In the month of October a sex act police officer, a nightmare neighbour 'intent on revenge' and a paedophile trucker were among the criminals hauled before courts.

Catch up on the tales of last month's criminals who were locked up for crimes committed on Teesside and beyond.

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Vandam Damzi

A danger driver who crashed his BMW into a bus has been locked up. Vandam Damzi was arrested by Matrix officers after colliding with a bus on Cumberland Road, in Middlesbrough, around 11.30pm on January 11.

The 29-year-old was captured on CCTV prior to the crash in his BMW where he overtook another vehicle at speed on Linthorpe Road, at the junction with Chipchase Road. After colliding with the bus, he fled the scene was later arrested.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the crash but pictures from the scene show the extent of the damage to the bus and the abandoned BMW. Damzi was later charged with driving a motor vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence, dangerous driving and failing to stop after a road accident.

Damzi, of no fixed abode, failed to appear at court and was later detained in the Ipswich area by police after he was arrested in connection with an unrelated offence. He was jailed for 12 months at Ipswich Crown Court.

Ryan Adams

A student officer at Durham Constabulary was caught performing a sex act in a car park. Ryan Adams has been jailed for 15 months after admitting two offences at Teesside Crown Court.

The now 28-year-old had been a student police constable for three months when he drove to a car park in Chester-le-Street in December 2024 and committed a sex act in full view of a couple who were sitting in their car. The court heard how the victims confronted Adams, previously of Langley Moor and now of Manchester, and filmed him leaving the scene in his car.

Adams then used the force data system to check whether anyone had reported his behaviour. Police traced Adams' vehicle and arrested him later the same night. He resigned from the force the following month, in January 2025.

Adams, who has no previous convictions, admitted improper use of police powers and outraging public decency. In a victim impact statement one of the witnesses described the incident as disgusting, adding that she felt shocked and had an empty feeling at the bottom of her stomach when she noticed what was happening and felt sick, reports Chronicle Live.

Justine Jefferson and Jordan Pain

Three shoplifters have been sentenced for stealing from businesses in Eston. One of them has been banned from Cleveland Retail Park and another man is prohibited from entering every Sainsbury's store in the area.

Jordan Pain, 31, of Wetherby Green, in Ormesby, pleaded guilty to nine counts of shop theft and to using threatening or abusive words. He was jailed for two weeks and made subject to a criminal behaviour order which bans him from entering Cleveland Retail Park.

Anthony Power, 41, of Abbeygate, in Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to eight counts of shop theft. He was handed a 12-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. Power must also attend rehabilitation meetings with the probation service and take part in a drug rehabilitation programme.

He was also handed a criminal behaviour order which bans him from every Sainsbury's in Redcar, the wider Cleveland area and Middlesbrough.

Justine Jefferson, 36, of Moorcock Close, in Eston, also appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court. She admitted five counts of shop theft. Jefferson was locked up for four weeks and was told she must take part in a drug rehabilitation programme.

Chris Bousfield and Carl Dunning

Two men have been jailed for their role in supplying class A drugs following a police raid. Chris Bousfield and Carl Dunning were arrested after officers closed in on a property in Stockton.

As Dunning tried to flee the house barefoot, a police drone caught him trying to dispose of a bag over a fence before officers tracked him down. Teesside Crown Court heard that on June 26, 2024, police executed a warrant at a house on Dunoon Close in Stockton, where officers found a large amount of cutting agent.

Cash and valuable property, including jewellery and what was believed to be a gold Rolex watch, were also recovered. Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, told the court that as officers raided the property police drone footage captured Dunning fleeing the house without a top or shoes on.

He was seen throwing a black bag over a fence into a neighbouring property before police tracked him down and arrested him. During a search of the property cash totalling more than £2,300 was found as well as a white substance, a number of phones, black scales, snap bags and gold necklaces, Mr Abrahams added.

While no cocaine was found at the property, analysis of a seized mobile phone belonging to Bousfield revealed several messages relating to drug supply or intent to supply. The court heard that Bousfield claimed the messages related to buying and selling cars, however, the drugs officer investigating the case found the language, measurements and cost referenced in the messages related only to the supply of cocaine.

Bousfield, 40, who has 12 previous convictions for 24 offences, pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and one count of possessing criminal property, relating to money recovered during the warrant. Bousfield, of Dunoon Close, Stockton, was jailed for three years.

Dunning, 35, of Axbridge Court, Billingham, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and one count of transferring criminal property, which was not directly linked to the case and related to criminal activity over a period of time. He was jailed for two years and eight months.

Kane Walker and Christopher Watson

A pair of street-brawlers fled from a scrap outside of a social club to hide in an attic – before one fell through the ceiling when police arrived. Kane Walker and Christopher Watson were involved in an incident outside the Roseworth Social Club in Stockton.

Teesside Crown Court heard a family had been drinking at the club, and during their time there one family member went outside for a cigarette, where she began talking to Walker, Watson and another man. When the family went to leave the club, the three men were still outside.

The court heard that the woman was walking separately from the rest of the family when a confrontation broke out and Watson and Walker ran towards her. Zaiban Alam, prosecuting, told the court: "CCTV from a neighbouring property captured the majority of the incident and while it's not clear from the footage who does what at what point, due to the quality of the footage, and it being dark at the time, some features can be made out."

The prosecution said the footage contained audio which placed Watson and Walker among the aggressors, while female voices begged them to stop and asked for police to be called. A man suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain during the incident, the court was told.

Ms Alam added: "The footage does show that there was a struggle in which [a man] was punched to the face and fell to the floor unresponsive, where he remained throughout the incident. The defendants then continued becoming involved in pushing, shoving and punching. On two distinct occasions, the defendants appear to leave the area, before then returning and becoming involved in violence again."

