Fifty North East offenders were jailed in September for crimes including sex offences, robbery, burglary, and assault. Among them was Michael Burke, a 66-year-old man described as "very evil", who was sentenced to 24 years for sexually abusing three school-aged girls.
Burke, of Framlington Place, Newcastle, committed offences against two girls in the mid-to-late 1990s and against a third within the last decade. Northumbria Police launched an investigation after all three reported offences ranging from sexual assault to rape. He was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of five counts of sexual assault, two counts of rape, and three counts of indecent assault.
Other notable cases
Charlie Gallon, 26, of Bedford Street, North Shields, was jailed for 58 weeks for PAVA spraying a police officer in the eyes and biting his hand during an arrest. He also bit another constable, breaking the skin. He pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, possessing a bladed article, assaulting an emergency worker, and assaulting a police officer.
Martin Thompson, 42, of Lichfield Road, Sunderland, was jailed for 42 months for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, making and distributing indecent images, possession of extreme porn, and attempted breach of a sex offences order. He believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old boy on Snapchat but was messaging an undercover officer.
Reece Hepplewhite, 25, of Cheshire Grove, South Shields, and Daniel Langley, 30, of Hylton Road, Sunderland, were each jailed for 18 months for killing a homeless man's dog by running it over amid a dispute. Both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal; Hepplewhite also admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
Violent assaults and robberies
Dominic Phillips, 40, of Sunderland, was given consecutive sentences totaling seven years for driving his van at his partner, causing a broken spine and pelvis, and for violence against a second former partner. He admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and coercive and controlling behaviour, and was found guilty of strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and harassment.
Kenneth Wilson, 63, of no fixed address but formerly of Kenton, was sentenced to 10 months for breaching a sexual harm prevention order after being caught drunk on a Metro at South Gosforth. He had pleaded guilty and was likely to be released immediately due to time served.
Three men in their 60s were jailed for a total of 40 years for importing cocaine worth up to £5m. Graham Welsh, 64, used his haulage firm to bring 50 kilos of high purity cocaine from Europe; Gary Jackson, 65, and Colin Cowie, 64, were also convicted. Welsh got 16 years, Jackson 15, and Cowie nine.
Drugs, fraud, and other sentences
Jamie Teasdale, 33, of Stretford Court, Allerdene, Gateshead, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for attempted sexual communication with a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order. He was snared by an American TikTok user who uses AI to make adult women look and sound like children.
Hussain Bah, 22, serving a life sentence for murdering two people in London, was given 33 months for slashing a fellow inmate with a makeshift blade made from a tuna can lid at HMP Frankland.
Malcolm Clark, 57, of All Saints Court, Sunderland, was jailed for four years and three months for rape following a Christmas night out in Middlesbrough. Sean McCrystal, 61, of Lough Court, Gateshead, was sentenced to 12 months for a bomb hoax, and Kelly Steel, of Primate Road, Sunderland, was jailed for 115 weeks for burglary and other offences.
Ryan Doyle, 31, of Edward Road, Wallsend, was jailed for six-and-a-half years with an extended licence for robbery and wounding with intent. Cameron Clifford, 28, a Durham Constabulary call handler, was jailed for 22 months for passing confidential information to drug dealers; three dealers were also jailed.
Iain Boddy, 44, of Bishop Auckland, was jailed for 15 years for firing shots and throwing petrol bombs at a house. Dean Burdess, 34, of Bedale Court, Harlow Green, Gateshead, was jailed for 27 weeks for assaults and harassment. Bilal Havid, 33, of West Pelton, was jailed for one year and five-and-a-half months for dangerous driving.
Allan Curry, 33, of Norfolk Close, Seaham, was jailed for 44 months for fraud by abuse of position. Aiden Johnson, 25, of Quarry Lane, South Shields, was jailed for eight years for rape. Yasin Khan, 23, from Walkerville, Newcastle, was jailed for four-and-a-half years for death by dangerous driving.
Daniel Chapman, 54, of Anderson Crescent, Amble, was jailed for seven years for indecent assault on a child. Kimberley Ridley, 38, of Denwick Avenue, Lemington, was jailed for two years for robbery. Matthew Watson, 26, of Tewkesbury Road, was jailed for eight years for child sex offences. Liam Ellison, 36, of Ladykirk Road, Elswick, was jailed for three years and 10 months for robbery.
Harrison Strange, 21, of Spennymoor, was jailed for 13 years for raping three vulnerable girls. Ali Abodabos, 21, was jailed for 39 months for robbery and perverting the course of justice. Paul Williams, 43, of Pottersway, Gateshead, was jailed for 40 months for robbery and shop theft. Merrick Ainslie, 43, of Saint Leonard Street, Sunderland, was jailed for 40 months for burglary.
Bailey Omar, 23, of Pease Avenue, Benwell, was jailed for 38 months, and Dillyn Sherrington, 19, of Trevelyan Drive, Newbiggin Hall, was sent to a young offenders institution for 30 months for aggravated vehicle taking and burglary. Sean Smith, of Montrose Crescent, Gateshead, was jailed for 35 months for assault. Aadel Nassrallah, 39, was jailed for 18 years in his absence for rape and attempted rape.
Kurt Baston, 35, of St Ronans View, Gateshead, was jailed for 19 months for assault. Carl Simmons, 51, and Kevin Smith, 42, were each jailed for six years for arranging to commit child sex offences. Olsi Vata, 23, of Foundry Lane, Byker, was jailed for 26 months for drug dealing. John Moffat, 40, was jailed for 27 months for robbery and theft. Filomeno Chapim, 72, of Shieldfield House, Newcastle, was jailed for 30 months for sexual assault of a child. Harry Gray, 24, of Dawes Street, Gillingham, Rochester, was jailed for five years for sexual assault. Craig Merrigan, 39, of Somerset Cottages, Silksworth, Sunderland, was jailed for 46 months for burglary, assault, criminal damage, strangulation, and threatening with a bladed article. Gary Burton was jailed for six years and nine months with an extended licence for attacking two women. Adam Sweet, 21, of Chaucer Road, Gateshead, was jailed for two years for shoplifting and breaching orders. Adam Mosettig, of Park Court, Gateshead, was jailed for 12 months for theft and common assault. Dean McLellan, 38, was jailed for 30 months for inflicting GBH on a frail Alzheimer's sufferer.
