Here are some of the most serious offenders who have faced justice at Teesside Crown Court in September.
The cases include sex offenders, a drug dealer and violent thugs from across the region who have been locked up.
Drug driver
A promising young footballer who left his friend in a vegetative state when he crashed his BMW while taking ‘laughing gas’ has been jailed.
Mason Thornton was videoed by his passengers taking nitrous oxide from a balloon just seconds before he lost control of his car and smashed in crash barriers while driving at 80mph.
The 21-year-old’s friend, Harlan Moon, suffered catastrophic head injuries when he was thrown out of the car as it was driven towards a slip road on the A19 near Billingham.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Mr Moon will require round the clock care as a result of the horrific injuries he suffered in October 2022.
Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, told the court how Thornton had been stopped by police just days before the horrendous crash when a member of the public reported his erratic driving.
The court heard how Mr Moon suffered horrific head injuries as a result of the accident and a quantity of the drug was recovered from the scene.
Two young woman in the car suffered relatively minor injuries while the front seat passenger escaped unscathed.
Thornton, of Tarr Steps, Ingleby Barwick, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and supplying a psychoactive drug – nitrous oxide – better known as laughing gas or ‘smart whip’.
Elisha Marsay, mitigating, said her client accepts full responsibility for his actions that night and had quit his position as a youth player for Darlington FC as he was struggling with his mental health as a result of the crash.
“This case is an absolute tragedy. What makes it harder to bear for the family is that it was totally avoidable,” he said “It has also been a tragedy for his family and friends, the victim personal statement sets out, in a considered way, the devastating impact on them – their sense of loss is keenly felt."
Thornton was jailed for three years and 11 months and he was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended retest.
Darlington thugs
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 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.
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.
He said: “You both attended at the house and you were both intent on causing trouble at that home."
Serial shoplifter
A serial shoplifter who threatened a security guard with a large meat cleaver has been locked up for a catalogue of offences.
Aaron Harvey pulled out the terrifying weapon when he was confronted by the shop worker before threatening to ‘slash’ him up.
The 33-year-old thief was stealing high value washing products to fund his longstanding drug habit, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The judge heard how there was a price on Harvey’s head as he was a witness in an attempted murder investigation where his cousin suffered a significant injury.
Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said the defendant was making his way out a B&M store with the goods hidden inside his jacket when he was approached by the security guard in May this year.
“The defendant said to the security guard – ‘you’re getting your stuff back you scruffy d***head, I will stab you up,” he said.
The court heard how Harvey had pleaded guilty to a number of shoplifting offences from April and May as well as further offences in August when he stole £366 worth of products from a Sainsbury’s store over a three-day period.
Harvey, of Grasby Close, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to shoplifting offences, possession of a bladed article and threatening behaviour with the meat cleaver.
Simon Walker, mitigating, said his client had a £10,000 price on his head and had been attacked twice while on remand in prison which had helped drive his most recent criminality as he was effectively homeless.
Judge Chris Smith sentenced Harvey to a total of 31 months for all offences.
“Shoplifting in a real nuisance and it costs us all because prices have to go up,” he said. “Not just the goods that are stolen but the cost of the security needed to try and put a stop to this.
“But the knives are the real worrying feature, you have previous convictions for weapons, an axe in the past."
Knifepoint robber
A man who threatened a woman at knifepoint has been jailed after his electronic GPS tag put him in the location at the time of the offence.
William Mee approached the woman as she was putting her shopping in the boot of her vehicle in the car park at Morrisons, on North Road, Darlington.
The 33-year-old produced a knife and held onto the car door to prevent the victim from closing it, before repeatedly demanding the car keys from her.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the victim shouted for help resulting in would-be robber fleeing the scene empty-handed.
Philip Morley, prosecuting, said officers carried out an area search for the suspect but were unable to locate him at the time.
Mee, of Cricket Field Row, Darlington, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a knife following the incident on December 19.
