henry Renton

Child rape

December 18, 2025

Sentence: additional sentence added to existing 15-year prison sentence

Henry Renton, an OAP paedophile, was convicted of further child rapes in the North East while already serving 15 years.

Bogdan Gugiuman

Rape

December 18, 2025

Sentence: part of total 39 years imprisonment

North East gang including Bogdan Gugiuman convicted of the sexual exploitation, rape, and abuse of six girls.

Amy Cave

Causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm

December 17, 2025

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Craig Neill and Amy Cave left a child with life-threatening injuries including a fractured skull, significant brain injury requiring temporary skull removal, fractured jaw, both wrists broken in three places, extensive bruising across the body including head and neck, and burns to the hand. The injuries were caused by blunt force, significant force, and sadistic behaviour, inflicted deliberately. Emergency services were called to a house in the Branksome area of Darlington on May 26, 2025, after reports of an unresponsive child. Neill and Cave were arrested, denied responsibility, but were found guilty following a trial.

Pleaded not guilty but found guilty after trial. No previous convictions. Failed to acknowledge toxic relationship. Judge noted some aggression during trial and lack of truthful account. Anticipated to be her first and last experience of custody.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Craig Neill

Causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm

December 17, 2025

Sentence: 14-year extended prison sentence, 13 years custodial

Pleaded not guilty but found guilty after trial. Majority of injuries inflicted by him. Eight previous convictions for 14 offences including racially aggravated harassment, robbery involving a knife, and stalking. Judge noted aggressive behaviour during trial, no remorse, dangerous offender, mental health issues and adverse childhood experiences mentioned.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Eleanor Wilson

Causing death by careless driving

December 15, 2025

Sentence: 6 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 200 hours unpaid work, 25 days rehabilitation activity, complete ‘First Steps to Change’ programme

On June 15, 2022, Eleanor Wilson, driving a light blue Ford Ka, pulled out from the slip road junction at Ingleby Arncliffe on the A19 southbound, crossing the carriageway to join the northbound route without properly looking, colliding with Dax Jones who was riding his Yamaha MT motorcycle in lane two. The impact caused Mr Jones to be thrown 40 feet into the air, resulting in fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite first aid from bystanders and paramedics.

Pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving after being found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Ginette Warne

Animal Cruelty

December 15, 2025

Sentence: sentenced

30 dogs found living amongst faeces, rotten food and rat droppings in Ginette Warne's Teesside home; two lurchers Rocket and Arti rescued and facing third Christmas in kennels.

Home in Loftus covered in faeces, rotten food and rat droppings; smell made it difficult for RSPCA inspectors to stay inside.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Thomas Milton

Voyeurism

December 15, 2025

Sentence: sentenced after guilty verdict

Thomas Milton, of Eston, filmed women and girls undressing and used an AI bot to create naked photos, described as a 'classic peeping Tom'.

Sunil Satyapal Khanna

Fraudulent trading under the Companies Act 2006

December 13, 2025

Sentence: 2.5 years imprisonment

Sunil Satyapal Khanna and Daran David Bankhead facilitated a rogue fish-selling network that targeted elderly and vulnerable people in the North East from early 2019, using unfair, misleading and aggressive behaviour in victims' homes. Traders posed as legitimate sellers, pushing inside homes, dumping poor-quality or unlabelled fish, and refusing to leave until victims paid exorbitant prices via bank cards or cash. Total sales by criminal sellers under their network amounted to £300,578. Fish was often unfit for human consumption. Khanna bankrolled and equipped the sellers. The operation evolved into fraud by 2019 despite initial legitimate intentions in 2015.

Pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading under the Companies Act 2006. Sentence reduced from 3 years to reflect guilty plea. 68 years old, of Exelby Close, Newcastle. Silent 50% stakeholder in North Quay Fisheries Ltd, provided finance, card machines, vehicles and debt-chasing services.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Daran David Bankhead

Fraudulent trading under the Companies Act 2006

December 13, 2025

Sentence: 2.5 years imprisonment

Sunil Satyapal Khanna and Daran David Bankhead facilitated a rogue fish-selling network that targeted elderly and vulnerable people in the North East from early 2019, using unfair, misleading and aggressive behaviour in victims' homes. Traders posed as legitimate sellers, pushing inside homes, dumping poor-quality or unlabelled fish, and refusing to leave until victims paid exorbitant prices via bank cards or cash. Total sales by criminal sellers under their network amounted to £300,578. Fish was often unfit for human consumption. Bankhead supplied the fish and logistical support. The operation evolved into fraud by 2019 despite initial legitimate intentions in 2015.

Pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading under the Companies Act 2006. Sentence reduced from 3 years to reflect guilty plea. 48 years old, of Danelaw, Great Lumley. Supplied fish through his company North Quay Fisheries Ltd and provided vans and logistical support.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Sebastian Robinson

Rape and sexual assault

December 12, 2025

Sentence: 7 years in a youth offender institution

Sebastian Robinson, when he was a teenager, subjected a child victim to horrendous sexual abuse, including multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. He lived in a 'fantasy world' of porn that shaped his toxic attitudes towards women and girls. His behaviour included bullying and threatening elements, controlling the victim by threatening that they would be arrested if they reported to the police. The victim suffered a mental breakdown due to the traumatic abuse.

Found guilty after trial. Of previous good character and neurodivergent. Restraining order, sex offender register until further order, and sexual harm prevention order until further order imposed. Judge Jo Kidd commented on his descent into a fantasy world shaped by porn.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Sean Reay

Murder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum term of 32 years

On April 5, 2025, Sean Reay, seeking revenge for a suspected drug-related altercation earlier that day outside his home on Sabin Terrace, Stanley, led a gang to smash windows at a house on Elm Street to lure out a target. Believing the responsible party was inside Barry Dawson's home, Reay fired a single shot through the living room window, fatally striking innocent grandfather Barry Dawson, 60, in the chest, puncturing his heart, lung, and liver. The murder occurred in an ordinary residential street as children played outside and was captured on doorbell camera.

Ringleader and gunman. Pleaded not guilty, convicted after trial. Judge noted he was in charge and lived by a code viewing police as enemies.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Thomas Lee Sterling

Murder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years

Thomas Lee Sterling, 22, of The Avenue, Stanley, was found guilty of murdering Barry Dawson by shooting him through the broken living room window of his terraced house in South Moor, Stanley, on April 5, 2025.

Thomas Sterling

Murder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years

On April 5, 2025, Thomas Sterling participated in a 'show of strength' on Elm Street, Stanley, as part of Sean Reay's gang retaliating for a suspected drug-related altercation earlier that day. While Lawson smashed the window and Reay fired the shot, Sterling's presence supported the intimidation that led to the fatal shooting of innocent grandfather Barry Dawson, 60, through his living room window. The murder was recorded on doorbell camera amid children playing in the ordinary residential area.

Part of a 'show of strength' in the street. Pleaded not guilty, convicted after trial. Described as a key lieutenant.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Dale Hamilton

Drug trafficking

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 13 years imprisonment

Dale Hamilton, a Middlesbrough dealer from Hemlington and Coulby Newham, had his jail term extended for drug-related offenses.

Sentence extended by the solicitor general to keep 'this dangerous man off our streets'

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Andrew Mccubin

Arson

December 11, 2025

Sentence: sentenced

Andrew McCubin started a gas blast arson that ripped through a home on Kirkland Walk, near Frampton Green, in Park End, 18 months prior.

Ibrahim Mahmood

Conspiracy to commit fraud

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 4 years imprisonment

Ibrahim Mahmood, 28, of High Road in Willesden Green, was involved in a courier fraud operation targeting elderly and vulnerable pensioners in the Cleveland area. In June 2025, victims were contacted by telephone by individuals falsely claiming to be police officers investigating fraud offences. Victims were asked to withdraw money from their bank accounts or obtain foreign currency, which was then collected by a courier from the criminal gang. Mahmood operated the illicit activities from London and was arrested in a joint taskforce operation involving NEROCU, Cleveland Police, and the Metropolitan Police.

Pleaded guilty in July. Sentence reduced from 6 years due to guilty plea and time served.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Jack David Anthony Merry

Assault

December 11, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Jack David Anthony Merry savagely stamped on the head of an attack victim who lay unconscious, leaving the victim fearing he was dead.

Jonathan Price

Arson

December 11, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Jonathan Price, 53, set his neighbour's flat ablaze and stood watching as she screamed for help, described as a 'delusional' arsonist.

