Darlington thug chose wrong flat when ‘taxing’ drug dealer

Leroy Hewitt let himself into the man’s flat in the early hours of the morning before demanding that he hand over his cash and drugs while he was looking for ‘sniff’.

The 46-year-old forced the man to show him the contents of his wallet before threatening him with a screwdriver as he held it against his body.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the man was able to escape when Hewitt started searching his bedroom and he fled to a neighbour’s flat to call the police.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Hewitt shouted "give me the sniff" before he started rampaging around the victim’s flat in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

He said: “He held the screwdriver to the leg and ribs of the man saying he was going to stab him.

“There was a search of the sofa while he tried to find cash or drugs and the complaint was taken into the bathroom where his wallet was gone through.

“He was then taken into the bedroom and it was at that point he made good his escape.”

Mr Dryden said the defendant was arrested the following day and a screwdriver was recovered from his home.

The court heard how Hewitt had a previous conviction from June 2020 when a man was forced to jump out of an upstairs window to escape the violent defendant.

The defendant was searching for drugs and money at the time and the victim was so scared that he chose to jump out of a window where he suffered life-changing injuries, including broken back, broken leg and facial injuries.

Leroy Hewitt (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

Hewitt, of Pateley Moor Crescent, Darlington, was found guilty of aggravated burglary following a trial.

Jonathan Walker, mitigating, said his client is determined to turn his back on crime once he is released from custody for his latest offence.

He said: “Clearly, it is a ghastly incident. Thankfully, this was not an incident which brought about real injury to the complainant, albeit this must have been an extremely unpleasant incident for him to be subjected to.”

Judge Francis Laird passed a ten-year sentence for Hewitt – eight years in custody followed by two years on extended licence.

“You demanded to have his coke and you then said you were going to stab him while you held what he thought was an ice-pick but was in fact a screwdriver and you held it to his stomach,” he said.

“Your intention that night was to enter the premises of somebody you believed to be a drug dealer and steal drugs and money – that activity is commonly called taxing.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

• Driver with 'terrible' record crashed into police car trying to avoid arrest
• Pervert downloaded sexual abuse images on children as young as four months old

• Pervert sent sexually explicit videos to undercover officer posing as a teenager

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access to the latest offer for annual or monthly subscription. Click here for details.

“You chose the wrong flat; you chose the flat of a man who was not involved in drug dealing.”

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Nicola Keatley, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This was a prolonged and traumatic attack in the victim's own home. The terror inflicted by Hewitt made the victim fear for his life, and as soon as he saw an opportunity, he escaped to safety.

“Hewitt will now spend a significant amount of time in prison, reflecting the seriousness of his actions. I’d like to commend the victim for the incredible courage he has shown throughout this investigation. Despite the trauma he endured, he stood up in court to testify against his attacker.

“I hope this sentence brings some closure to the victim and reassures the community that we are committed to bringing burglars to justice. Our homes should be a place of safety, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect that.”