Latest news with #DurhamCrownCourt
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Victim stripped naked as 'degrading and horrific' attack recorded on Snapchat
Durham Crown Court heard that Josh Workman viciously beat a man while Reuben Sawicki recorded the 'horrific assault' on Snapchat - before dragging their unconscious victim into a field The victim of a "degrading" attack was stripped naked before he was brutally beaten by thugs, who recorded footage of the assault on Snapchat. Durham Crown Court heard that Josh Workman removed the clothing of an unidentified victim before viciously punching him in the ribs and head as he lay unconscious, with Reuben Sawicki filming the degrading assault. Sawicki, 18, also filmed the moment Workman, 20, smashed a glass over the man's head, the court was told, with the two now awaiting sentencing after lodging guilty pleas for assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the man was found unconscious and alone in a field. Teesside Live reports that police were called last year following reports that a man was alone and injured in a field, with investigators later arresting six people in connection with the shock discovery. An investigation concluded he had been dragged to the open space after he was viciously assaulted, with one of the man's relatives finding him with serious injuries. He sustained a fractured eye socket and jaw injuries, with a recording discovered on Sawicki's mobile later showing how thugs had laid into him before he was abandoned. The video showed a man wearing a hi-vis jacket lying on the floor of a residence being stripped by Workman, who could be seen stripping him down so his genitals were exposed before pulling his top up and punching him in the ribs. The court heard Workman could also be seen smashing a glass "over or near" the man's head. Sawicki and Workman could be heard mentioning being "crossed in the video", and the court heard an "element of revenge" was involved in the attack. Sawicki, who was 17 when the attack was carried out, had four previous convictions for seven offences, the court was told, including burglary and driving offences. Workman was under a community order at the time, and had 10 previous convictions for 31 offences, mainly for dishonesty. Calum McNicholas, representing Sawicki, said he is remorseful and had "teared himself away from drug addiction", while Tony Davis, defending Workman, said his client was "still lightly convicted" and asked a judge to credit his guilty plea. While sentencing the pair, Judge Nathan Adams said the two had carried out a "horrific assault" involving "gratuitous degradation of the victim". Judge Adams described the video as being "intended as a message to others [and that] this is what happens if people cross the both of you". The judge handed Sawicki, of Garside Grove, who he found did not "inflict any violence", an 18 month community order, while Workman, of Camp Street, Peterlee, was jailed for 12 months. Sawicki must also complete 160 hours unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- BBC News
Newton Aycliffe woman who abused child for paedophile jailed
A woman who sexually abused a young child for the enjoyment of a paedophile has been jailed for two years and seven Robson, 27, told Carl Thompson, 35, molesting the child felt "so good" and sent him naked pictures of the youngster, Durham Crown Court of Rowan Place, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, admitted sexually assaulting a child and taking and distributing indecent images of a of Jobling Avenue, Gateshead, died before he could be sentenced, but Judge Robert Adams said he would have been given a "significant" jail term had he been alive. 'Manipulated' but 'ultimately responsible' The abuse was discovered when police raided Thompson's home in February 2024 after he sent messages about abusing children to undercover officers online, the court investigation of his phone found messages between him and Robson as well as pictures she had sent him on WhatsApp, the court Thompson's encouragement, Robson sexually abused the child, telling him: "This feels so good, I can't lie."She also told Thompson she wished he would have sex with both her and the child, the court Adams said it was clear Robson had been manipulated by Thompson and she was "attempting to please him" as she joined in with his "fantasies"."If [Thompson] were here he would be facing a significant sentence in respect of his involvement in encouraging you to act in the way you did," the judge told Robson "actively engaged" in conversations with Thompson and was "ultimately responsible" for her actions, the judge said, adding he had "deep concerns" about what could have happened if the messages had not been discovered by must sign the sex offenders' register for life and abide by a sexual harm prevention order limiting her use of the internet and contact with children for 12 years. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
BBC News
28-02-2025
- BBC News
Stockton biker who killed man in Peterlee police chase jailed
A banned biker who killed his passenger in a crash while trying to evade police has been jailed for 11 Stewart reached speeds of 100mph and drove on the wrong side of the road during a minute-and-a-half-long pursuit before crashing on a roundabout in Peterlee, Durham Crown Court passenger Lee Stevenson, a 27-year-old father of two, was killed 34, who was banned from driving at the time having had a string of motoring convictions, initially blamed Mr Stevenson for the crash but later admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Stewart and Mr Stevenson had been drinking and taking drugs including cocaine on the night of 25 March 2023, prosecutor John Crawford were both urged by Mr Stevenson's uncle not to get on Stewart's Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R due to their intoxication but, at about 02:00 BST, they went out on the bike, the court heard. Stewart, of George Stephenson Boulevard in Stockton, Teesside, was wearing a helmet but Mr Stevenson was not, the court to a spate of motorbike thefts in the area, police started following the bike at about 02: officers activated their blue lights, Stewart, also a father of two, drove away at speed, reaching 100mph, going the wrong way around roundabouts and on the opposite side of the road in a bid to escape, Mr Crawford about 90 seconds he crashed on a roundabout in Passfield Way, smashing into a chevron sign, the court Stevenson was declared dead at the scene and Stewart spent several weeks in was over the drug driving limit for cocaine and also had alcohol in his system, the court heard. 'No feelings for killer' Mr Stevenson's mother Naomi Stevenson told the court the crash had "ruined" the family's said her son was a "larger than life character" and his death had "left a massive hole in our lives".Mrs Stevenson said she did not like to leave her home any more, adding: "I don't want people to look at me as a mother who has lost her son."She said her grandchildren would have to grow up without their dad but Stewart would still get to be with his family upon his release."I have no feelings for David Stewart," Mrs Stevenson told the court, adding: "He has to live with his actions and decisions."She said: "Lee is my first thought, my last and all my thoughts in between." 'Extreme risks' The court heard Stewart had a long history of driving offences, including for drink and dangerous driving, the latter involving another police pursuit while he had passengers in his car. He had also ignored multiple driving bans, one of which was in force when he killed Mr initially claimed Mr Stevenson had been driving the bike but changed his plea a month before he was due to stand trial, the court mitigation, the court heard Stewart was "really sorry", could not remember the crash and had been "lucky to survive".Judge Joanne Kidd said the crash was the "culmination of nine years of dangerous and poor driving" where Stewart had "shown a total disregard for the safety of other road users".She said he had no licence or insurance at the time of the crash and was "in no state to drive", adding the "terrible fatality" was "part of a consistent pattern" of Stewart's awful driving and willingness to take "extreme risks".Stewart, who wept throughout the hearing, was also banned from driving for 20 and a half years. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