Keith Dorward

Perverting the course of justice

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 16 months imprisonment

After the April 5, 2025, murder of Barry Dawson in Stanley, Keith Dorward, who had come along with his cousin Kevin Dorward during the gang's trip to the scene, admitted to perverting the course of justice by attempting to burn the getaway vehicle to eliminate evidence.

Admitted perverting the course of justice by trying to burn out the getaway car. Cleared of murder. Accompanied his cousin Kevin.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Kelvin Craig Lawson

Murder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years

Kelvin Craig Lawson, 38, of Frosterley Gardens, Stanley, was found guilty of murdering Barry Dawson by shooting him through the broken living room window of his terraced house in South Moor, Stanley, on April 5, 2025.

Kelvin Lawson

Murder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years

On April 5, 2025, as part of Sean Reay's gang seeking revenge for a suspected drug-related altercation, Kelvin Lawson smashed the downstairs window of Barry Dawson's terraced house on Elm Street, Stanley, to enable a clearer shot at the believed target inside. This allowed Reay to fire the fatal shot through the living room window, killing innocent grandfather Barry Dawson, 60, in the chest while he investigated the noise. The incident was captured on doorbell camera in a residential street with children playing nearby.

Smashed the downstairs window to allow clearer shot. Pleaded not guilty, convicted after trial. Described as a key lieutenant.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Kevin Dorward

Perverting the course of justice

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 20 months imprisonment

Following the murder of Barry Dawson on April 5, 2025, Kevin Dorward, recruited by Sean Reay to drive the gang to the scene on Elm Street, Stanley, admitted to perverting the course of justice by attempting to burn the getaway car to destroy evidence.

Admitted perverting the course of justice by trying to burn out the getaway car. Cleared of murder.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Lee Tobin

Violent disorder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Martin Tobin and his brother Lee chased an attacker who was disarmed by his mum into the street, one armed with a meat cleaver.

Martin Tobin

Violent disorder

December 11, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Martin Tobin and his brother Lee chased an attacker who was disarmed by his mum into the street, one armed with a meat cleaver.

Michaela Hetherington

Perverting the course of justice

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 15 months imprisonment

In the aftermath of the April 5, 2025, shooting murder of Barry Dawson in Stanley, Kevin Dorward's partner Michaela Hetherington admitted to perverting the course of justice by lying to police, claiming the getaway car used in the crime had been stolen.

Admitted perverting the course of justice by falsely claiming to police that the car had been stolen. Released immediately after serving 246 days on remand.

Sources: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Mohammad Butt

Conspiracy to commit fraud

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 4 years imprisonment

Mohammad Butt, 32, of Evelyn Avenue in Kingsbury, was involved in a courier fraud operation targeting elderly and vulnerable pensioners in the Cleveland area. In June 2025, victims were contacted by telephone by individuals falsely claiming to be police officers investigating fraud offences. Victims were asked to withdraw money from their bank accounts or obtain foreign currency, which was then collected by a courier from the criminal gang. Butt operated the illicit activities from London and was arrested in a joint taskforce operation involving NEROCU, Cleveland Police, and the Metropolitan Police.

Pleaded guilty in July. Sentence reduced from 6 years due to guilty plea and time served.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Patrick William John White

Fraud

December 11, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Patrick William John White, 26, from Middlesbrough, took £1,500 from an 84-year-old woman by fleecing her over non-existent loft work.

Nathan Smith

Burglary

December 11, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Nathan Smith and three other men carried out a three-hour depot rampage, stealing two lorries which were later used in a ram-raid on JD Sports.

Part of a gang that stole two lorries involved in a ram-raid on JD Sports; spent jobseekers allowance on crack cocaine

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Andrew Brewer

Possession of heroin with intent to supply

December 7, 2025

Sentence: over five years imprisonment

Andrew Brewer, 53, was caught riding an e-scooter with wraps of heroin in Hartlepool streets.

Abdul-Qader Hamadamen

Possession of cocaine with intent to supply

December 7, 2025

Sentence: jailed

Abdul-Qader Hamadamen stashed £3k worth of cocaine in a kitchen roll at his Hartlepool home after he became involved in a drugs operation.

