Latest news with #TeessideCrownCourt
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Early jail release of inmate who killed hours later reviewed
A review is under way into the early release of a prisoner who killed a man hours after walking free from jail, the government has Matthews, 26, was armed with a chisel when he joined two others to hunt down and kill Lewis Bell, 26, over a drug den feud in Stockton in the early hours of 19 had been released from prison the previous morning as part of a scheme to ease pressure on crowded prisons, having been jailed three and a half months earlier for his part in a group attack on another Ministry of Justice said its thoughts remained with Mr Bell's family who would be informed of the review's findings. At the sentencing hearing of Mr Bell's killers on Thursday, prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC told Teesside Crown Court that Matthews, of no fixed abode, had 25 previous convictions for 128 offences committed between 2015 and Makepeace said the majority were for "relatively minor dishonesty offences", most usually shoplifting, and he had a "record typical of a life of acquisitive crime to fund drug use". In June 2024, Matthews was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder for an attack six months earlier on a man in Stockton.A court heard the victim had been armed with an air rifle outside a house on Bowesfield Lane when Matthews and four others, armed with weapons including an axe, went out to confront man was knocked to the ground and kicked as he lay unconscious before Matthews approached from behind, stamped on him and went through his pockets, the court was armed with a "long, thin, silver metal spike type" item which was "not dissimilar" to the chisel he used in the attack on Mr Bell, Mr Makepeace was released from jail on 18 September, eight days after the government's early release prison scheme came into force, with Mr Bell being killed hours later. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Lewis Bell. "A review of what happened is under way and will be shared with his family."They said the Labour government elected in July 2024 introduced an emergency early release programme to "avert a crisis which would have led to the police being unable to arrest people nationwide".The spokesperson claimed the commission of serious offences by those released was "incredibly rare", with "less than 0.5% of offenders under statutory supervision convicted of one".They added the government "understands the devastating impact they have which is why they are all reviewed". Matthews was jailed for 15 years, with a further four years to be served on extended licence, after being found guilty of Mr Bell's McLeod, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for murder and Ashton White, 18, sentenced to 10 years youth detention for manslaughter.A fourth man, Macauley Wright, 26, who had been a close friend of Mr Bell's family, was jailed for two and a half years after he admitted assisting an offender by helping the killers escape in a taxi and dispose of evidence. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Woman, 21, who sparked vicious gang attack on her neighbour after explosive row over DOG poo avoids jail
A woman who viciously attacked her neighbor following an explosive argument about her dogs pooing in a walkway has avoided jail time. Chloe Jolly, 21, was told she has narrowly escaped an immediate prison sentence after footage of the drug-fuelled outburst, in Middlesbrough, was shown to a court. Recorder Bryan Cox heard how the victim had reported Jolly, who was 19 at the time, to the environmental health agency for letting her dogs defecate in the rear alley. Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said Jolly's neighbor had visited her house twice in an attempt to discuss the issue but was dismissed. At 2am on May 23, 2023, Jolly and several others went to her neighbour's home. CCTV footage played at Teesside Crown Court, sitting at the magistrates' court, shows Jolly throw a punch at her neighbour before others join in. The victim, who appears to have armed herself with a wooden stick, is dragged from her home and pushed onto the ground. She is then kicked and punched multiple times, Teesside Live reported. As others flee the scene, the victim gets up and pushes another unidentified female involved in the attack. Ms Butt said: 'The assault continues again. The complainant is again dragged to the floor.' Jolly can then be seen running back along the street before 'stamping on the complainant's head and shoulders approximately three times.' Another reportedly used the wooden stick to hit the woman as she is on the ground. The woman was left with bruising to her head and face including two black eyes and also suffered a 7cm cut near her cheek bone. In a victim impact statement, she said: 'This incident has left me distraught and I've been left unable to sleep. I feel like this could happen again. 'When I think back over the incident I feel physically sick and I have had to attend hospital. The incident has left me feeling terrified.' She also said she has suffered panic attacks no longer feels safe in her own home. The court heard how when she was arrested, Jolly said she had taken pregabalin tablets, smoked cannabis and drank alcohol. She said when she woke up in hospital she did not remember the attack. When shown the CCTV, Ms Butt said Jolly told officers her behaviour was 'horrible' and that she would never act like that sober. Jolly, of Consett Close, Stockton, was represented by Michelle Turner who said the she had fully engaged with the mental health support offered to her. Recorder Cox KC said that 'by a whisker' he feels he can suspend her sentence. Jolly was handed a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years. She was told she must complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 120-day of alcohol monitoring and 250 hours of unpaid work. Jolly, who is in receipt of benefits, was not ordered to pay compensation to the victim.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- BBC News
