A Darlington man previously convicted of manslaughter is back behind bars after he tried to force his way into a family home while armed with a knife.

Matthew Stobie and Benny Varey were caught on CCTV creeping around outside the property before attempting to gain entry to the house where an eight-month-old child was living.

The pair were overpowered by people inside the house before fleeing the area around Forster Street, Darlington.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendants were well-known to the woman and Varey had earlier tried to start a fight with her partner.

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said: “They came to the front door of the property which they pushed open, the woman made her way upstairs with their daughter, but she could hear him shouting that the two defendants had knives.

“She watched the two defendants briefing managed to cross over the doorstep into the house but her partner and his friends were able to push them back outside.

“She saw Stobie stab the door with a knife before they made off from the area and they managed to lock the door.”

Miss Atkinson said two knives were recovered after a passer-by told police the defendants had gone into a nearby pizza shop.

She said Varey was arrested soon after at his home address but Stobie was found on a roof of a block of flats in the West Moor Road area of town and refused to come down before causing damage to the roof.

The court heard how Stobie had a previous conviction for manslaughter and Varey had a previous conviction for stalking and was serving a suspended sentence order at the time of the offence.

Mathew StobieMathew Stobie (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Stobie, of Wolsingham Terrace, and Varey, of North Road, both Darlington, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of a bladed article following the incident in May this year.

Reece Williams, representing Stobie, said his client was extremely remorseful for his actions in the early hours of May 13 this year.

And Penny Hall, representing Varey, said her client had been on remand for almost four months following his arrest.

She added: “He has been using his time well while in custody.”

Benny VareyBenny Varey (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced them both to 15 months for affray and possession of a knife while Varey was given an additional 18 weeks in custody for breaching his suspended sentence order.

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He said: “You both attended at the house and you were both intent on causing trouble at that home.

“You were seen on CCTV in the area and offering to fight the woman’s partner and you didn’t take the opportunity to leave.

“On the contrary you sought to force entry into their home. You were armed, each of you carrying knives.”

They were both made subject to a restraining order to stay away from the victim’s home.