Killer Stephen Ansbro was among the County Durham offenders sentenced in the region’s crown courts so far this month.

The 60-year-old resident of Dunelm Court, Barnard Castle, formerly known as Stephen Kay, received a mandatory life sentence at Newcastle Crown Court after he changed pleas and admitted the murder of neighbour Jane Collinson.

He was said to have slashed and stabbed the 59-year-old grandmother up to 60 times in her flat on March 3, this year.

But he attempted to cover up for his actions, managing to lock the door from outside to try to make it appear as if Ms Collinson had taken her own life.

Read more: Barnard Castle killer's cover up bid seen through by murder probe

The CCTV coverage internally at the complex showed Ansbro tampering with the lock from outside and also portrayed him coming and going from the victim’s flat during the day of her death.

He was said to have a grudge against the victim who had previously complained to the manager of the complex about him.

Judge Paul Sloan, the Recorder of Newcastle, said Ansbro will have to serve at least 18 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

He also added an additional four years and nine months for four unrelated historical sexual offences admitted by Ansbro on the day of trial.

Those 57 months will be added to the murder sentence, meaning he will be aged more than 80 before being eligible to apply for parole.

Rapist Mark Barclay, who turned 20 earlier this month, was sentenced as an offender to be considered “dangerous” at Durham Crown Court, on Monday (August 14).

The homeless offender, also convicted of making indecent photographs of children following a previous police search at his former home in West Rainton, led a much younger person into a wooded area of the riverbanks in Durham where he carried out the rape.

Read more: 'Dangerous' defendant jailed for rape in Durham riverbank woodlands

His victim was found by passers-by in a distressed state in North Road, Durham, later that evening, on May 4, but based on descriptions given to police and forensic evidence, Barclay was caught and arrested the following day.

He later admitted rape and received an extended determinate sentence with a custodial element of seven-years-and-six months, to be followed by three-and-a-half years’ extended licence period.

He must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial element, five years, behind bars before being liable for release subject to extended licence conditions.

Barclay was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration requirements as a sex offender, both indefinitely.

Former Crook taxi driver Allen March received a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of 18 historic sexual offences on a girl, including four of rape.

The 58-year-old of Orchard Street, Crook, who denied the offences, claiming his victim was lying, was found guilty on each count by the jury following a trial in May.

March must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial period, almost 16 years, behind bars before being eligible to apply for release on parole.

Read more: Police said victim of Crook paedophile 'vindicated' by his conviction

He will be subject to various prohibitions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, for 30 years, and must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register, for life.

Alan Patterson, 41, was jailed for 25 months on August 11 for targeting a mother and son in a bid to snatch their mobile phones, as they were walking on a street near Shildon town centre, on May 4.

The woman was able to hang onto her device, but Patterson successfully snatched the phone from her 12-year-old son following a brief struggle.

Police were immediately informed and Patterson was traced with the use of a tracker device on the phone and CCTV coverage around Shildon town centre.

He was caught as he was tring to negotiate the sale of the phone.

Durham Crown Court heard that such was the trauma felt by the victim than she decided to move from Shildon, where they had only recently settled.

Patterson, of Bessemer Street, Ferryhill, admitted charges of robbery and attempted robbery.

Craig Atter was jailed for 44 months at Durham Crown Court, on August 4, for a series of increasingly violent attacks on his now ex-partner, which culminated in him stabbing her several times with a kitchen knife.

The 51-year-old former lorry driver, of New Front Street, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, admitted wounding with intent, assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

All the attacks were said to have taken place when Atter was under the influence of alcohol.

His own barrister, Chris Morrison, referred to the defendant’s “Jekyll and Hyde” character, when in and out of drink.

In the final incident he left his ex-partner suffering puncture wounds under her arm, to her leg and thigh, plus heavy bruising.

An unlimited restraining order prohibits Atter from contacting of approaching his victim.Andrew Wood, of Thomas Street, Easington Colliery, was said to have gone”the wrong way” about trying to remove footage featuring himself from a phone camera.

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He barged into a property in Easington Colliery, punched both the female householder and her male partner, before removing the mobile phone, on July 7.

The 37-year-old defendant admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, assault by beating and theft of a phone.

He received an 18-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court, on August 7, and was made subject of restraining orders, forbidding him from contacting or approaching within 100 metres of the homes of either victim, in each case for five years.