Here are the faces of some of the people who were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court between July and September.

 

JULY

 

Nathan Costello

A MAN who stabbed a teenager 64 times in a frenzied attack has been found guilty of murder.

Nathan Costello had always admitted killing Taylor Black after he attacked him in his Stockton flat last February.

The 32-year-old left a kitchen knife embedded in his victim’s skull after stabbing more than 40 times to the head.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 32-year-old was taken to hospital following his arrest but was returned to Middlesbrough police station where it was decided he was fit and mentally capable of being interviewed.

Two medical experts gave differing opinions of Costello’s state of mind during the violent and brutal attack as the defendant relied on a defence of ‘diminished responsibility’.

The Northern Echo: Nathan CostelloNathan Costello

Costello, of Ketton Road, had messaged friends telling them that he had ‘killed’ the 18-year-old but later told police he had no recollection of the fatal stabbing.

He was told he must serve almost 20 years behind bars before he can be considered for release.

 

Ricky Clench

A CHILD rapist has been jailed for 15 years for the repeated ‘cruel and appalling’ attacks on his very young victim.

Ricky Clench abused the young girl over a 13-month period when she was aged under 13.

The 41-year-old was found guilty of three offences of rape, five of sexual penetration and two of inciting her to engage in a sex act, following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The Northern Echo: Ricky ClenchRicky Clench

Jurors heard how Clench carried out the vile attacks on at least three occasions during his victim’s ‘formative years’ and on occasion plied the victim with alcohol.

Clench, formerly of Northallerton but now of Kennion Road, Harrogate, was found guilty of the offences which took place several years ago.

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced the defendant to 15-years in prison with an extended one-year licence period after his release.

 

Robert Jackson

A BULLYING rapist who ruined the life of his victims has been jailed for ten year after showing no remorse of his actions.

Robert Jackson was branded a 'sexual predator' who poses a significant risk to women and children.

The 48-year-old found guilty of the rape and false imprisonment of a woman and sexually assaulting a teenage boy several years ago.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Jackson is already serving a ten-year sentence for similar offences after being jailed in 2018.

The Northern Echo: Robert JacksonRobert Jackson

Jackson, of HMP Acklington but formerly of Darlington, was found guilty of rape, false imprisonment and engaging in sexual activity with a child following a trial earlier this year.

The judge told the defendant that his latest ten-year sentence will run consecutive with the other sentence he is currently serving – meaning he is facing 20 years in prison.

He said: "You refuse to accept any responsibility for your behaviour."

 

Phillip Lodge

A DRUNKEN thug who bit a chunk out of another man's ear during a street brawl has been jailed.

Phillip Lodge latched onto his friend's ear and ripped a piece off while they were rolling around on the ground after a boozy session descended into violence.

The 39-year-old had spent the evening drinking with friends outside his Darlington home before getting into an argument with his victim, Teesside Crown Court heard.

After initially going back to his own home, the defendant then returned to the street to continue the argument which soon erupted into a street brawl at 8am on April 18.

The Northern Echo: Phillip LodgePhillip Lodge

Sentencing Lodge to three years in prison, Recorder Nathan Adams said: "You had all been drinking together the day before, indeed you had all been having a good time, the drinking continued into the night.

"It's quite clear that an argument started and that was broke up but in the early hours of the following morning you decided to go back and the argument continued. It spilled out into the street and went from an argument into violence."

Lodge, of Hamsterley Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the fight in April this year.

The court heard how the victim had been left permanently disfigured after having a section of his ear bitten off.

 

Alexander Wright

A PREDATORY burglar who targeted a vulnerable man, the week after his mother died, and forced his way into his home before stealing cash has been jailed.

Alexander Wright stole almost £100 from the victim after forcing him to hand over money from a tin before rifling through his wallet and taking the cash out of it.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he had a long history of targeting vulnerable people by offering to carry out gardening work and on occasion impersonating a police officer.

Recorder Simon Jackson QC jailed Wright for three years and nine months for the burglary of the victim, who has been diagnosed with Down's Syndrome.