The injured man was taken to hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. He was also left with hearing loss in his right ear, the court was told. When police arrived at a house to arrest Walker and Watson the pair had been hiding in the attic, and Walker then fell through the ceiling.

Walker and Watson then became aggressive to police. As Walker was being taken to a police van he called an officer a "baldy ****" and started shouting in his face before spitting at another officer, the court heard.

Ms Alam said: "On the way to the custody suite, he is seen removing something from his pocket so the van was stopped. [The officer] attempted to see what was happening. The defendant then made further threats towards him and kicked him in the chest.

"He was then restrained and repeatedly kicked out at the officer. Doing so eventually caused him to be put into leg restraints."

Ms Alam added: "Whilst he was being searched during the latter part of the incident he deliberately spat at the officers again, this time the spital did connect with the face of [an officer]."

Walker – who was 18 at the time of the incident, on November 20, 2022, – has seven convictions for seven offences including battery and strangulation. The now 22-year-old, of Rosthwaite Avenue, Stockton, pleaded guilty to one count of affray and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. He was sentenced to 23 months and four weeks in prison.

Watson, 32, of Miers Avenue, Hartlepool, has 21 convictions for 34 offences, the majority for dishonesty. He pleaded guilty to one count of affray and was jailed for 25 months.

Cameron Coxall

A thug who threw a brick at the windscreen of a police vehicle days after a fatal crash claimed two officers' lives has been jailed. Cameron Coxall deliberately targeted Cleveland Police's scenes of crime vehicle as it travelled along Kings Road, in the direction of Ormesby Road in North Ormesby.

The 19-year-old was the passenger on a motorbike, which was without a number plate, when it went onto the other side of the road directly towards the vehicle. Coxall then threw a brick, causing a large crack to the windscreen while the driver was at the wheel.

Wearing a balaclava in an attempt to conceal his identity, Coxall and the driver then drove away on the pavement in the direction of Longlands Road towards Cargo Fleet Road. The incident happened on Tuesday, August 25, just days after seven people, including two police officers, were killed in a head-on collision on the A66 in South Bank.

Coxall, of Peirson Street, in Redcar, was arrested as part of a dedicated team of detectives who are conducting an ongoing operation that began in August into suspected serious and organised crime. On Thursday, October 1, Coxall appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court to be sentenced to four weeks in prison for criminal damage.

He was sentenced to a further four weeks imprisonment for a common assault on an emergency worker after he assaulted a prison officer on Monday, June 15. At 2.50pm Coxall had refused to go to his cell. As they attempted to return him his jacket fell off and, as this was given back to him, he spat directly in the eyes of the man.

The driver of the motorbike, Lucas Allen, 18, of Park Road in Hartlepool, was charged with criminal damage, driving without due care and attention, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. Following his appearance at Teesside Magistrates' Court, he was given a community order, disqualified from driving for 34 months and required to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Richard Heppenstall

An early morning robber targeted a McDonald's shift manager as she arrived at work in central Middlesbrough. Richard Heppenstall, 41, approached his victim after she had parked her car.

The woman thought he was going to ask her for some money, Teesside Crown Court heard, but Heppenstall asked to "borrow her car keys." A tug-of-war broke out as the robber tried to take the woman's keys off her at 7.30am on July 12.

Heppenstall became "more and more forceful", Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said, and the women loosened her grip. Heppenstall jumped into her Fiat 500 and locked the doors, the court heard, as members of the public saw what had happened and began filming him on their phones.

As one bystander tried to open the car door, Heppenstall sped off. He headed towards his supported accommodation – Letitia House – where the court heard he had been evicted from a night earlier. Ambulance staff were treating a patient outside the accommodation but Heppenstall "revved the vehicle and told the patient to get in," Mr Lonsdale said. The two drove off, before returning minutes later. When they returned, the police had arrived to arrest Heppenstall.

He was taken to the ground, and punched an officer in his face. In the back of the police van, Heppenstall spat at another officer, and he began "banging his head" against the van wall. He was taken to James Cook University Hospital, after saying he had "taken heroin and crystal meth." But whilst waiting in A&E, he headbutted another officer in the arm, Mr Lonsdale told the court.

Heppenstall, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery; theft; three counts of assaulting an emergency worker; and to driving with no licence or insurance, at an earlier hearing. His new offences put him in breach of a previous suspended prison sentence. He was still under the conditions of an eight-week prison term, suspended for 18 months, for shoplifting and for assaulting a police officer.

Mitigating for Heppenstall, Albany Kidd said that her client was struggling with alcohol misuse at the time – "he had drunk gin and has a limited recollection of the incident" Ms Kidd said. "He was disgusted to hear of his actions towards his victim and towards the police."

Judge Peter Makepeace jailed Heppenstall for 42 months. He also activated Heppenstall's suspended sentence, meaning another eight weeks was added onto the 42 month sentence.

Daniel Whitehead

A dad who had driven to an address in Stockton to buy cocaine, "panicked" when the police stopped and walked towards his vehicle, a court heard. Daniel Whitehead accelerated away, as officers approached his car window.

But he collided with a female officer who was standing in front of his car, and she was carried on his bonnet, as Whitehead continued driving. Teesside Crown Court heard that the dad-of-four "was panicked" and "trying to escape" when he hit the female officer, who did not sustain any injuries.

The court heard that Whitehead, 34, was driving his partner's Corsa to Ketton Road in Stockton, on Friday April 10. The police pulled into the street in an unmarked car, but the officers who got out were in full uniform, Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said. His barrister Sophie Johnstone said that the collision with the officer standing in front of his car "wasn't intentional or deliberate".

