Here are some of the people who faced justice at Teesside Crown Court last month.
The Northern Echo takes a look at the perverts, drug dealers, armed robbers and burglars, appearing in court.
SNEAK THIEF
A prolific sneak thief who preyed on vulnerable, elderly women during a shocking crime spree has been locked up.
Wayne Robinson targeted the pensioners when they were out doing their shopping and either grabbed their handbags or snatched their purses in a series of daylight thefts.
The 33-year-old, who refused legal representation, told a judge he would represent himself during his sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court.
Jon Harley, prosecuting, said the three victims had all been badly affected by the actions of the defendant when he targeted them all in July last year.
Robinson, of Prescott Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to three thefts, three charges of possession of a bladed article and a single charge of causing criminal damage.
“Nothing changes, it’s just a vicious cycle. I’m not going to put a defence forward; I’m just going to get sentenced and move on.”
Recorder Anthony Kelbrick jailed Robinson for a total of 34 months for his latest crime spree.
CRIME SPREE
A burglar who left a pensioner terrified when she heard footsteps in her home in the middle of the night has been locked up.
Nathan Dunn crept into the house in Hartlepool and stole the keys the victim’s ‘lifeline’ car before it was driven off and crashed into a wall.
The 20-year-old, who was a passenger in the stolen car, was also caught on doorbell footage trying the handle of another victim’s home before turning his attention to three vehicles placed on the drive.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that the spate of offences all took place in the early hours of October 11 last year at properties on Wisbeach Close.
Dunn, of Jones Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary, theft of motor vehicle, and three charges of motor vehicle interference relating to a Vauxhall Corsa, Citroen C4 and Peugeot.
Tom Bennett, mitigating, said his client had Christmas on remand for the offences and urged the judge to impose a suspended sentence.
Dunn was sent to a young offenders’ institute for a total of 27 months.
YOUNG OFFENDER
A young man who stole a coat and Halloween mask from a car during a crime spree in the early hours of the morning racially abused a police officer when he was arrested.
Tobie Robson was caught on CCTV trying to gain entry to a number of cars and homes as he prowled around the streets of Hartlepool on October 11 last year.
The 19-year-old was spotted rifling through a Peugeot car parked on Loyalty Close before he was later seen trying a door handle on a home before turning his attention to a car parked on the drive.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Robson stole a jacket and Halloween mask from the car before putting the jacket on and walking away from the area.
The defendant was later seen trying the door handle of a property on Valley Drive where a father was asleep at home with his children.
Robson, of Hamilton Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty two charges of attempted burglary, theft, two charges of motor vehicle interference, and a racially aggravated public order offence.
Recorder Mark McKone KC sent Robson to a young offenders’ institute for a total of 23 months.
DANGER DRIVER
A banned dangerous driver who took police on a 20-minute-long high-speed chase around the streets of a North East town has been locked up after almost crashing into an ambulance.
Daryn Hunter jumped in his car and sped off when he spotted a police car approaching him while he was parked up in Stockton.
The 26-year-old hit speeds in excess of 90mph as he attempted to shake off the attention of the police after they activated their blue lights.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Hunter forced an ambulance to take evasive action; almost collided with a parked taxi; sped through red lights, drove over grass verges; and drove at excessive speed.
The chase only came to an end when Hunter pulled over on New Earswick Street, in Stockton, and tried to run away from the pursuing officers.
When police caught up with him he continued to cause problems for officers until he was fully restrained and arrested.
Hunter, of Radnor Close, Stockton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, possession of a bladed article, two charges of drug driving, and driving with no insurance.
Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Hunter to a total of two years for all offences.
“For about 20 minutes you drove very dangerously. It was too fast and caused a great deal of risk, fortunately no-one was harmed - that was only luck and nothing to do with your abilities as a driver,” he said.
Hunter was also banned from driving three years with a one-year extension to cover his time in custody.
PROLIFIC OFFENDER
A prolific criminal who has spent the vast majority of the last seventeen years behind bars has again been locked up for a string of attempted thefts and burglary.
Chronic alcoholic John Kirk was living in homeless in the rear of a van on a garage forecourt in Darlington when he was spotted trying the door handles of a number of vehicles in Darlington.
The 53-year-old was found carrying a lock knife when police turned up in Chesnut Street after he was spotted acting suspiciously near Billau Motorcycles on September 10 last year.
Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said the following day after his release on bail the defendant was caught trying the front door of a house on West Auckland Road in the town before rifling through a car.
Kirk, of Elmfield Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary, four charges of vehicle interference and possession of a bladed article.
Emma William, in mitigation, said her client was a chronic alcoholic who had been diagnosed with a serious liver condition while he was serving time on remand.