The Northern Echo: Alexander WrightAlexander Wright

Wright, of Witton Crescent, Darlington, was found guilty of burglary after a trial last month.

During the trial, jurors were told that Wright had been to the victim's home on a number of occasions to offer to carry out gardening work.

Dealing with the defendant's previous convictions, Recorder Jackson said: "It is quite clear you have targeted vulnerable people, people over the age of 70 under the guise of offering gardening services and that is part of your modus operandi."

 

AUGUST

 

Keith Anderson

A SEXUAL predator who raped a vulnerable pensioner in her own home has been jailed for life.

Keith Anderson tricked his way into his victim’s house before subjecting her to a degrading sexual assault while threatening to ‘snap her neck’ and stab her if she didn’t comply.

The 35-year-old’s vile attack has left his victim too scared to be on her own and wanting to move out of her own house, Teesside Crown Court heard.

In a powerful victim impact statement, the Darlington grandmother said she was struggling to comprehend the pain and suffering she endured at the hands of Anderson.

The Northern Echo: Keith AndersonKeith Anderson

Anderson, of The Broadway South, Darlington, pleaded guilty to rape and sexual assault following the attack in March this year.

Sentencing Anderson to a life in prison, Recorder Craig Hassall QC told him he would face a minimum of eight years behind bars before he could be considered for parole after leaving his victim traumatised.

"She is understandably terrified to be alone in her own home, she is considering moving away from it," he said.

 

John Collins

A STUDENT nurse who carried out a degrading sexual assault on a patient while giving him an unnecessary bed bath has been jailed for 32 months.

John Collins took advantage of the man’s medical condition to carry out the protracted assault when he fondled his genitals for a number of minutes while working at James Cook University Hospital.

The 48-year-old's deviant behaviour has left the victim feeling unable to leave his own home since he was sexually assaulted in August 2017.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant had been warned that it was inappropriate for student nurses to carry out bed baths on patients but Collins ignored the advice and assaulted the man while pretending to be called 'Dave'.

The Northern Echo: John CollinsJohn Collins

Judge Recorder Craig Hassall QC sentenced Collins to 32 months in prison after listening to the impact on the victim.

"This offence was well planned, the facts of it demonstrate your manipulation of your position of trust to facilitate your sexual assault," he said.

"It is difficult to imagine how one deals with being sexually assaulted in a hospital bed by someone who is supposed to be providing him with care."

Wheelchair using Collins, of Laburnum Road, Redcar, appeared via videolink from Teesside Magistrates' Court, after pleading guilty to sexual assault on the day of trial.

 

Brian Rumley

A PROLIFIC offender went on a burglary spree targeting three homes in just one night.

Brian Rumley was caught on CCTV unsuccessfully trying to creep into one home before stealing a laptop and car keys from his next target and then stealing a number of coats despite being spotted by the householder as he crept into his Darlington home in June this year.

The 47-year-old was identified in a Regatta jacket that he had stolen from Boyes in the town centre several weeks earlier, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The defendant was identified by nearby CCTV and police recovered a number of stolen goods from inside and outside his property.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said Rumley had a lengthy criminal record with 25 previous convictions for burglaries and 94 for theft related offences.

The Northern Echo: Brian RumleyBrian Rumley

Rumley, of Chandos Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary and one charge of theft from Boyes on April 22 last year.

Judge Howard Crowson jailed Rumley for three years for the string of offences.

"You have a very bad record for burglary but I hardly need to say that," he said. "It started when you were really young and it seems as though it has never really been possible for you to find an alternative lifestyle."

 

Claire Bell

A WOMAN who took part in a violent gang street robbery when a gang of yobs attacked a businessman on his way home has been jailed.

Claire Bell was one of four thugs who kicked and punched a man to the ground before rifling through his pockets and stealing his mobile phone, cash and some keys.

The victim heard the 35-year-old shout 'get his mobile phone' while he was being beaten in a car park behind Stockton town centre.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Bell's accomplices had already been jailed for their part in the violent robbery in May 2018.

The Northern Echo: Claire BellClaire Bell

Bell, of Norfolk Street, Stockton, pleaded guilty to robbery, handling stolen goods, shoplifting and possession of cannabis.