She added: "He must accept that when the officer was on his vehicle and he continued to drive – that was a deliberate assault." When Whitehead was arrested, he was searched and found to have a pregabalin tablet on him. He pleaded guilty to:

• dangerous driving
• assault with the intention to resist arrest
• the possession of a class C drug
• driving with no licence and no insurance

The dad-of-four previously served a five year four month prison term, for robbing a One Stop Shop, with three others. An imitation Glock pistol was pointed at the shop worker's head and she was told she would be shot.

Judge Francis Laird told Whitehead: "I make it plain that the basis of your plea is that your intention was to resist your inevitable arrest, it wasn't to hurt the officer. It may be that your focus was drawn to the officer to the side of you."

Whitehead, of no fixed address, was locked up for 15 months. He was banned from driving for three years and seven months.

Lee Green

A vengeful neighbour walked into a resident's garden in the middle of the night and shouted: "F****** grasses." Lee Green, was intent on revenge, Teesside Crown Court heard, after a neighbour had given a statement to the police. The woman had witnessed Green carry out a previous public order offence, the court heard.

Green, 44, smashed the resident's window before cycling off, at 2am on April 7. He returned minutes later, with his hood up, and threw a stone at another window, Saba Shan, prosecuting, told the court. He was arrested shortly afterwards.

Green was found guilty of threatening a witness and of causing criminal damage, after standing trial. His barrister, Andrew Turton, told the court that Green "is desperate for help" with his alcohol problem.

While Green has "dried out" during the last four weeks he has spent on remand at HMP Holme House, "he will encounter the same issues" when he returns home to the Ladgate area of Middlesbrough, his barrister said.

Judge Timothy Stead told Green, of Morpeth Avenue, Middlesbrough, that he had gone to a neighbour's home "in the middle of the night". He said: "You were intent on revenge. You were shouting in her garden, "f****** grasses" – making plain your motivation for this. Your victim has been significantly affected by what you did. It would not be just or appropriate to suspend your sentence."

Green was jailed for 18 months. A five-year restraining order was put in place prohibiting him from contacting his victim.

Christopher Lumley

A "lonely and bored" Teesside HGV driver organised a video call where he planned to watch a livestream of a "grandad raping his granddaughter". Paedophile Christopher Lumley, 38, also shared horrific images and videos of children being sexually abused.

One of Lumley's sick online chats with an American was originally picked up by the FBI. The details were sent on to the National Crime Agency. Using the profile name "chicken lips", the lorry driver "explicitly discussed the sexual abuse of children".

When he was arrested, Lumley handed over his phone and told officers he had messed up, Caoimhe Bicknell, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court. Lumley's phone contained images of babies and toddlers being sexually abused.

Whilst on bail as the police investigated, Lumley began chatting with another user on a photo sharing website. He had no idea that the man he was messaging – "Tony" – was an undercover officer, looking to identify child sex offenders operating online.

When the officer said he had been sexually abusing his 10-year-old granddaughter, Lumley requested photos and videos of the girl. A video call was arranged, where Lumley thought he would be watching the "grandad" rape the child, Ms Bicknell said.

On July 2, Lumley logged on. The call was recorded and showed him sitting on a bed, the court heard. The undercover officer claimed there was an issue "with the sound quality" on the call and said he couldn't hear Lumley.

Lumley asked him to "try again" and sent horrific pictures of "children between the ages of four and eight" being sexually abused. The photos were to give Tony "ideas", Lumley said.

He was arrested on August 11. His phone showed that he had searched for the Russian website, which "is known to be used by sex offenders with a sexual interest in children," 3,051 times.

Lumley's phone showed that he continued to download indecent images of children after his first arrest. He had hundreds of illegal images on his phone. He shared 250 of those images with others, after his first arrest, the court heard.

Lumley moved out of his parent's home three years before committing the offences, his solicitor Tyler Plunkett told the court. "He was struggling with loneliness at work and at home."

Judge Deborah Sherwin told Lumley that his offending "took a significant turn for the worse in 2026" when he began distributing the illegal images and videos. Prior to that, the court heard, he was storing them on his phone.

"I've read the log chats between you and Tony," the judge said. "It's quite clear you were trying to persuade him to rape his 10 year old granddaughter, and you wished to watch this by means of the livestream. You thought you were talking to someone who had similar interests in abusing children, to you."

Lumley, of The Pastures, in Hartlepool, was jailed for nine years. He will spend an additional year on extended licence when he is released. He will sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely; and he was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.

Matthew Hodgkiss

A pervert is back behind bars after a police officer caught him with a mobile phone when it rang inside his jacket pocket. Matthew Hodgkiss has been snared by paedophile hunters twice and found himself recalled to prison just days after his most recent release.

The 49-year-old breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), imposed in 2021, for the fourth time. Teesside Crown Court heard how Hodgkiss was released from custody on September 7 – having been jailed in 2025 for messaging who he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

On September 15, an officer visited him at his address. Ralf Xhepa, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was asked if he had a mobile device. He advised he did not and he was going to buy a non-internet phone the week after he got paid."

During the conversation, a ringing noise came from the defendant's jacket and he "rolled his eyes". Hodgkiss said the reason he lied was because the phone had a camera.

The phone was seized and analysed and there were no downloaded images, however, correspondence had been deleted. Back in July 2021, Hodgkiss was jailed after asking who be believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual pictures.

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register and abide by a SHPO for 10 years. But in 2023, he was put back behind bars for failing to inform police of a new online username.

