Teesside Crown Court Sentencing Results

Kane Bradley accused a takeaway delivery driver of attacking his friend, then used a hammer to strike a chef and whistled for back-up, escalating into a mass brawl on William Street, Eston, on April 25. The violence involved multiple attackers, with members of the public intervening, and resulted in injuries including slash marks. Bradley was actively involved in drug supply based on a separate police raid in November.

Chevez Le-Cheminant armed himself with a glass bottle during a mass brawl on William Street, Eston, on April 25, which started after Kane Bradley accused a delivery driver and called for back-up. He threw punches at the other group, and the incident involved weapons like poles, sticks, and a machete, leading to injuries and public intervention.

Callum Riley threatened takeaway staff and participated in a mass brawl on William Street, Eston, on April 25, which erupted after Kane Bradley accused a delivery driver and called for back-up. The violence involved weapons and assaults, leading to injuries, and Riley was later stopped for drug driving in November 2024 with cannabis and cocaine byproducts in his system.

Levi Le-Cheminant punched a man in the face, performed a running kick, and swung a machete at victims during a mass brawl on William Street, Eston, on April 25. The brawl began when Kane Bradley accused a delivery driver and sought back-up, involving armed individuals and resulting in injuries, with Levi also found in possession of cocaine wraps.

Christopher Sowerby, 30, from Teesdale Walk, Shildon, was part of a drug smuggling gang that imported cannabis from Thailand using mules. The gang stored the drugs in a safe house for onward distribution, leading to the seizure of drugs with a street value of £13m and over £280,000 in cash.

Ian Sowerby, 32, from Teesdale Walk, Shildon, was involved in a drug smuggling ring that transported cannabis from Thailand to the UK. The gang used safe houses to store the drugs, resulting in the recovery of drugs worth £13m and cash seizures by authorities.

Ethan Smith, 23, from Queen Street, Bishop Auckland, was part of a drug smuggling operation that sent mules to Thailand to obtain cannabis for importation into the UK. The gang's activities resulted in the seizure of drugs valued at £13m and over £280,000 in cash by police.

Sarah Leighton, 48, from Queen Street, Bishop Auckland, was involved in a drug smuggling gang that operated from County Durham to Thailand. The gang used drug mules to transport cannabis back to the UK, with police seizing over £280,000 in cash and drugs worth £13m during the investigation.

Shaun Sowerby, 37, from Teesdale Walk, Shildon, participated in a County Durham gang that smuggled drugs from Thailand. The operation involved safe houses for storing cannabis and cocaine, with police seizing 1.3 tonnes of cannabis and 30kg of cocaine during the investigation.

Hugh Holmes drove his Renault Megane at a victim who was trying to break up a fight on Faraday Street in Ferryhill on December 19, 2024. The victim, an innocent bystander, was hit and jammed between Holmes' car and another vehicle, suffering traumatic brain injuries that required seven months of hospital treatment. The incident stemmed from a altercation involving Holmes' girlfriend and others.

James Cowie was involved in a street fight in County Durham on 19 December 2024. He had been fighting with another man after a passenger in the other man's car claimed people in Cowie's van had been offensive to her. Cowie pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to eight months immediate imprisonment.

Kealan Hutchinson, 22, of Brankin Road in Darlington, collaborated with Clare Hume and Sophie Hume to sell puppies without a licence between May 2020 and April 2021. They used false accounts on Gumtree and Pets4Home to advertise various breeds, including cavapoos, bred dogs, and sourced puppies from places like Northern Ireland. The trio earned between £37,000 and £60,000 from this unlicensed commercial activity, with no evidence of animal ill-treatment, but they bypassed required licensing and checks under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Clare Hume, 42, of Tees Drive in Darlington, along with Sophie Hume and Kealan Hutchinson, operated an unlicensed business selling various breeds of puppies, including cavapoos, between May 2020 and April 2021. They set up false accounts on Gumtree and Pets4Home, bred dogs, collected puppies from sources including Northern Ireland, and misrepresented sales as domestic litters. There was no evidence of animal ill-treatment, but they conducted a substantial commercial operation without required checks or a licence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Sophie Hume, 22, of Tees Drive in Darlington, along with Clare Hume and Kealan Hutchinson, illegally sold puppies without a licence between May 2020 and April 2021. They advertised on Gumtree and Pets4Home using false accounts, bred and collected puppies from various sources including Northern Ireland, and claimed sales were of domestic litters. The operation earned between £37,000 and £60,000, with messages indicating they knew it was easier and more profitable than selling drugs, though no animal neglect was evident.

Janette Price, 69, was involved in a long-running dispute with her neighbours in Redcar over property upkeep and alcohol. On July 23, 2024, she armed herself with a kitchen knife and confronted her neighbour, stabbing her in the abdomen, which punctured her liver, and in the hand. The victim required surgery and now suffers from limited mobility, anxiety, and PTSD. Price was under the influence of alcohol during the incident and delayed emergency access to the victim.