Stashed cocaine in a kitchen roll at his Hartlepool home after becoming involved in drugs operation.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

James Wheatley-Taylor

Intentional strangulation and arson

December 6, 2025

Sentence: 5 years imprisonment

James Wheatley-Taylor, 36, strangled his partner until she almost passed out and started a fire in the flat

Daniel Crawford

Stalking involving fear of violence

December 5, 2025

Sentence: 100 weeks imprisonment

Daniel Crawford, 33, from South Bank, broke into a woman's home by climbing through her window at night, causing her serious distress. He also parked outside her address, followed her in his car, and threatened her through her car windows. This was part of a campaign of harassment. He has a history of violence, including entering another woman's property uninvited, seizing her by the neck and threatening to kill her in April 2022, and dousing a former girlfriend with shampoo, plus a July 2022 conviction for battery after striking, throttling, and kicking a lorry driver following a road collision.

Pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence and making threats to commit criminal damage. Former soldier with prior convictions for battery. Remorse expressed, mental health issues noted. Restraining order issued.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Ben Collins

Affray and attempted kidnap

December 2, 2025

Sentence: 28 months imprisonment

Ben Collins and Samuel Nicholson chased the wrong victim through a quiet street in hazmat suits wielding machetes.

Machete-wielding thug in hazmat suit; pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, affray and attempted kidnap.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Steven Phillips

Robbery

December 2, 2025

Sentence: 3 years and 4 months imprisonment

Steven Phillips wielded a knife and demanded keys from two victims in Middlesbrough within 15 minutes of each other.

Stephen Leadbeater

Assault

December 2, 2025

Sentence: 54 months imprisonment

Stephen Leadbeater assaulted a doorman in Middlesbrough by hitting him with a bottle and stamping on his head.

Middlesbrough thug who hit doorman with bottle and stamped on his head, then blamed it on dead brother.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Sahil Nagpal

Causing death by dangerous driving

December 2, 2025

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Sahil Nagpal was driving his Hyundai i40 car along the A171 between Whitby and Teesside on the evening of October 8, 2023, when he made a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a rural stretch near Scaling Dam Reservoir, despite solid white lines, a 'hidden dip' warning sign, and a 'slow' marker. This resulted in a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by Paul Brand, who was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency treatment. Three members of Nagpal's family, travelling with him, sustained serious injuries. Nagpal was arrested and charged by North Yorkshire Police.

Found guilty after a four-day trial of causing death by dangerous driving and three offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Pleaded not guilty despite overwhelming evidence.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Samuel Nicholson

Affray and attempted kidnap

December 2, 2025

Sentence: 28 months imprisonment

Ben Collins and Samuel Nicholson chased the wrong victim through a quiet street in hazmat suits wielding machetes.

Machete-wielding thug in hazmat suit; pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, affray and attempted kidnap.

Sources: gazettelive.co.uk

Stephen Poulton

Rape

November 29, 2025

Sentence: 33 years imprisonment

Stephen Poulton, 63, of Ellis Gardens in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, raped three girls in separate incidents, subjecting them to violent sexual abuse. He recorded himself abusing the first victim and told her no one would believe her. With the second victim, he jumped up and down on her stomach to prevent pregnancy, severely impacting her mental health. For the third victim, he forced her to drink alcohol before raping her and kicked her in the back as a 'makeshift pregnancy avoider'. The offences involved a catalogue of 28 sex crimes, including rapes.

Found guilty of 28 sex offences after trial. Will be eligible for release after 22 years and on licence until age 100. Subject to sex offender notification requirements for life. Judge noted sadistic abuse including violence, humiliation, and recording. Defendant denies wrongdoing and has health issues (heart condition, diabetes, COPD).

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk

Stuart Cox

Child sexual abuse

November 29, 2025

Sentence: 21 years imprisonment plus 1 year extended licence

Stuart Cox, 63, from Sandport Walk, Stockton, carried out horrific sexual abuse against a child, using pharmaceuticals on himself to commit at least some of the offences. He was found guilty by a jury in September 2025 of 14 charges of depraved sexual offences. The victim described long-term isolation, ongoing struggle for justice, counselling, and lasting pain and memories from the abuse.

Found guilty of 14 charges of sexual offences. Continues to deny crimes. No prior offences of this nature; last court appearance in 1990. Subject to indefinite restraining order, sexual harm prevention order, and notification requirements order.

Sources: chroniclelive.co.uk