A danger driver, thug and child predator were among the defendants jailed at Durham Crown Court, in July.
One of the driving menaces ploughed into a teenager on a quad bike before leading police on a highly hazardous chase.
Harley Brown deliberately drove at the teenager on the 'quad' on January 31 and despite being arrested and bailed for that incident was involved in a dangerous chase, pursued by police, through Hartlepool, on February 20.
The court heard that one witness to the second incident, an experienced lorry driver, described it as the worst piece of driving he had ever seen.
Brown, 22, of Haswell Avenue, Hartlepool, admitted two counts of dangerous driving and one of assault causing actual bodily harm at a hearing in May.
Hartlepool danger driver ploughed into boy on quad bike
Recorder Chris Knox told Brown: “You have a bad history and have served significant sentences, and in these cases, you behaved in this outrageous, dangerous fashion.”
Imposing prison sentences totalling 30 months, the Recorder also banned Brown from driving for four-and-a-half years.
Sonny Horsfall
A drugged-up teen who mowed down a pensioner drove off and left him seriously injured in the road, before texting friends saying he thought he was dead.
Sonny Horsfall, filmed himself at the wheel driving at 57mph in 30-limit areas shortly before the hit-and-run which left his victim lying badly injured.
He drove off before going into hiding but was arrested the following day.
The court heard the 18-year-old, who was aware he had left the elderly pedestrian seriously injured, passed his phone onto a friend so the incriminating footage and bravado messaging in the aftermath of the crash would not be retrieved.
After his eventual arrest the phone was recovered.
The court was told the victim underwent groundbreaking hip reconstruction surgery from which he is only beginning to recover, and the previously fit and independent widower still requires help with many day-to-day activities despite the good progress he has made since leaving hospital.
He also suffered three broken bones in his back, a broken foot and multiple cuts and bruises across his body.
Horsfall, 18, of Ryedale View, Kirkbymoorside, previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, with no insurance and failing to stop after an accident.
Recorder Chris Knox said Horsfall behaved with “both wickedness and stupidity” leaving the independent, perfectly healthy victim suffering “very real disabilities for the rest of his life.”
Banned teen drove for 30 miles in defective Audi before hit and run
Imposing a three-year custodial sentence for his “outrageous behaviour”, Recorder Knox also imposed a four-year driving ban on Horsfall.
Danny Eeles
An intoxicated thug terrorised a family and smashed a living room window before lunging at their daughter's partner with a machete.
While apparently under the influence of either drink or drugs, or both, Danny Marcus Eeles twice made knife threats to members of the family in Willington in May.
Durham Crown Court heard that Eeles had previously spoken to the householder saying how “beautiful” her daughter was and asking if she was single.
Nothing more was made of that remark, but at 11am on May 18 he committed the offences, spanning several hours.
Eeles, 36, of the Aged Miners’ Homes in Willington, recently admitted possessing a knife and offensive weapon in public, affray and criminal damage.
The court heard his 43 past offences includes threatening behaviour, damaging property, and knife possession, but he also served a 57-month sentence imposed in 2017 for a knifepoint robbery at a Stockton launderette.
Recorder Chris Knox said the defendant made a “thorough nuisance” of himself that day in May, and was considered “an unpleasant, dangerous man” by many locals in Willington.
Willington man smashed house window and lunged at driver with machete.
Imposing a 12-month prison sentence the Recorder also put in place a restraining order forbidding him from contacting or approaching members of the targeted family for five years.
John Slater
An inpatient BMW driver attempted a dangerous triple overtaking manoeuvre with fatal consequences when a bus ahead pulled into a stop.
John Slater pulled out of the line of vehicles as traffic came to a halt behind the briefly stationary bus, ignored a keep left sign, and while on the wrong side of the road struck a 70-year-old man using a pedestrian crossing in Westlea Road, Seaham.
Armed forces veteran Paul Knox was thrown to the ground off the BMW and left with serious blunt force injuries, from which he died in hospital almost a month later, in February last year.
Durham Crown Court heard that Slater, who had a child in the car at the time, remained at the scene and attempted to assist the casualty.
The 37-year-old defendant, of The Avenue, Seaham, denied causing death by dangerous driving at his first crown court hearing, in January, and a trial was pencilled in for October this year.
But at a further hearing at the court in March, he changed his plea to guilty.
She added that the defendant, a father of four, has a good work ethic, having been employed as a delivery driver, running his own garage business, as well as being a boxing coach.
Judge Nathan Adams told Slater he took a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road just to save him journey time that day.
He said the other motorists ahead of him all slowed to a halt when the bus pulled up at the stop, but “tragically” the defendant chose not to follow suit.