Recorder Sam Green QC sentenced Bell to a total of four years and six months.

He said: "The robbery involved some pretty nasty violence on that member of the public, he was set upon violently; he was punched and kicked; and he was seriously injured."

 

SEPTEMBER

 

Sam Pybus

He was jailed for less than five years when he was sentenced for the manslaughter of mother-of-two Sophie Moss.

His 'unduly lenient' sentence was examined at the Court of Appeal after campaigners were left outraged by Pybus' punishment but remained unchanged.

The 32-year-old had drunk 24 bottles of lager before getting into his car and driving from Middleton St George to the flat of Miss Moss for sex, the court heard.

Within minutes he had choked his lover to death and failed to get any medical help for the vulnerable 33-year-old.

The court heard that the pathologist’s report highlighted that there were no other signs of violence other than compression to the neck which could have lasted a number of minutes.

The Northern Echo: Sam PybusSam Pybus

Pybus, of Water View, Middleton St. George, Darlington, was charged with murder but the Crown Prosecution Service has accepted his plea of guilty to manslaughter.

Miss Moss was found unresponsive by police at Glaisdale Court on Sunday, February 7 minutes after Pybus walked into Darlington police station to tell them what had happened.

 

Adam Chawla Murder

Ryan Burey and Craig Hardy carried out a sustained, violent assault on defenceless Adam Chawla after a row broke out over a stolen bike.

The 27-year-old suffered multiple injuries when he was kicked, punched, and stamped on by the pair before he was left unconscious for several hours without medical attention.

A third man, Naeem Iqbal, of Eleanor Place, Stockton, was jailed for three years after he was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and also assisting an offender after he lied to emergency services when he eventually contacted them.

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced Burey and Hardy to a minimum term of 17 years after they both carried out the brutal attack on their defenceless victim inside Iqbal’s Stockton home in February this year.

The Northern Echo: Three men jailed for their role in the murder of Adam Chawla. Left to right: Craig Hardy, Ryan Burey and Naeem IqbalThree men jailed for their role in the murder of Adam Chawla. Left to right: Craig Hardy, Ryan Burey and Naeem Iqbal

Hardy, 41, of Cambridge Road, Thornaby and 30-year-old Burey, of Wembley Way, Stockton, had both denied murder.

In a powerful victim impact statement, Mr Chawla’s mother said: “As a family we have had to go through the most unbearable heartbreak and pain since Adam’s life was taken from him."

 

Michael Burns

Justice finally caught up with a pervert decades after he raped and sexually assaulted two young girls.

He carried out the horrendous abuse on one victim when he was a teenager and then targeted another young girl when he was in his late 20s.

The 70-year-old is now facing ten years behind bars after being convicted of rape and five charges of sexual assault following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The pensioner remained impassive throughout the hearing even as the victim impact statement of one of the now-women was read out to the judge.

The court heard how the rape and four of the sexual assaults were carried out in the 60s before he joined the Navy. A further offence was carried out almost two decades later.

The Northern Echo: Michael BurnsMichael Burns

Burns, of Grainger Street, Darlington, was found guilty of all charges following a trial.

Recorder Thomas Moran sentenced Burns to ten years in custody describing his behaviour as 'sneaky and devious'.

 

David Standley

A PERVERT who sent vile, sexually explicit messages to a ‘teenage’ girl was caught out by a team of paedophile hunters.

David Standley befriended the ‘14-year-old girl’ online and started bombarding her with compliments before the messages became increasingly sexually motivated over a nine-month period.

The 27-year-old was arrested when paedophile hunter group, the Angels of Innocence, handed over the information to police, including messages where the defendant asked for naked pictures of the decoy.

The messages then became increasingly sexualised following the initial contact in April 2019 and by January 2020 he was asking to meet up with the girl for sex before sending her a picture of the beach where his home overlooked – later identified as the defendant’s Redcar home.

The Northern Echo: David StandleyDavid Standley

Standley, of Station Road, Redcar, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child into sexual activity.

Judge Howard Crowson jailed Standley for a total of three years and two months.