Recorder Dafydd Enoch sentenced Mee to six years in custody, with an additional three years on extended licence.
Darlington slasher
A thug who was thrown out of a kebab shop for harassing women took revenge on one of the good Samaritans when he slashed at his neck with a piece of metal.
Jakey Smith was repeatedly bothering the women for money, telling them he was homeless before two men intervened to protect them.
CCTV footage showed the 26-year-old stumbling around inside Deno's Return kebab shop in Darlington town centre before being forcibly evicted from the takeaway.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Smith threw a flurry of punches at the men, one who was out celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary with his wife, before fleeing the scene.
Moments later the defendant was seen coming out of an alleyway armed with the metal object before aggressively storming towards the men and lashing out at one of them.
The court heard how Darlington Council CCTV operators saw the incident unfold and alerted the police who intercepted the defendant as he tried to flee the area.
Smith, of Sun Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of a pointed article and assault on an emergency worker.
Penny Hall, mitigating, said her client had reacted aggressively after he was grabbed by the throat and pushed out of the kebab shop.
She said: “You returned to the shop with something sharp in your hand, you are clearly angry and aggressive.
“You are described as storming towards them and made a slashing movement towards them and caused a cut to the man’s neck.”
Smith was jailed for a total of 18 months for all offences.
Violent thug
A thug who grabbed his partner around the neck and choked her has been locked up following his campaign of bullying and abuse.
Andrew Badger would regularly shout in the face of the woman leaving her terrified before relationship eventually came to an end when he attacked her after tried to flee to safety.
The 45-year-old was branded a bully as he sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for making his partner’s life a misery.
Emma Hughes, prosecuting, said the couple were in a relationship for around a year but the coercion and control started early on before he choked her last summer.
The court heard how the defendant also slapped her across the face as he claimed she "winds him up".
Badger, of Aldam Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, coercive and controlling behaviour, and two charges of assault by beating.
Daniel Cordey, mitigating, accepted his client had a lengthy criminal record but few were related to violence or domestic abuse.
Recorder Richard Wright KC branded the defendant an aggressive bully as he sentenced him.
He said: “This relationship lasted for about a year and it was a relationship dominated by your aggressive, violent, controlling and coercive behaviour.
“As the relationship progressed, so did your use of violence and became very serious when you grabbed her by the throat."
High-speed chase
A banned driver who took police on a high-speed chase when he refused to pull over has been jailed after he crashed into railings.
Keaton Harbron sped off from police when he was spotted driving around a day after other officers had tried to stop him when they recognised him behind the wheel.
The 24-year-old reached speeds in excess of 90 mph during the seven-minute-long chase around the streets of Middlesbrough and Stockton.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Habron was already banned from driving when he weaved in and out of traffic, drove the wrong way around a roundabout and raced through traffic lights on red.
The court heard how the driver continued towards the Tees Barrage and into Stockton town centre before losing control of the white Vauxhall Insignia on The Black Path and smashing into railings.
Harbron, of Whitby Close, Skelton, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen, two charges of driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and possession of cannabis, following his arrest on August 13.
Paul Green, mitigating, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and urged the judge to pass as low a sentence as he was able to do.
Judge Francis Laird KC jailed Harbron was jailed for a total of 16 months for all offences.
Harbron was also banned from driving to three years and eight months.
Persistent dealer
A persistent drug dealer who continued offending despite being on bail has finally been locked up.
Mark Freer sold crack cocaine, cocaine and cannabis to regular customers and on one day in last April he received 221 text messages concerning his illicit trade.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 23-year-old had been arrested when the ambulance service was concerned about his wellbeing and again when he was found asleep in his car after smoking cannabis.
Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said Freer was arrested in December 2022 after crack cocaine and £1,575 in cash was recovered from his home.
She said officers from the North East Regional Crime Unit recovered £2,300 worth of cocaine on July 26 last year and two months earlier a package had been intercepted when police found cannabis addressed to his home.
