POLICE have appealed for calm after a window at the home of a teenager accused of murder was smashed.

Officers are urging members of the community not to take the law into their own hands in retaliation to the brutal killing of the father-of-one Mark Shaw at the weekend.

Eighteen-year-old Kieran Adey, who is charged with the murder of the 29-year-old, appeared at Teesside Crown Court this morning by video link to Durham Prison and has been remanded into custody.

The damage was caused in Queen Street, Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, in the early hours of this morning.

The windows of two other houses in the street were also targetted.

The street is near Pine Street where Mr Shaw was tied up, beaten and stabbed at the weekend.

Acting Chief Inspector Keith Wardle said: “Although we fully understand the shock and concern in the community following the death of Mark last weekend, we won’t tolerate people taking matters into their own hands.

“We believe these incidents are linked to Mark’s death and would urge those involved to stop and all the course of justice to run.

“People should also bear in mind that activity such as this diverts police resources from dealing with other crime.”

Mr Shaw was found by police in a bedroom at his home at around 6pm on Saturday after they were informed he could be at risk.

A post mortem examination has concluded he died from a single stab wound.

Police have said he was subjected to a ‘prolonged and vicious’ attack carried out late on Friday or early Saturday before he died.

Detectives investigating the case have also arrested a 22-year-old man from Stanley and a 19-year-old woman on suspicion of murder, as well as an 18-year-old woman from Grange Villa and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All four have since been released on police bail until the end of February.

A 25-year-old man who was arrested as part of the inquiry has been released with no further action.

The case against Kieran Adey was transferred to Newcastle Crown Court from Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, but had to be heard at Teesside because of a shortage of senior judges on Tyneside.

The defendant, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, was remanded in custody until his next appearance, which is likely to be in March.

Prosecutor Nick Dry told Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, that those on bail have to report to police at the end of February.

He said the Crown would serve "the bulk" of its case by February 9, but there may still be some forensic evidence outstanding by then.

An online crowd funding campaign has also been started and has raised over £2,000 to pay for Mr Shaw's funeral.