Imposing an eight-year prison sentence, the judge said it would have been a ten-year sentence but for Slater’s eventual guilty plea.
Seaham BMW driver jailed after death of forces' veteran
Slater was also banned from driving for nine years and he must pass an extended re-test to legally drive upon expiry of the disqualification period.
Ricky Box
A Shildon thug punched, dragged and strangled his pregnant ex in a vicious attack at a "safe-house" which left her fearing for her unborn child.
Ricky Box carried out the sustained assault on his "terrified" ex in February, leaving her with cuts, scratches and abrasions.
The court heard at the time of the incident, the victim was staying in accommodation described as a refuge away from the defendant.
They had previously been in an 18-month relationship but he was banned from contacting her by the terms of a domestic violence protection order (DVPO).
Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said the defendant had been in contact with the victim after the imposition of the DVPO for which he served a 28-day custodial sentence.
But on Sunday, February 28, he turned up at the accommodation apologising and saying that he missed her.
Despite her telling him he was not welcome, Miss Khan said Box became aggressive and threatened to damage property there and at her mother’s address if she informed the police.
The defendant, 39, of John Street, Shildon, jumped from an upstairs window but was detained after a struggle.
Recorder Chris Knox said although the injuries were not unduly grave, Box left his ex-partner terrified and fearful for her unborn child.
Imposing a two-year prison sentence, he said there would be no deductions for pleas as the defendant, “fought the case throughout and continues to deny it", despite being convicted at trial.
Shildon thug punched and strangled pregnant ex in 'safe-house' attack
A restraining order was put in place forbidding Box from contacting or approaching his victim for seven years.
Reggie Cannon
A County Durham predator carried out a sickening sex attack on a young girl in a park.
Reggie Cannon, who was an adult at the time, told the girl he was still at school, in Instagram exchanges.
The messaging continued for several weeks, and Cannon would go on to meet the girl after school on a number of occasions.
Durham Crown Court heard that around Christmas several years ago, the pair met in a County Durham park and the girl agreed to go with Cannon for a walk providing there would be, “no funny business”.
But her request fell on deaf ears as in the darkest area of the park Cannon raped and sexually assaulted the girl.
Three days later, after the victim had spent two days refusing to leave home, she did go out and Cannon committed a further sexual assault.
Imposing a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Judge Adams also made Cannon subject of registration as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Stanley predator raped young girl in park after grooming her online
He was also made subject of both a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order, relating to the victim, both for ten years.
Thomas Cash
A man recruited to take part in a cash machine ram raid burglary at a rural town store was arrested after car and foot chases in a County Durham dales' village.
Thomas Cash was part of a group of five or six men who forcibly removed an ATM from the Co-op in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, in the early hours of Saturday October 25 last year.
The court heard a stolen Toyota Hilux was three times reversed into the store doors, before breaking through and activating alarms.
The ATM was then pulled from its position into the path outside the door with the use of heavy under straps.
Patrol officers on the lookout for the black hatchback came across it, bearing no registration plates, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, where it hit a wall while trying to outrun the force vehicle and both the driver and passenger fled in separate directions on foot.
Mr Cleasby said Cash, the passenger, who was wearing a baseball cap and a snood over his face, refused to comply with a request to stop.
The officer tried to deploy his taser, but it failed to activate, so Cash was tackled to the ground, and a phone and wrench were found in his possession.
Mr Cleasby said the ATM cash drawer containing more than £14,000 was recovered from the hatchback, which had been stolen in London.
The Hilux used in the ram raid was also recovered.
It had also previously been stolen and was found covered in ammonia to reduce the possibility of police recovering forensic evidence.
The cost of repairs to the store doors and windows was put at £6,000.
The 23-year-old defendant, whose family home was in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, admitted a charge of burglary at a previous hearing.
Judge Nathan Adams said the defendant played a role as part of “a highly organised gang”, in a well-planned crime with “a high degree of sophistication”.
Police recovered £14k from stolen ATM in abandoned Audi in Teesdale.
Acknowledging that it did not fit in with his previous relatively crime-free background, the judge imposed a 22-month prison sentence.
Paul Scoones
A County Durham man whose romantic advances to a neighbour were rejected made chilling threats to burn down her house and then squirted petrol at her.
Paul Francis Scoones had initially got on well with the neighbour, who lived two doors down, after moving into Moravian Street, Crook, in early 2024.
Durham Crown Court was told Scoones became friendly with the mother-of-two and developed “stronger affection” for her.
Ian Windridge, prosecution, said this was not reciprocated, as, in a conversation with the woman’s sister, he told her he loved her sibling, but was told she did not feel the same about him.
Mr Windridge said that exchange was on Monday March 2, but on the Friday that week (March 6), shortly after 9am, the neighbour received a “concerning” message from the defendant.