Freer, formerly of Colleton Walk, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis, four offences of being concerned with the supply of cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis, simple possession of cannabis, between April 2022 and July 2023.
Recorder Paul Reid sentenced Freer to a total of five years and 11 months for all offences.
Child abuser
A child abuser has been locked up after his victim plucked up the courage to come forward several years after suffering at the hands of the sick pervert.
Thomas Wadsworth's victim spoke to police in 2022, to report the sexual offences committed in the 1990s.
Detective Constable Suzanne Higginson from Cleveland Police’s CAVA (Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults) unit said: “Growing up, the victim-survivor suffered serious and lasting effects from the horrendous abuse she suffered decades before but she found the courage to come forward to report - and her support for the police investigation was unwavering.”
Wadsworth, of Whitby Close, Skelton, east Cleveland, was found guilty at Teesside Crown Court earlier this month, returning on Friday, September 20 for sentencing.
DC Higginson added: “I hope the fact that Wadsworth was found guilty and will now spend many years in prison is of some comfort to this brave woman as she continues to process what she went through as a very young child.”
Sandwich row
A man who shot his partner in the head from close range with an air rifle during an innocuous row has been locked up.
Kenneth Richardson held the weapon to the man’s head when they argued about cigarettes and sandwiches.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the victim was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, but surgeons decided it was safer to leave the pellet lodged in his skull rather than attempt to remove it.
The pair had been in an on-and-off relationship for several years before it came to a violent end in March this year when the defendant pointed the weapon at the man’s head.
The court heard how the 44-year-old, formerly of Hartlepool, had struggled with drug addiction and mental health problems for several years.
A psychiatrist's report found that Richardson may have been suffering from psychosis at the time. Richardson himself said he was "hearing voices because of all of the drugs" he had taken.
Judge Timothy Stead said: "You have a long history of drug abuse and it may well be that your thinking was disturbed to some extent. Discharging this weapon at someone's temple at close range - you are both fortunate that no further harm was caused."
Despite a plea from the victim for clemency, the judge sentenced Richardson to two year and eight months in custody.
Crime gang
Justice has finally caught up with a member of an organised crime gang who stole more than £100,000 worth of cash, jewellery and gold when they raided three homes in one day.
Michael Casey was the driver for the travelling gang of criminals who targeted members of the Asian community to steal their family heirlooms and valuables.
The then-teenagers drove the armed gang around Middlesbrough as they forced entry to the houses and threatened anyone they came into contact with.
Nicoleta Alistari, prosecuting, said: “The burglars were armed, carrying knives and sticks, on one occasion violence was used on one of the occupiers to get her to say where valuables were kept in the house.
“The burglars were good at covering their tracks, they were face coverings, gloves, used burner phones, a stolen car and cloned number plates to avoid detection."
Miss Alistari said the gang got away with more than £100,000 worth of gold jewellery and personal items that had been stolen during the burglaries on January 3, 2020.
The court heard how the 23-year-old and his cousin, Daniel Casey, were spotted acting suspiciously at a McDonald’s takeaway when they tried to pay with a £50 note just days after they had carried the three burglaries.
Casey, of Golf Course Lane, Leicester but formerly of Thornaby, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, dangerous driving and handling stolen goods.
Judge Tom Mitchell jailed the defendant for a total of three years and banned him from driving for 43 months.
He said: “In January 2020, three family properties in Middlesbrough were attacked. The facts are awful some of the properties were occupied at the time and violence was used by those who went in and they were armed.”
Child rapist
A pervert who destroyed the lives of his two victims is likely to die in prison after his abusive past finally caught up with him.
Melvyn Paterson sexually assaulted the two young girls on several occasions before his abuse was brought to the attention of the police.
The 72-year-old child rapist was convicted of a catalogue of offences following a trial in the summer.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the seriously ill defendant has been receiving treatment for cancer while on remand for the sickening offences.
