Two of defendant's robberies in County Durham were car jackings

But Durham Crown Court heard that Jordan Cuthill has no memory of his spate of terrifying offending, committed in under two hours on the morning of Friday, June 7 this year, due to the large amount of drugs he had taken.

Cuthill, 33, of no fixed abode, but formerly of Penshaw, appeared at the crown court via video link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced after admitting three robbery charges, two counts each of aggravated vehicle taking and possessing a bladed article, plus one count of driving while disqualified.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said the spree started in Langley Park, when a female motorist, in the early stages of pregnancy, pulled up to use a cash machine, just after 6.20am.

When she returned to her vehicle, Cuthill, who had been standing on the opposite side of the road, appeared next to the driver’s door of her Volkswagen Polo.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) He put his arm into the driver’s door when she got in and demanded that she got out.

Mr Abrahams said fearful for her safety and that of her unborn child, she did as she was told and got out of the car.

The defendant then got in and drove it away, while the victim went to a nearby pub to report the incident.

Cuthill drove the Polo to Chester-le-Street, where he crashed and abandoned it, before entering a Front Street café shortly after 7am.

He asked the owner, who was alone preparing for a busy day ahead, for a bacon sandwich, but was told he was not yet selling hot sandwiches at that time.

Cuthill, who appeared intoxicated, went into a staff-only area and took a bread knife from a utensil tray before demanding the café owner to hand over, “your f***ing money”.

Mr Abrahams said the incident was captured on in-premises CCTV, on which the proprietor told him there was no money in the till.

The owner made his way out of the café for his own safety but was followed by Cuthill.

Mr Abrahams said Cuthill was given £5 from the pocket of the owner, who threw the note on the ground and told him it was all he had.

The defendant responded by saying: “Do you know who the f*** I am?”

He walked up the street and was then seen swigging from a bottle of wine by his next victim, a woman who was parking her Volkswagen Beetle, a short distance away.

He approached her saying: “All right love”, and she noticed he was also holding a knife, so when he demanded her car keys, she handed them over without risking a confrontation.

Mr Abrahams said the defendant drove away, but the victim had a speed and location checker on her phone which showed he travelled three miles to Bonemill Lane, in Washington.

It emerged that while driving on the wrong side of the road, near North Biddick Club, he collided with a Genesis car driven by a man going to work, despite the victim making efforts to swerve out of the way.

The Beetle spun several times before coming to rest on the pavement.

Mr Abrahams said the victim approached Cuthill, who left the car and walked away.

Police were soon on the scene having followed the tracker and arrested the defendant when he emerged from undergrowth half-an-hour later.

When interviewed later at a police station he said he could not recall anything of the protracted incident due to the large amount of drugs he had taken.

He was identified by all three complainants who were robbed by him that morning.

Victim statements outlined the fear they felt by his actions and the loss caused to them as a result, including about £2,000 in lost takings, foodstuffs and staff payments by the café owner, who had to remain closed on what was usually a busy Friday morning.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) The defendant was said to have 22 past convictions for 43 offences, including some for relevant crimes, including aggravated vehicle taking, violent disorder, affray, assault, knife possession and dangerous driving.

Marte Alnaes, representing Cuthill, said various reports, including those by a psychologist and the Probation Service, plus a reference and a letter from the defendant had been prepared for the hearing.

She said the defendant has some “cognitive defects”, including a learning disability, not helped by head injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash when he was not wearing a helmet, in 2019.

Ms Alnaes said the defendant, himself, considered the latest offences to be the worst he has committed, and said it was something of, “a wake-up call” to him.

She referred to the probation report highlighting that since his arrest, while in custody, he is, now, starting to “reach out” to engage with services available in prison.

“He has taken positive steps to better himself while in custody,” which she said included taking courses and work opportunities offered to him.

She added that he has been on prison recall since his arrest and so the time served prior to his sentence will not be deducted from his sentence.

Judge Francis Laird KC said there were obvious aggravating features to the defendant’s crime spree, including targeting vulnerable lone female drivers, one of whom was pregnant, while the café owner was alone preparing to serve the public for the day.

The judge said the author of the Probation Service report considers the defendant poses a high risk of causing serious harm to others.

Judge Laird said he noted the defendant has begun engaging well while in custody, which he told Cuthill, “bodes well for your future”.

But he told him: “This was a spate of offending lasting somewhere short of two hours, committed when you had taken a significant quantity of illicit drugs.”

(Image: The Northern Echo) In the circumstances he said he considers the defendant poses, “a significant risk of causing serious harm by the commission of further specified offences.”

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He, therefore, passed an extended sentence featuring up to seven-and-a-half years in custody, to be followed by three years’ extended licence period.

The defendant must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial period before being eligible to apply for parole, but he may have to serve the entire 90 months behind bars.

He also banned Cuthill from driving for six years and nine months after which he must pass an extended re-test if he is ever to be permitted to drive lawfully, in future.