Days after he was released from prison back on 2025, he was snared by paedophile hunters for a second time after messaging someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Hodgkiss, most recently of Middlesbrough Road, South Bank, and previously of Stockton, was jailed for two years.

Spencer McKittrick

A 23-year-old stole cars and broke into homes before members of a Grangetown darts club brought his crime spree to a close. Spencer McKittrick had a machete on him and threatened to stab the men who restrained him at St Mary's Social Club, on Grange Farm Road, on September 14.

McKittrick shouted "do you know who my family are?" as he was held down during a youth darts tournament. Teesside Crown Court has heard that the barmaid raised the alarm after seeing McKittrick stealing a handbag from the club.

McKittrick stole items from parked cars and broke into a home on Westfield Way, Dormanstown, on September 12 – stealing car keys and over £1,000 in cash. Doorbell footage captured McKittrick driving off in the Corsa outside the home, Ralf Xhepa, prosecuting, told the court. The car was later found in Eston, Mr Xhepa said, with a number plate fitted on it that "Mr McKittrick had taken off a Vauxhall Corsa on Carlisle Road".

Hours later, McKittrick broke into a house on The Avenues and stole car keys for two different vehicles. He then drove off in the family's black Range Rover Evoque.. He stopped at a petrol station and drove off without paying for £83 worth of fuel. McKittrick returned to the same home hours later and stole the family's Vauxhall Vivaro van.

He was also captured on camera trying door handles to other homes on Westfield Way and Runswick Avenue, in Dormanstown, on September 12. His solicitor, John Nixon, told the court: "The events in Grangetown at that time – the deaths of five young people and two police officers – all of that affected him quite badly. His instructions are that he lost control, he was very down on himself."

Judge Deborah Sherwin jailed McKittrick for three years and five months.

Matthew Graham

A thief tried to get a dog tethered outside an Aldi supermarket to bite a security guard as a struggle broke out over a crate of Bud Light. Matthew Graham was spotted stuffing packets of chicken breasts into his jacket pockets at the Aldi, in Portrack Lane, Stockton, by a security guard on August 10.

Graham was ordered out of the shop but picked up a crate of Bud Light lager as he left, prosecutor Jenny Haigh said. Teesside Crown Court heard struggle broke out between the defendant and the guard before Graham took hold of a large black dog, which was tethered outside the supermarket.

"He called for the dog to bite the guard," Ms Haigh said and the guard released his grip on Graham. A couple subsequently came out of the shop asking for their dog back.

Days earlier, on August 3, Graham, and an unknown accomplice, were captured on CCTV stealing a charity collection box and £220 worth of drinks and cakes after smashing their way into a Greggs bakery. The pair broke the glass of the drive-thru window at the Portrack Lane branch shortly after midnight.

Graham wore a mask and kept his coat hood up as he ransacked the shop. The two left but returned two hours later with carrier bags to fill with the cakes and drinks.

When the store manager arrived at around 5am, she saw bottles all over the bakery floor and called the police. Police were able to identify Graham by DNA found at the scene.

On July 13, Graham stole a knife from the fishing aisle of Boyes, in Redcar. He was found with a knife in his pocket when the police were called after he tried to leave a branch of Asda with three bottles of gin and a bottle of whisky on July 22.

On a separate occasion, after being arrested over unrelated matters, Ms Haigh said that Graham was found with a handle, wrapped in black tape, in his pocket. He committed the August offences after being granted bail following his arrest over the offences in July, the court heard.

Graham, of Enfield Street, Middlesbrough, was locked up for 18 months.

Jason Barstow

A 'smash and grab' robber sledgehammered the front of a Guisborough jewellers and stuffed his hazmat suit with rings and diamonds. He was chased down by brave members of the public and told police he would have gone to Turkey to "get his teeth done" if he'd gotten away with his brazen crime.

Dressed in a white hazmat suit, black balaclava, gloves, goggles and armed with a sledgehammer, Jason Barstow began smashing his way through the glass window display at Market Cross Jewellers, on Westgate, shortly before 4pm on Saturday, March 14. Imogen Eastham-Brown, prosecuting, said the owner was serving a customer inside the jewellers at the time of the incident.

The prosecutor said: "She went outside and saw the defendant reaching through the damaged glass. She said 'I don't think so, no."

Durham Crown Court heard Barstow then turned towards her, shouted and "raised the sledgehammer towards his head and moved in her direction". Fearing she would be struck, the woman ran back into the shop and the police were called and panic alarm activated.

Barstow, now age 30, stuffed jewellery into his hazmat suit and open bag as members of the public began shouting at him. He ran off but was pursued by "brave" passersby down a nearby alley.

He was detained and one of the members of a the public saw what turned out to be an airsoft pistol in his open bag. He was arrested when police arrived at the scene.

Describing the incident as a 'harebrained enterprise', Recorder Anthony Hawkes said: "I have no idea what you thought you were going to achieve. You took a bus, I presume you were dressed like that on the bus. Why you weren't stopped I have no idea."

He added: "You grabbed what you could and made off being pursued by brave members of the public who managed to detain you despite the fact you were threatening them with the sledgehammer."

Barstow, of St Ann's Court, Hartlepool, attended the hearing via video link from HMP Holme House. He was jailed for three years.

Owen Rowe

A rapist who was involved in a Middlesbrough stabbing attack has been branded a "dangerous young man" by a judge. Owen Rowe committed serious sexual offences against two women before he was involved in an incident that resulted in a man sustaining a stab wound to his arm.

A court heard the Billingham 23-year-old has a "casual attitude towards serious physical and sexual violence" and was branded a risk to the public. Teesside Crown Court heard Rowe raped a woman in one horrendous incident.

