AMONG those dealt with at Teesside Crown Court last week included men who attacked and harassed their former partners, burglars, and thieves.

A drug addict and alcoholic attempted to break into a house before stealing a vintage scooter from a neighbouring garden shed in Hurworth, near Darlington.

Matthew McKenna walked into a house before being confronted the owner when he pretended to be looking for a friend.

After being ushered out he then stole the vintage scooter before trying to find an antique dealer to sell it to.

McKenna, originally from the area but now of no fixed abode, was sentenced to an 18-month community order.

A violent bully who carried out a campaign of terror against his former partner has been jailed.

James Brown, pictured below, has a long history of domestic violence against the mother of his child and his latest attack saw him attack her with a machete.

The Northern Echo: James BrownJames Brown

The 28-year-old turned up at his victim's home in January despite her having a restraining order against him and launched the unprovoked attack after smashing the windscreen of her car.

Brown, of Laurel Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to a number of charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and criminal damage. He was jailed for five years and five months.

Another abusive ex-partner was jailed for 16 weeks and issued with a three-year restraining order after harassing a woman he believed was the mother of his child.

Shazad Hussain, a convicted sex offender, sent vile abuse to the woman despite her repeatedly telling him that her daughter was not his.

The 40-year-old, of Thornton Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment over a two-month period this year between March and May.

The court heard how Hussain’s life had been affectively on hold for two years while he was subject to police investigation as part of a murder inquiry.

Two men charged with the murder of a Stockton man have appeared in court with one formally entering a not guilty plea.

Jordan Vaughan and his co-accused Kienan Johnson are accused of stabbing a 41-year-old man to death late last year.

John Wright, pictured below, was discovered fatally injured on Parliament Street just after 1pm on Sunday, December 29.

The Northern Echo: John WrightJohn Wright

Vaughan, 20, of Harlow Crescent, Thornaby, and Johnson, 21, of Windsor Road, Stockton, have each been charged with the murder.

Both were remanded in custody until December when they are expected to go on trial.

Selling stolen second-hand turbo chargers netted one crook almost £16,000 in profit, a court heard.

Martin Wilson used a friend to sell the reconditioned car parts on Ebay and pocketed the money after stealing them from his employer.

The 36-year-old spent two years sneaking the refurbished parts out of Turbo Active, based on Wynyard Business Park, before selling them on.

Wilson, of Zetland Terrace, Redcar, was found guilty of theft by employee between May 2017 and May 2019.

He was given a six-month sentence, suspended for 12-months, and made subject of a curfew between 8pm and 6am for two months. He was also ordered to pay £1,800 in compensation.