A MURDERER, a child rapist and a man whose 'ludicrously stupid and reckless act' left a grandfather dead are among those who have been sentenced this month at Teesside Crown Court.
MURDER
A drug addict was jailed for life for the murder of a vulnerable alcoholic after plunging a knife into his neck four times.
Anthony Hart then poured brandy over Frank Betteridge before setting him alight and fleeing the scene.
Jurors at Teesside Crown Court returned the verdict after six hours of deliberation and Judge Howard Crowson told Hart that he would serve a minimum of 21 years before being eligible for release.
The 39-year-old admitted killing Mr Betteridge claiming he had been awoken by his unwanted sexual advances before losing control and stabbing him to death.
The 62-year-old's body was found in his bungalow on Stephens Road, South Bank, Middlesbrough, by one of his relatives on December 27, 2019.
Hart, of Hartington Road, Stockton, celebrated the murder with a kebab before heading home for drugs 'bender' with friends.
MANSLAUGHTER
A MAN who killed a much-loved grandfather after drunkenly shooting him with a high-powered air rifle while being driven home from the pub has been jailed.
Jamie Hellings was foolishly showing off by pointing the weapon out of the window of his friend’s car when he fired the fatal shot.
Despite the best efforts of neighbours and paramedics the grandfather was pronounced dead at James Cook University Hospital following the drive-by shooting last August.
Hellings was jailed for six years and eight months after Teesside Crown Court heard the devastating impact the death of Mr Kay had on his family.
Hellings, of Coronation Road, Loftus, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a firearm without a certificate.
Judge Howard Crowson jailed Hellings for six years and eight months.
RAPIST
A WEDDING photographer has been jailed for four years for raping a young boy in the early 2000s.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was raped and sexually assaulted on two separate occasion when he was either aged between ten and 11 by Christopher Todd, when he himself was just a teenager.
The 31-year-old heard the devastating impact his actions had on the life of his victim.
Todd, of Grangeside, Darlington, continues to deny any responsibility for his actions, the court heard from his counsel Christine Egerton.
Judge James Brown said: “I find that he still lives with the impact of your behaviour all those years ago and I find the impact to be profound.”
SEX OFFENDER
A SEXUAL deviant who couldn't handle to pressure of being monitored by police slept rough and hid in bed and breakfasts to avoid their attention.
Robert Jeffrey was arrested while staying at the Best Western Hotel in Newcastle when police were eventually able to track him down after he disappeared from his registered Darlington address.
Jeffrey, of Brougham Street, Darlington, admitted breaching the conditions of his sex offenders' notification order.
Judge Recorder Richard Woolfall jailed Jeffrey for two years for the 'deliberate refusal to comply' with the notification order but acknowledged the stress and anxiety that the defendant felt.
VOYEUR
A VOYEUR with a perverted interest in young teenage girls has admitted taking videos and photographs to satisfy his sexual urges.
Tomasz Chmielewski had a collection of almost 2,000 indecent images stashed on his mobile phone, including ones of a 14-year-old girl sunbathing in a bikini without her knowledge and young women teenagers in Middlesbrough town centre.
The 41-year-old was arrested following a tip-off from the National Crime Agency, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The court heard how the defendant had downloaded 550 images and 88 videos in category A; 418 pictures and 53 videos in category B; and 791 pictures and 91 videos in category C.
Chmielewski, of Lanchester Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to voyeurism, three charges of possession indecent images of children and a further charge of possession of four prohibited images of children.
Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Chmielewski to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
PREDATOR
A PERVERT who sent disgusting sexual messages to a ‘teenage’ girl a month after a suspended prison sentence ended has been jailed.
Alan White contacted the ‘14-year-old’ on a social media chatroom and the conversation soon changed to his deviant sexual fantasies as he sent her increasingly explicit messages.
The convicted sex offender was spared custody in 2018 after committing similar offences but this time Judge Howard Crowson locked him up for two years and four months.
White, of Reeth Road, Richmond, pleaded guilty to attempt to sexually communicate with a child and attempt to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
BURGLAR
A BURGLAR who left a family devastated after he ransacked their home and stole irreplaceable mementos has been jailed for 30 months.
Ryan Ludgate targeted the family home when he went on a 24-hour burglary spree breaking into properties near where he lived in Darlington.
Judge Jonathan Carroll praised the bravery of one of his victims as he sentenced the defendant to 30 months in prison.
He said: "The continuing anguish that she suffers is clear to be heard, the raw emotion and the continuing medical care that she and her daughter receive to cope with the anxiety triggered by your burglary of their home."
The judge also activated his 12-week suspended sentence.
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