In a victim statement, the woman said that she had spent nights "crying myself to sleep" following the rape. Around a year later, Rowe went on to sexually assault another woman, in what was described as a "degrading and disgusting" offence.

On February 10 this year, Rowe was involved in a violent attack in Middlesbrough which left a man with stab injuries. Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said: "A man was chased down Linthorpe Road, CCTV showed the defendant and an unknown male chasing him.

"They assaulted him, punching and kicking him in the head repeatedly. The defendant made off in to Ayresome Gardens." The court heard that a passer-by found the victim lying on the street with a stab wound to his upper right arm and called an ambulance.

Mr Adlington said the victim refused to co-operate with police or ambulance staff, but Rowe was arrested after CCTV footage was reviewed. The court heard that Rowe was not in possession of the knife during the attack and it was not known whether he was the one who stabbed the victim. He was, however, an "active participant" in the joint attack.

Rachael Landin, defending, said the stabbing attack was "short lived and impulsive" and that Rowe had issues with alcohol and substance misuse. Judge Advocate Thomas Mitchell branded Rowe a "dangerous young man".

He said: "You have a casual attitude towards serious physical and sexual violence. You have difficulty controlling your impulsive behaviours." The judge added that the sexual assault he carried out was "degrading and, frankly, disgusting".

Rowe was sentenced to a 15-year extended prison sentence, three years of which will be on licence. He will be on the sex offenders' register for life and lifelong restraining orders were also imposed, protecting the two sexual offence victims.

Liam Martin

A child rapist has been given a 20-year prison sentence after leaving his victim "traumatised". Liam Martin carried out repeated sexual assaults and rapes on a child over a long period of time and has been branded a "dangerous individual".

On Monday, October 19, Martin appeared Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for charges relating to the rape of a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing/inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and voyeurism. The 33-year-old was given a sentence of 20 years, plus one year on licence by Recorder Andrew Dallas.

Cleveland Police has said that, during the complex police investigation, the victim was offered specialist support as well as safeguarding by officers. Speaking after sentencing, officer in the case DC Melanie Phelps said: “It took a great deal of bravery for this survivor to come forward and report what they’d gone through as a child.

“Martin carried out repeated sexual assaults and rapes over a long period of time, leaving the vulnerable child traumatised and afraid for many years. He denied any wrongdoing, however thanks to the survivor supporting our complex investigation we were able to present compelling evidence at court and the jury found Liam Martin guilty."

David Hey

A 'panicked' man climbed up onto a kitchen counter, and threw objects at the police. David Hey 'swung' a zombie knife in the direction of a police officer who was trying to arrest him, Teesside Crown Court has heard.

The 40-year-old hurled water and a glass ashtray at officers, after the police arrived at a Hartlepool home where he was staying with a friend. The ashtray hit a wall, and shards of glass hit one of the officers.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said that said that officers turned up at the house on Hutton Avenue in Hartlepool, on August 2, over an unrelated matter. Once inside it emerged that Hey was wanted by the police. They used a taser on Hey and he was arrested.

In 2024, Hey was jailed for punching his partner and driving her Ford Kuga into a brick wall. On that occasion, when the police tried to arrest him, he bit one officer and headbutted two others.

His barrister, Stephen Constantine, told the court that his client "simply panicked. He was frightened he was going to be put in custody." Hey has had "mental health problems for some time" his barrister said, but he is now back on his prescribed medication in prison, where he has been held on remand.

Hey, of Bruce Crescent in Wingate, was locked up for two years.

Daniel Lloyd

A Middlesbrough dad who repeatedly kicked his ex partner in the abdomen has been jailed. Daniel Lloyd launched a brutal attack on the woman in her own home on June 9.

Lloyd kicked the woman, who fell backwards onto her sofa, Teesside Crown Court heard. "He continued to kick her to her legs and stomach", Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, said. "The victim describes Mr Lloyd as going on a rampage."

Lloyd, 29, kicked a door off it's hinges before hurling a bottle of vodka at a window in the victim's home. He threatened to smash up her house and the homes of her family members. The victim "was crying and pleading with him to stop" Mr Thompson described.

Lloyd then pulled fence panels out of the ground and threw them at his ex – but he didn't hit her, the court heard. He fled as the victim called the police. But when the police left, Mr Thompson said, Lloyd reappeared.

As Lloyd tried to get into the woman's home, she told him the police were coming back. "He called her a grass" Mr Thompson added. Lloyd left the house and came back again – only to leave once he saw the police on the driveway.

The former couple had bumped into each other "in a sunbed shop" earlier that day and arranged for Lloyd to come back to the woman's home to chat. An argument then broke out on the phone between the woman's brother and Lloyd.

After attacking his former partner, the court heard that Lloyd repeatedly contacted her. On one occasion, he called her 25 times in one hour, Mr Thompson said.

Lloyd's defence barrister, Paul Abrahams, told the court that "everything was amicable, until it would appear that information was imparted that was materially incorrect. That had a dramatic effect on him. It was said to him that he was a sexual abuser, he became upset and lost control of his actions that day."

Lloyd, of Hollowfield in Coulby Newham, later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm; harassment; and to causing criminal damage. His plea, on the basis that he was falsely subject to abuse beforehand, was accepted. Lloyd was under the terms of a suspended prison sentence at the time.

The judge activated Lloyd's previous 20 week suspended sentence and jailed him for a total of 23 months.

Nathan Cowdell

Nathan Cowdell was one of two crack cocaine dealers who turned to selling drugs after finding themselves in debt, a court heard.