Judge Anthony James Brown sentenced him to a total of 30 months for all charges.
“Your history is a sad and depressing one,” he said. “You were a child in care and for a number of years you have struggled with problems with drugs and alcohol and that explains a great deal of the offending that you have been involved in."
CRACK COCAINE
A drug addict who turned to dealing to fund his habit has been jailed after police raided his home and found crack cocaine and prescription drugs.
Elliot Milner turned to using drugs when he lost his job as a joiner during the Covid epidemic, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The 22-year-old told officers exactly where to find the Class A and Class drugs when they stormed into his bedroom on Rydale Avenue, Billingham, on January 17, 2021.
Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said officers recovered 42 pregabalin tablets and 42 wraps of crack cocaine and seized an iPhone which contained a number of messages connected to drug dealing.
Milner, now of Bowfell Close, Eaglescliffe, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply drugs and two charges of offering to sell the same drugs.
Kelleigh Lodge, mitigating, said her client had slipped into taking drugs after losing work during the Covid pandemic and turned to dealing to fund his own habit.
Judge Howard Crowson locked Milner up for two years for all charges.
He said: “This selling was, in my view, in order to fund your own habit, you are seeking assistance for that while you are in prison and that may well be your salvation.”
CHILD RAPIST
A depraved youth who repeatedly raped a young boy after grooming him with promises of dog walks and a mobile phone has been locked up.
Daniyal Hussain started sexually abusing the youngster when he was just a teenager himself before it came to an end after three years when he was almost caught red-handed.
The 22-year-old would pretend to take the pre-school youngster for long dog walks but instead would rape the boy before threatening him to stay quiet about the abuse.
Aisha Wadoodi, prosecuting, said a police investigation was launched after the victim’s older sister disclosed that her brother was being sexually abused.
Miss Wadoodi said the defendant admitted his guilt in a number of text messages but maintained throughout his trial that he had only done so as to not offend Pakistani elders who were quizzing him about his behaviour.
Hussain, of Thackeray Grove, Middlesbrough, was convicted of five counts of rape on a child under 13 and three charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 13 following a trial.
Timothy Jacobs, mitigating, said his client had shown of mixture of maturity and naivety throughout the investigation.
Hussain was also issued with an indefinite restraining order to stay away from his victim and ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.
DRUNKEN PERVERTS
A pair of men who carried a sickening sexual assault on a woman they preyed on as she walked through Darlington town centre have been locked up.
Jakub Pulawski and Adam Garkzynski were caught on CCTV taking advantage of the victim in the early hours of the morning after they led her through the streets of the town.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the pair stopped outside the Premier Inn before Pulawski started to kiss and molest the woman despite her being heavily intoxicated and unable to give consent.
The footage captured the lengthy sexual assault as Garkzynski joined in and kissed the woman before molesting her beneath her clothing as they sat within 100 metres of the town’s police station.
The court heard that the pair had been stopped earlier by police who were concerned about her welfare but the woman told the officer that they were work colleagues, despite that not being the case.
Garkzynski, of Thames Way, and Pulawski, of Cotherstone Moor Drive, both Darlington, pleaded guilty to sexual assault from May 2 last year.
“I have seen the CCTV footage of what happened and she was obviously heavily intoxicated but you, Pulawski, sought to exploit that, effectively you moved her onto your lap. You can be seen touching her over her clothing in intimate areas.
“It’s obvious to me that she was unable to put up any meaningful resistance,” he added.
The 32-year-old and 24-year-old were also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.
VIOLENT THUGS
A thug who lost a fight rallied his friends before setting off on a revenge mission with them armed with a knife, a screwdriver and a hatchet, a court heard.
Keaton Gibson was given a ‘good hiding’ by the man before seeking retribution with Connor Smith and Josh White in tow.
When the three of them turned up at the victim’s house on Roseberry View, Thornaby, another confrontation erupted but this time the man was stabbed six times when he was knocked to the ground.
Damian Broadbent, prosecuting, said White was responsible for inflicting the stabs wounds to the man’s chest, backside and abdomen.
The judge told the defendants that they were lucky to not be facing more serious charges as the stabbings caused potentially ‘life-threatening injuries’.
White, of Mead Crescent, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article.
Philip Tully, representing the 22-year-old, said it was out of character for his client to be violent and expressed genuine remorse for the injuries he inflicted.
Gibson, of Langley Avenue, Thornaby, was cleared of wounding with intent but also pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possession of a hatchet.
Robert Mochrie, representing Gibson, said the defendant never intended to use the hatchet.
While Smith, of no fixed abode, was found not guilty of wounding with intent but pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possession of a pointed article – a screwdriver.