Joshua Wilson, aged 20, was involved in a series of counterblow attacks in March 2024 as part of a dispute between rival organised crime gangs in South Durham. The attacks included throwing a petrol bomb at a house in St Helen Auckland on March 5, 2024, firing a shotgun at the front door; throwing another petrol bomb and firing a shotgun and a Skorpion machine gun at a house in Shildon on March 11, 2024; and throwing a petrol bomb and firing a 9mm pistol at a house in Darlington on March 17, 2024. No injuries occurred, and the incidents caused damage to the properties.

Taylor Ford, aged 20, was involved in a series of counterblow attacks in March 2024 as part of a dispute between rival organised crime gangs in South Durham. The attacks included throwing a petrol bomb at a house in St Helen Auckland on March 5, 2024, firing a shotgun at the front door; throwing another petrol bomb and firing a shotgun and a Skorpion machine gun at a house in Shildon on March 11, 2024; and throwing a petrol bomb and firing a 9mm pistol at a house in Darlington on March 17, 2024. No injuries occurred, and the incidents caused damage to the properties.

Ben Strangeways carried out a poison pen letter campaign, sending sickening letters to at least 10 victims across the country, including threats of rape and murder of their children, with references to engaging in necrophilia and murdered toddler. The campaign began with a Christmas card sent on December 24, and victims included a mum-of-four from Merseyside. He was arrested on January 10 at a bus station in possession of a flick knife and an 'attack kit' containing handcuffs, eye mask, ankle and wrist ties, energy tablets, and a drink. A search of his home uncovered handwritten letters, a black balaclava, a hammer, a knife, an air pistol, books about serial killers, and a 'child-like' sex doll.

Bradley Richmond, 29, of no fixed abode, stabbed his girlfriend through her hand in a jealous rage in 2016 after seeing a photo on her phone, causing permanent nerve damage that required surgery. He also bit off a man's ear during an altercation in Darlington on July 8, 2023, while out drinking, which led to unsuccessful reattachment surgery. The victim of the stabbing reported ongoing physical and mental health effects, including financial strain from work leave.

On 7th May 2025 at around 11:10pm, Dwayne Bates and Keiron Robinson attended an address on Middlebeck Close, Middlesbrough, both in possession of firearms. One man fired a shotgun through the window of the home at short range while children were inside. The other gun jammed and did not fire. Both suspects fled the scene; no one was physically injured.

Dylan Crocker was driving a Ford Fiesta on April 21, 2024, when he crashed into a wall on Coal Lane in Wolviston, near Billingham, seriously injuring three passengers. He fled the scene, leaving five people, including one in the boot, and was found hiding nearby. Passengers suffered severe injuries such as shattered pelvis, spinal damage, broken ribs, nerve damage, and long-term psychological effects, leading to job losses and ongoing pain.

Benjamin Clarke became fixated on his local MP, the victim, and made repeated threats to kill him and his family, including threats to firebomb the MP's property. These threats were made via social media and continued even while Clarke was on remand. Clarke had significant mental health problems, was a cannabis smoker, and consumed up to 1.5 litres of vodka daily. The incidents occurred in the context of his obsession, and he was arrested and charged accordingly.

On August 26, 2024, Cameron Watson was driving his private car on the A688 in County Durham, where he exceeded the speed limit by reaching speeds up to 117mph in a 60mph zone. He was observed weaving between lanes on the dual carriageway and driving through a roundabout junction at Clyde Terrace with little awareness or attention to other road users who might be entering.

On May 9, 2024, at around 2am in Durham city centre, Thomas Lee, aged 26 from Sherburn Village, made a false 999 call after a night out, posing as a Royal Military Police officer with a fake service number. He claimed to have witnessed a student putting a pill into a woman's drink as they left a bar. This led to the innocent student's arrest on suspicion of administering a noxious substance with intent. Lee's inconsistent statements and inability to provide ID exposed his lies; the Royal Military Police confirmed he had never served. The victim described severe emotional distress, shock, and fear that the false accusation could ruin his life, studies, and career.

Alan White, formerly of Richmond but now of Bedale, contacted what he thought was a 14-year-old girl on the Rando Chat platform between 31 August and 3 September 2024. The 'girl' was an adult decoy from a paedophile hunter group. White, who at the time was subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order banning contact with females under 18, engaged in sexually explicit conversation, asked for topless pictures, gave sexual instructions, and told her he loved her, while warning her not to tell her mother. Police arrested him on 3 September 2024 at his South End Avenue home and found the chat open on a Samsung tablet. He admitted the offences and was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, of which he will serve half before release on licence.