Cowdell, 34 and Craig Baker, 38, were caught supplying the class A drugs during police investigations.

Cowdell, of Cambridge Road, Thornaby; and Baker, of Roseberry View, Thornaby, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, October 22, to be jointly sentenced for possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Cowdell also faced separate charges of being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs. Both men had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that on September 23, 2022, police raided a home on Bishopton Road in Stockton and found Baker sitting in a living room with two other people. Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said: "Immediately [found] on the table were wraps of cocaine. Cash and two machetes were also found."

The court heard the address had been "set up for drug dealing", with the other two people found at the house being "customers". Mr Lonsdale continued: "From the address, 18 wraps of crack cocaine [were seized], seven smaller crack cocaine bags, totalling 5.78g with a street value of £510." Over £360 cash was also found.

The court heard that mobile phones were also seized which had messages "advertising and arranging" the sale of drugs. When arrested, more drugs were found on him.

Cowdell was also identified through messages that had been shared with Baker, but was also arrested as part of a different police investigation, the court heard. When he was arrested, he was in possession of over £700 cash and messages relating to drug dealing were found on his phone and within Facebook messages.

A property on Cambridge Road, where Cowdell was living, was also searched by officers, with cannabis and over £2,000 in cash being found. Mr Lonsdale said: "His phone was analysed and messages linked to drug supply were found. There were various messages of people seeking 'tick' and asking for credit."

The court heard that the being concerned in the supply charges Cowdell faced, dated between April 2025 and February this year. They were committed while under investigation for the supply matters that were linked with Baker.

Christopher Morrison, defending Baker, said he had no previous convictions and said: "He took a wrong turn down a path which has led him here. He found himself in debt with some very unscrupulous people and embraced the [drug-dealing] lifestyle."

Dan Wilberforce, defending Cowdell, who had nine previous convictions for 17 offences, said he had been on remand at HMP Holme House for eight months and grew up in a domestic violence environment. He said: "He has never really been involved in anything like this before. It would appear that there is some form of spiralling, which could be associated with drug use."

Mr Wilberforce added that Cowdell had also "developed a drug debt".

Judge Richard Bennett sentenced Cowdell to three years and two months prison. Baker was sentenced to three years prison, suspended for three years. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work and was made subject of a six-month curfew.

Tanvier Hanif

A violent pensioner launched a vicious attack on his wife after the couple argued about his cocaine consumption, a court heard. After rowing with his wife, Tanvier Hanif "pushed her away from the window" and refused to let her go into the bathroom on her own in case she called for help.

He tried to stop her from getting dressed to go to meet a friend, Teesside Crown Court heard. On March 18, Hanif "covered his wife's mouth" so she couldn't shout out and pushed her down onto the bed and strangled her. The victim later told police that she struggled to breathe and that she was not sure if she had lost consciousness, Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, told the court.

But when the 68-year-old was arrested, he told the police that the argument with his wife had been about her alcohol consumption. He denied strangling her and said he had pinned her down on the bed, with his arms on her shoulder and waist.

The court heard that a domestic abuse protection order was made after the attack, prohibiting Hanif from contacting his wife. But when he was released from custody, he headed straight home, Ms Smithies said. "He shouted at his wife: 'I'm sorry, you can have your friends back. You can have Facebook and Instagram."

The victim called the police and Hanif was re-arrested. When he was released he left a message for his wife to tell her that he had left "a bag at Hamza's curry shop". When the victim picked the bag up, the court heard, she found it was full of her estranged husband's belongings. "She thought that he wanted her to take him back, because he had left his possessions with her," Ms Smithies said.

Ignoring the domestic abuse order, the pensioner then began sending dozens of texts to his victim. One read: "It hurts, the truth. I'm going to send money ok, you're still my wife." Another said: "Please answer. You don't love? ok."

When questioned by the police, Hanif claimed he had sent the texts "to practise sending messages" because he was going on holiday.

In a statement, the victim described feeling "anxious and uneasy". She said that she does not want to leave her home in case she bumps into her Hanif. "I'm worried what he would do," she wrote. "I have nightmares that Tanvier is going to break into my home and kidnap me."

Tanvier later admitted intentional strangulation and breaching a domestic abuse protection order. His barrister Robert Mochrie said that Hanif had written a letter to the judge.

A psychiatric report had been carried out on his client. Mr Mochrie said: "The defendant's letter reinforces the findings of Dr Green, who indicates that this man has vulnerabilities and has lifelong learning difficulties, that have not been diagnosed."

Mr Mochrie said that the five months Hanif has spent in prison on remand have "been a hard lesson for him". Judge Richard Clews told Hanif that the psychiatric report showed that "you may have some difficulties but they do not afford a great deal of mitigation. You must have known the way you were treating this lady was appalling".

The judge said that he had read Hanif's letter: "[It] suggests you didn't strangle your victim, that it wasn't done on purpose and 'you saved her life'. I cannot accept those assertions you made as being true. Frankly it would have been better if you'd never made them."

Hanif, of Cumberland Road in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 18 months. A restraining order was put in place prohibiting him from contacting his victim for the next five years.

Shu Li

A university lecturer who fraudulently evaded paying duty on cigarettes and hand rolled tobacco has been jailed. Shu Li stashed over 400,000 cigarettes and 12kg of tobacco at his Middlesbrough home.

The "highly educated" Chinese national avoided paying £376,800 in duty by having the tobacco products posted to him, Teesside Crown Court heard. Declarations on the parcels marked them as containing toys and Christmas decorations.