Not long after sending that “nasty message”, Scoones turned up outside the victim’s home telling her he would “burn it down”, and, “burn you”.
She told him to calm down but he moved towards her, raised his hand and squirted liquid from a clear bottle in her direction.
Mr Windridge said some of that liquid landed on the woman’s slippers, so she retreated into her home and shut the door.
The liquid had the smell of petrol and the woman was concerned her house could be damaged by fire with her and her children inside.
Scoones, 41, who has been in custody since the incident, appeared by prison to court video link.
He admitted charges of making a threat to kill, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage.
Crook man squirted petrol on woman and threatened to burn house down.
Imposing a 30-month prison sentence he also made a five-year restraining order prohibiting Scoones from contacting the victim or going to her house.
Jack Oughton
A man burgled two homes and took the keys for a VW Beetle during an early-hours crime spree as he chanced his luck trying door handles in Newton Aycliffe.
Jack Oughton, from Chilton, then drove off in the Volkswagen, which was parked on the drive of a home he entered on Colburn Avenue.
Durham Crown Court was told the owner was asleep in her home on the morning of June 25 when she was awoken by her Ring doorbell activating. She thought it may have been caused by her cat, but on looking outside saw her car had gone.
Sam Ponniah, prosecuting, said Oughton had taken the keys and driven off in the VW.
Further inquiries revealed he had been attempting a number of house doors including in nearby Russell Court, Claxton Court and Elwick Avenue.
The 26-year-old, of Wordsworth Road, Chilton, admitted burglary charges at two properties in Colburn Avenue, taking a mobile phone and purse from one, and in the other, taking the car keys.
He also admitted theft of the VW Beetle car, plus 11 counts of attempted burglary, all early on June 25.
Chilton burglar got into two homes in Newton Aycliffe in early hours
Passing a three-year prison sentence, she said the defendant’s offending was aggravated by his record, the fact it was committed at night, on licence from the previous conviction, and while under the influence of drugs.
Jason Firmin
A pervert caught with more than 150 sick images of children has been put behind bars after breaching a court order.
Darlington's Jason Firmin received a total 26-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Teesside Crown Court on June 12.
It related to charges of possession of cocaine with intent to supply and drug sale proceeds, plus the downloading of more than 150 indecent images of children found on his iPhone.
As part of the sentence, Firmin was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for ten years.
Appearing via video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton, 21-year-old Firmin, of Stocksmoor Close, was back at court, this time Durham Crown Court, on Thursday (July 30), after admitting breaching the SHPO.
Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, told the court that the terms of the SHPO included a prohibition from using a virtual private network (VPN).
But monitoring officers went to his home on July 1 and saw that he had been using a VPN for four days.
Judge Nathan Adams told Firmin a clear condition of the order passed on June 12 was not to use VPN software and so it was, “a clear breach only three weeks later.”
Darlington pervert caught with more than 150 sick images of children
He said the 26-month suspended prison term should be activated in full, given the close proximity to the previous sentence being passed.
Lee Waite
A knife-carrying man took vapes, alcohol and food when he robbed staff at a County Durham B&M store
Lee Waite committed the robbery at B&M Bargains, in Delves Lane, Consett, at about 1.40pm on Thursday May 7 this year.
He stole two vapes, alcohol and food items from the store and was later apprehended in the grounds Consett AFC's Belle View ground.
He was found to be in possession of two knives.
The 36-year-old, of Iveston Road, Consett, admitted charges of robbery and two of possessing a knife in public, at a previous hearing.
Man was found with two knives after robbery at B&M Bargains in Consett
Imposing the 42-month prison sentence, including six months for the knife possession, Judge Nathan Adams also made a deprivation order for both knives seized by police upon the defendant’s arrest.
Darren Williams
A carer 'groomed' a vulnerable dementia sufferer by having sexual contact with her on a visit to her home, a court heard.
Darren Williams was said to have crossed a clear professional line and to have engaged in “some level of grooming” by forming an intimate relationship with the woman in her 60s during unsupervised visits as part of his work.
This included the sending of romantic messages and the use of gifts to become closer to her.
Durham Crown Court was told it was some time later that the woman mentioned his advances to her family and police were informed.
It led to Williams being dismissed from his job with a private care company.
Carer from Crook 'crossed the line' with dementia suffering client
Williams, 45, of New Row, Oakenshaw, near Crook, admitted a single count of sexual activity by a care worker with a person suffering a mental disorder, at a hearing at the court, in February.
Imposing a 30-month prison sentence, Judge Adams added: “I’m satisfied you were aware what you were doing was wrong.”
He made Williams subject of sex offender registration and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for life.
Share