Newton Aycliffe man jailed for kidnap and intent to rape teenager
A man who kidnapped a girl with the intention of raping her has been jailed for 11 well as kidnap, Matthew Hindhaugh had also pleaded guilty to assaulting and intentionally strangling the teenager in Crown Court heard that the 22-year-old, of Rowan Place in Newton Aycliffe, had also admitted possessing a samurai sword and making indecent images of children. Durham Police said Hindhaugh claimed he was trying to help the girl who he said had fallen over and hurt her face, but that "overwhelming CCTV evidence and witness statements proved otherwise". The victim said her attacker had punched her in the face before putting his hands over her mouth and telling her to be then forced her into his house and on to his bed where he held her down and started to unzip his described the girl as "quick-thinking" after she told Hindhaugh she would not tell anyone what had happened if he let her then escaped leaving a shoe behind. 'Chastity belt' Det Supt Peter Carr said the victim's bravery was "nothing short of extraordinary"."Not only did her resilience and quick-thinking actions manage to get her to safety, but she managed to prevent Hindhaugh from causing harm to anyone else," he said. "He is an extremely dangerous predator, whose actions were abhorrent that night."When arrested Hindhaugh was wearing a chastity belt which he told officers was to try and stop his sexual admitted eight charges including kidnap with the intention to commit rape, assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, all committed on 27 also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, including 171 in the most serious category, between May 2015 and September 2024. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Middlesbrough man who raped two women has jail term challenged
A rapist who attacked two women within an hour of each other will have his sentence reviewed over concerns it is too Ali, of Ayresome Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 10 years after raping his victims in separate late-night attacks in Stockton last Attorney General's Office confirmed his sentence would be considered at the Court of Appeal on 17 June, after it was referred under the unduly lenient sentencing had initially denied the charges, claiming the sex was consensual, but was convicted following a trial at Teesside Crown Court. The court was told Ali raped the first woman at the side of a derelict building near Yarm Road, at about midnight on 7 September was captured running away on CCTV .An hour later, he attacked a second woman in the same place after she had been walking along Spring Street. In a victim statement read out in court, one of the women said: "I was in so much pain after the attack, I feel horrible inside.''I had the daily struggle leading up to the trial thinking he would get away with it."Cleveland Police praised the ''courage and determination'' of the victims for coming forward and helping bring Ali to justice. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Moment police dog sinks teeth into snivelling thug after he brutally attacked woman in street robbery
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment a police dog sank its teeth into a squealing thug after he attacked a woman in the street. Leslie Sedgewick followed the lone woman before ambushing her from behind as she walked to work in Middlesbrough. 4 Leslie Sedgewick was filmed squealing as a police dog stopped him Credit: SWNS The 44-year-old then punched and kicked her to the ground before stealing her mobile during the attack. She managed to flee the horror and alert police after suffering a suspected broken nose and a chipped tooth. Footage shows PC Lee Whitehouse arrive on the scene with police dog Kira following the December 20 robbery. The cop told Sedgewick to stop but he instead fled to nearby garages where he was tackled by PD Kira. Bodycam shows the thug squealing in terror as the dog keeps a grip on his arm. At one point, he pathetically squeals: "I'm sorry!" Police later discovered Sedgwick had changed his clothes and dumped the woman's stolen items at a house nearby. He has now been jailed for four years and five months after he pleaded guilty to robbery. The victim told Teesside Crown Court how she had to hide her horror injuries from her child "so she didn't see and ask what had happened to me". She also revealed she was "petrified" during the attack and did not know if she was "going to die". The woman added: "I am constantly in fear that I don't know who is around me or what they are capable of doing." Detective Constable Pierce Ditchburn said: "This was a terrifying attack on a lone woman early in the morning, just a few days before Christmas. "Leslie Sedgewick targeted the woman for her mobile phone and has been attempting to steal a bike in the moments leading up to this attack. "No one should ever have to be afraid to go anywhere alone. "I'm pleased that Sedgewick is now behind bars, and hope that this justice can help provide some comfort to the victim in this case." 4 Sedgewick had attacked a lone woman in the street Credit: SWNS 4 He attempted to flee but was cornered by PD Kira Credit: SWNS
