A WOMAN has appeared in court charged with helping a teenager after he stabbed another man to death in a County Durham village.

Jodie Marie Iceton is accused of assisting 19-year-old Josh Johnson, who is currently serving a prison sentence after stabbing Dale Arnold in Kelloe last August.

Ms Iceton, of Bearpark, near Durham City, spoke only to confirm her name and address during the brief hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.

The 21-year-old, of Taylor Avenue, appeared at court wearing a black top and skirt.

She did not enter a plea.

Magistrate Jill Richardson, who chaired the bench, granted her bail and told her she would appear at Durham Crown Court on Monday, June 5.

Mrs Richardson told the accused: “You have heard what has happened. Your next appearance will be on June 5 at Durham Crown Court in the morning.

“Until that time we have granted unconditional bail.”

Ms Iceton, who was represented by Warren Ridley, is charged with assisting Johnson in August last year.

It is alleged she took him away from the vicinity of the offence and provided him with a means of escape, with the intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Johnson.

Maimuna Bappa was representing the Crown Prosecution Service.

Durham Police carried out a 48-hour search for Johnson following the stabbing on August 3 last year.

He was arrested on August 5.

Johnson, of Middlewood, Ushaw Moor, near Durham City, admitted manslaughter in November and in December was jailed for eight years and nine months.

The fatal stabbing happened in Front Street, Kelloe, shortly after an argument over money, which took place at Mr Arnold’s home.

The 32-year-old was flown from the scene to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he died of his injuries.

Johnson fled from the scene, dumped the weapon, his t-shirt and mobile phone, and hid in a Gateshead hotel for the night.

When he was sentenced last year, Teesside Crown Court heard that the teenager had taken the knife to defend himself and had used it in fear.