Perverts, arsonists, burglars and drug dealers all in court

A 'devious' pervert who sent pictures of his genitals to a ‘teenage’ girl he was grooming online was caught by vigilante paedophile hunters when trying to meet the girl for sex.

Stuart Burnett travelled from his Billingham home to Sunderland after arranging to have sex with the ‘14-year-old’ while her parents were out of the house.

The defendant had earlier sent the decoy two pictures of his genitals before agreeing to meet her for sex.

The 35-year-old was detained by members of the Guardians of the North paedophile hunting group when he met his ‘victim’ at a Sunderland shopping centre in November last year.

Burnett, of Churchyard Close, Billingham, pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting to meet a child under 16 following sexual grooming and two charges of taking part in sexual conversations with a child.

Judge Jonathan Carroll passed a two year sentence, suspended for two years and given a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

A teenager has admitted to starting a fire which resulted in the death of a schoolgirl.

The youngster perished as a result of the fire at her home in Darlington, despite frantic efforts to rescue her from the burning property.

Emergency services at the scene in Darlington

She died in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, after being rescued from the property in 2018.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to gross negligence when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Paul Watson QC warned the teenager that despite being released on bail, it was no indication of the sentence he would impose.

"This case is now adjourned unto October 12," he added. "You must be here then and I will deal with you on this matter that you have pleaded guilty to."

A twisted paedophile who plotted to drug and rape babies and young children has narrowly avoided being sent back to prison after fleeing her home and failing to notify the authorities.

Nicola Williams, also known as Nikita Moore, was staying an address in Middlesbrough for three weeks before she disclosed to police she had left her Sunderland home fearing for her safety.

Nicola Williams, also known as Nikita Moore

Williams was jailed in 2015 after hatching a vile plan with Kevin Barnett and his wife Susan to abuse young children.

Moore appeared at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching her sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and failing to notify the authorities of her change of address.

The 28-year-old, of Coronation Street, Middlesbrough, was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Williams was also made subject to four months of electronically tagged monitoring.

A burglar who targeted elderly and vulnerable pensioners after befriending them has been jailed for five and half years.

Andrew Hayward forced or blagged his way into the homes of three people before stealing cash and sentimental jewellery from his unsuspecting victims.

Andrew Hayward

The window cleaner even stole from a pensioner’s home, where he stored his equipment, just days after his wife cremated, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Hayward, of New Road, Billingham, pleaded guilty to the three burglary charges when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

At an earlier hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court the 40-year-old admitted the theft of a coin purse containing about £15 from a Billingham address on January 27, and failing to surrender to custody.

Judge Stephen Ashurst jailed the defendant for a total of five and a half years for the offences.

A heroin addict who had no recollection of securing a £20 deal for an undercover cop has been given a suspended sentence.

David Webb met the police officer in Darlington town centre and agreed to help him score some heroin.

The 37-year-old, who had been an addict for more than 20 years, wandered around the town with the undercover officer looking for known drug dealers before taking him to his 'squalid' squat in the town in October 2018.

Webb, of Montrose Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

Judge Deborah Sherwin sentenced Webb to four months in custody, suspended for 12 months.

She said: "You have managed to get yourself really sorted out and it does seem to me unjust to send you to prison now and set all of that work back."