Michele Turner, on behalf of the 23-year-old, said Smith was very remorseful straight after the stabbing when he realised the severity of the attack.
White was jailed for eight years and six months for stabbing the victim while Gibson and Smith were locked up for three years for their role in the violence.
DOMESTIC ABUSER
A thug has been locked up for two years for attacking an ex-partner while still handcuffed after escaping police custody.
His attack left a police officer with a broken finger when he fought with her to avoid arrest following a domestic dispute.
And to make matters even worse for Jack Williams, he returned to his former partner’s home and violently attacked her while still wearing the handcuffs.
The 21-year-old left his victim battered and bruised after hitting her and dragging her around by her hair, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Philip Morley, prosecuting, said Williams had dragged the police officer down the stairs while she desperately tried to hold onto the handcuffs after he shoved her to the ground midway through arresting him.
The court heard how a couple of hours later, still in the early hours of the morning of August 5 last year, Williams climbed through a window of his victim’s home and carried out a sustained attack on her.
John Nixon, mitigating, said his client’s spell on remand had a salutary lesson and he apologised for his behaviour on the night.
Recorder Nathan Adams sentenced Williams to a total of two years in custody for all offences.
ILLICIT GAINS
A drug dealer who made £500,000 from his illicit enterprise has been back in court to have his assets seized.
Michael Collins was initially arrested in August 2017 when he was caught with high-grade cocaine and amphetamine.
The 61-year-old was arrested again the following month when he was found with almost £10,000 in cash and more high-purity cocaine.
When he appeared over a video link at Teesside Crown Court he accepted that he had benefited to by half a million pounds during a proceeds of crime confiscation hearing.
The judge heard how Collins had £11,000 in realisable assets and he was ordered to pay it within three months or serve another six months in jail in default.
Cleveland Police seized more than £100,000 in drugs when they raided his former home in Hartlepool and a pub in Port Clarence in which he had an interest, said prosecutor Paul Abrahams.
He said that the agreed total benefit to Collins was £496,090 made up from £431, 605 from the case at Teesside Crown Court last September, and benefit of £64, 484 which was outstanding from an earlier drugs conviction at Newcastle Crown Court.
Collins, of Crosby Terrace, Port Clarence, had been convicted of supplying Class A, B and C drugs and possession of criminal property of £10,000 cash between 2017 and 2021.
Recorder David Gordon had sentenced Collins to a total of seven years and four months for all offences.
MASKED ROBBER
A would-be armed robber was identified by his two distinctive tattoos after he demanded cash from a shop owner while pointing a knife at him.
A masked Dean Ashworth walked into the A&A Johnson shop carrying a seven-inch kitchen knife before demanding that the owner filled a bag with cash.
The 47-year-old fled the scene emptied handed when the owner managed to trigger the emergency alarm, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Ashworth’s distinctive tattoos, including one of a cartoon laughing joker on his hand and another of his son’s name on his arm, led to police being able to identify the suspect following an anonymous tip-off.
The aborted raid left the shop owner fearing for his life and resulted in him putting the shop up for sale after more than 40 years in the business.
Ashworth, of Durham Street, Stockton, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a bladed article following the incident on October 8, 2020, at around 8pm.
Simon Walker, mitigating, said his client had only recently revealed that he had suffered childhood trauma which resulted in his longstanding alcohol and drug problems.
He said: “You went into the store, you produced a kitchen knife and you were masked at the time. You held it out and threatened the man who was about two feet away and then demanded he fill the bag with money."
BRUTAL ATTACKER
A violent teenage thug repeatedly smashed in bottle into the face of a taxi driver after he was squirted in his eyes with a noxious liquid during a mob-handed robbery.
Declan Day and two other unidentified assailants launched the vicious attack on the man after getting him to take them to quiet area of Park End in Middlesbrough.
The 18-year was not satisfied with attacking the taxi driver and robbing him once, he left and returned to the parked car and repeatedly punched him and hit to the face with a bottle on a two further occasions.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the victim suffered cuts and bruising to his face, head and leg as well as requiring hospital treatment to rinse the alkaline solution out of his eyes.
Day, of Overdale Road, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of robbery and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He had pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker when he spat at a police officer as he was arrested after hiding on the roof of a bingo hall.
The two other people involved in the violent attack in the early hours of May 12 last year have not been located, the court heard.
John Nixon, mitigating, said his client continues to deny being responsible for the attack and disputes that he was the person caught on CCTV getting into the taxi on Parliament Road, Middlesbrough.
He said: “These offences are genuinely shocking in the extent of the group violence you engaged in and the persistence with which the offence was committed.
“It was persistent and gratuitously in excess of what was needed for you to take your victim’s money.”
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