Victim impact statements from the two victims revealed the devastating impact the abuse they suffered as children had affected their adult lives.
“He took advantage of me when I was a child,” the first woman said.
“If he knew it was wrong, he would not have put me through years of hurt and he would have admitted what he did.”
And the second victim said the defendant had no idea how much his abuse had impacted on her life after she slipped into drug addiction to cope.
Christopher Morrison, mitigating, said his client was receiving treatment for cancer whilst on remand in custody and there is little prospect of long-term recovery.
Recorder Paul Reid sentenced the pensioner to a total of 19 years for all charges after telling one of the victim’s the abuse was "their little secret".
Sex offender
A convicted child sex offender is back behind bars after he downloaded images of abuse on a mobile phone he was barred from possessing.
Gavin Thornton was caught with the sickening child abuse images and videos when specialist police officers carried out an impromptu search of his home.
The 44-year-old was caught with more than 7,000 indecent images of children with more than 600 in the worst legal category.
Cole Cockburn, prosecuting, said the defendant was caught with images in September 2022 and again earlier this year when police searched his home.
The court heard how the defendant was released on bail but continued to download child sexual abuse images.
He was convicted of similar offences in January this year and was given a suspended prison sentence.
The court heard how Thornton had failed to register a new smart phone and a number of aliases he was using to contact people online.
Thornton, formerly of Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to breaching his SHPO, breaching the conditions of his notification requirement order, six charges of making indecent images of children and one of distributing an indecent image of a child.
Judge Jonathan Carroll locked the convicted sex offender up for a total of two years and eight months for all offences after he activated his previous suspended sentence for the 'high risk' offender.
Teesside pervert
A pervert who bought a mobile phone to groom young people days after he was released from prison has been locked up.
Kaden Hand moved to Teesside after serving his sentence in his native North West for sickening child sex offences after being locked up in January 2020.
The 23-year-old was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of engaging in sexual communications with a child and being found guilty of one count of child abduction and four counts of sexual activity with a child.
He was released from custody partway through his sentence but was returned to prison for breaching the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order.
Teesside crown Court heard how he moved to Middlesbrough when he had served his sentence but started reoffending almost immediately.
Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said Hand bought the mobile phone when he arrived in Middlesbrough and set about downloading a number of apps to start messaging people.
Hand, of Percy Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching his sexual harm prevention order on July 3 this year.
Jon Harley, mitigating, said: “The facts of the case speak for themselves and it is an understandably concerning course of behaviour so soon after his release from prison.”
He said: “You knowingly and willing tried to sidestep all of the protection and within a short space of time, you had 530 separate chats going and at least one of which was with a 15-year-old female.
“When she was not interested in you, you engaged in what can only be described as emotional blackmail."
Tinder pervert
A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after he twice breached a court order to curb his behaviour.
Mark Robinson’s latest criminal behaviour was discovered during a routine check on his home and electronic devices just weeks after it was imposed.
The 43-year-old’s iPhone was inspected by a specialist police officer who discovered how a large portion of its battery use had been taken up by his Tinder app download which had been later deleted.
The officer also discovered how the sex offender had downloaded a virtual private network (VPN) in August this year which had also been deleted.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant had been jailed for downloading child abuse images and was made the subject of a sexual risk order to bar him from deleting his internet history or using certain online apps.
Jon Harley, prosecuting, said the defendant had prior convictions for downloading child abuse images, breaching his sexual harm prevention order and his notification requirement order by using aliases and encryption software.
Robinson, of York Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to two breaches of his sexual risk order.
Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said: “The Tinder app was used for its proper use to find a relationship from the use of that app."
He added: “These guilty pleas are part of a pattern of committing internet-based offences against children by downloading indecent images or failing to comply with orders put in place by the courts.
“The fact that you have persistently failed to comply with those orders is a cause for concern to the court.”
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