Large cash deposits were made into Shu's bank account – "the inference being they came from the illegal sale of the cigarettes" Nicci Horton, prosecuting, told the court. A total of £331,000 was deposited into his bank account from 2021 to 2024, and amounts were frequently paid out too. Li transferred £98,000 into international accounts and paid £47,000 in university fees.

Li, 51, was caught after police called in on his rented home, on Aske Road in central Middlesbrough, over another matter in May 2023. Officers noticed bags of tobacco and a "a huge number of cigarettes" and contacted HMRC.

Border Force officials found that from April to October 2022, some 56 parcels had been delivered to Li from abroad. Other parcels had been intercepted, the court heard.

When officers arrived to search Li's home in July 2023, he was asked if there were any tobacco products in the property. He "pointed towards a locked bedroom and said a girl called Sofia lived there," Ms Horton said.

Another bedroom was filled with boxes full of cigarettes and bags of loose tobacco. Machines to fill cigarette tubes were also found, the court heard. Li stood trial and was convicted by a jury of converting criminal property and of two counts of fraudulently evading duty on cigarettes and tobacco.

He was found to have ran the illegal business for almost three years from March 2021 to January 2024. On Thursday, Li appeared in court on video link from Holme House Prison, where he has spent the last six months on remand.

His barrister, Mark Stephens, said that Li has shown "exemplary behaviour" in prison, where he has been working in the education unit. "He is a mentor for fast track maths and he has been assisting prisoners who struggle with the English language," the defence barrister said.

"He's someone who has a very impressive academic background," Mr Stephens added. "Prison would have a harmful impact on Mr Li's elderly parents."

Judge Richard Clews said that Li had "suggested other people lived in his house", but there was no evidence to support that. "You may have had some documents in the name of another person," the judge told the university lecturer, "who you suggested mysteriously disappeared before your arrest."

Judge Clews described Li as "highly educated" but told him that he "hasn't been in China for some time to provide assistance to his parents. Whether or not you provided for them financially, I don't know."

Li was jailed for three years and six months. The cigarettes, tobacco "and machines designed to fill hollow cigarette tubes with tobacco" were all seized and will be destroyed.

"You may be liable to deportation at the conclusion of your sentence," the judge told Li. "It's a matter for the Home Office, not for me."

Nathan Owens

A Teesside stepdad who murdered student Carla Georgescu has been sentenced to life in prison.

Nathan Owens, 34, must serve a minimum of 35 years before he is eligible for parole. He will be required to demonstrate that he no longer poses a danger to the public and will remain on licence for the remainder of his life.

On February 4, 2026, Owens travelled from the family home in Hartlepool in the dead of night, fabricating a story that Carla's mother had left her purse behind during a visit to Carla the previous weekend. Upon arriving at Ribble Hall at 4.30am, Carla allowed him into the student block – it would be the last time she was seen alive.

Inside her bedroom, Owens launched a brutal attack on Carla before staging the room to give the appearance that she had taken her own life. She was discovered on February 5, 2026 – what would have been her 20th birthday – suspended from a wardrobe, with sexual and defensive injuries and bleeding from a stab wound to her face, reports Lancs Live.

Owens, of Hopps Street, Hartlepool, told nobody of his visit to Carla in the early hours of February 4. On his return journey through Cumbria, he disposed of her mobile phone, bloodstained bedsheets and a sex toy he had brought with him.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Jacobs said: "You have not demonstrated any remorse for what you did. You took victim blaming to its limit by suggesting she had taken her own life. Her mother had to come and give evidence. This demonstrates how despicable you are."

The judge described the assault on Carla as premeditated and sadistic, stating that in plotting the attack, Owens had been willing to take her life to avoid being identified as her attacker.

Owens showed no sign of remorse as he walked calmly from the dock with his hands clasped behind his back. He will not be eligible for release from prison without the approval of the Parole Board, and will remain on licence and subject to recall for the remainder of his life.

Following sentencing, Detective Inspector Pete Macdonald, of Lancashire Police Force Major Investigation Team said: "Carla had her whole life ahead of her, which was ripped away by someone she should have been able to trust. Owens has taken Carla’s life, but he has also changed her mum’s completely."

Full story here.

Mario Kaco

A pet owner will be deported after he set his two dogs to maul a woman in a terrifying attack in a Stockton street. Mario Kaco clicked his fingers before his two Cane Corso, Pablo and Ricco, attacked the woman in Riverhead Avenue on December 3 last year.

She was left traumatised by the terrifying incident and needed steri-strips to treat multiple, deep puncture wounds on her legs. The woman told police she fears she could have been killed during the horrendous ordeal.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the victim was arguing with another woman when 44-year-old Kaco and another man arrived in the street in a blue Audi. Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, said the men started shouting at the victim in broken English and she described them as being in her face, with their noses almost touching.

The other man attacked her and Kaco clicked his fingers and the dogs pounced. The woman said: "I was terrified. I knew I was about to be attacked by these massive dogs."

The dogs began ragging her legs around and she described the pain as like being stabbed. The two men and woman began to attack her as the dogs bit into her legs.

The defendant stamped on the ground and the dogs stopped, although one bit her in the leg again during the incident that lasted around five minutes. In a victim impact statement, read out by Ms McGurk, the woman said: "This incident as a while has left me feeling terrified and traumatised.

"I can't believe such a brutal thing has happened to me… the incident could have been deadly to me if those dogs have managed to put me to the floor. I dread to think what could have happened."

The woman suffered multiple puncture wounds to both legs which required steri-strips. Teesside Crown Court heard that Kaco was handed a deportation order in August 2017 which he has breached four times.

Kaco, who has 28 previous convictions for 61 offences, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, and knowingly enter the UK in breach of a deportation order. The court heard he would be deported.

Judge Tom Mitchell said: "It must have been absolutely terrifying for her when you [set the dogs on her]. They bit her and they mauled her.

"It must have been the longest five minutes of that poor woman's life." He said Kaco used the dogs as highly dangerous weapon.

Kaco, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, was jailed for a total of three years. Following two extensive reports regarding the dogs, the judge made a destruction order for one of the Cane Corsos, Pablo. The fate of the other, Ricco, will be decided at a later date.

Richard Rogerson

Two burglars who loaded their car with three boilers, failed to get away because their Peugeot got stuck in the mud. Richard Rogerson, 41, and Lee Barnes, 35, ripped the boilers out of three new Miller homes on the Portside Village development between South Bank and Grangetown.

But the bungling duo were caught after a security guard heard them revving their engine, on December 15 last year. The guard found one of the duo in the driver's seat, on Stone Road, and the other trying to push the car out of the mud, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The two told the security guard that they would come back and collect their car later, before walking away, prosecutor Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, told the court. The guard then checked around properties on the estate – and he found that the patio doors of three homes had been smashed "and the boilers removed from the walls."

The guard then found the boilers in the back of the red Peugeot, and "noticed the licence plates had been taped up and there was gaffer tape in the glove box," Mr Lonsdale said.

All three homes had been sold to a property developer, and were ready to be occupied. Repairs to the new properties cost £6,000. DNA from blood left at the homes, was matched to both burglars, the court heard on Tuesday.

Both men admitted three counts of burglary at an earlier hearing.

For Rogerson, Martin Scarborough told the court that his client has "accepted full responsibility". "In the past, he's had difficulties with homelessness after a relationship breakdown." Mr Scarborough said. "He's now secured accommodation in Blackhall Colliery."

Jordan Parkinson told the court that Barnes had been going through "a hard time" after his parents became ill. "He began taking cocaine and diazepam," the defence barrister said.

"Since his arrest, he's stopped taking drugs, except cannabis for anxiety."

Rogerson, of Tenth Street, Blackhall Colliery, was jailed for 15 months.

Barnes, of The Crescent in Blackhall Colliery, was handed a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years. He was placed on a tagged curfew, where he must be at home by 9pm every night for the next three months.

Mackenzie Holmes

A drug dealing duo were caught after fleeing their taxi which was stopped by police – one was found hiding under a trampoline and the other in a stream. Mackenzie Holmes and Ethan Hannon had both turned to peddling drugs after falling into debt as a result of their own addictions.

Teesside Crown Court heard how on June 20, 2025 at 10.15pm, police officers stopped a Peugeot on the A19 and the driver, Holmes, was searched. A black Nokia phone was found hidden in his underwear and he was in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1,020.

Holmes, who had no previous convictions, was interviewed and released on police bail. An analysis of his phone uncovered messages about drug dealing, including cannabis.

Months later, on February 16, shortly after midnight, officers were on patrol in the Thorntree area when they spotted two men getting into a taxi. The officers signalled for the taxi to stop and Hannon ran off from the rear door.

He was found in a nearby stream having been tracked down by a police drone, the court heard. In his jacket pocket, officers found £399.21 in cash as well as cocaine, which he told the officer: "I was just cutting it up for someone."

Holmes initially spoke to officers at the taxi before running off. He was found hiding underneath a trampoline.

Both men's homes were searched and further drugs and cash were uncovered. During the investigation, officers discovered both defendants were in possession of thousands of pounds worth of drugs. Officers also found a knuckle duster belonging to Holmes.

Having already been arrested twice, Holmes was caught a third time after he was seen entering the front garden of an address on Green Lane, in Middlesbrough, on the afternoon of March 31. Joe Culley, prosecuting, said: "He was told by an officer to stop but made off on foot leading to a short pursuit."

Holmes told officers he had a bag of cocaine in his pocket which was for personal use. But when he was searched, police uncovered two bags of cocaine, estimated to be two £20 deals, and £895 in cash.

Holmes told officers he had the cash because "I buy and sell stuff," claiming to have sold a bike and purchased another on Facebook marketplace.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said: "This is not only [Holmes'] first offence but his first period in custody. He has got himself straightened out. He is now no longer using drugs. He never wants to see the inside of a prison cell again."

Mr Mochrie said Holmes was "ripe for manipulation by others" intent on dealing drugs. He said Holmes' family members had settled previous drug debts but, unable to control his addiction, the 21-year-old fell into further debt and found himself dealing drugs in order to pay back what he owed.

The two later offences committed by Holmes took place while he was on police bail. Dan Wilberforce, mitigating for Hannon, said the 22-year-old had entered a basis of plea that he had been involved for 45 days and was transporting and preparing packages, and never directly dealt any drugs. He said Hannon's cocaine use "spiralled" and worsened when he was made redundant and was "living a lifestyle he could no longer afford and he incurred debts".

Mr Wilberforce said Hannon is "incredibly remorseful" and there were a number of character references on his behalf. He was previously employed in the scaffolding trade.

Hannon, of Hershall Drive, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and crack cocaine, and acquiring criminal property, namely £3,000. Meanwhile, Holmes, of Greenway, admitted the following offences:

• Concerned in the supply of class B, cannabis
• Supply a controlled drug of class A, cocaine
• Two counts of possess with intent to supply class A, crack cocaine
• Two counts of possess with intent to supply class A, cocaine
• Possess an offensive weapon in private place, namely a knuckle duster

Holmes, who appeared via video link from prison, was sentenced to four years and six months in custody. He will serve half the sentence.

Hannon was given an 18-month sentence suspended for two years. He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and one-to-one supervision with probation.

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