Latest news with #JohnHobley
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Sunderland drug enforcer attacked house with baby inside
A drug debt enforcer who smashed a living room window close to where a 10-week-old baby was lying has been jailed for 16 Maddison, 31, was armed with a machete and wearing a balaclava when he attacked a house in Sunderland in March, Newcastle Crown Court had sent the occupant threatening messages after buying the man's £1,300 drugs debt, the court of no fixed abode, admitted sending threatening messages, affray, criminal damage and possessing a bladed weapon. The victim had accrued the debt with dealers who sold it to Maddison to collect upon, prosecutor John Hobley sent voice notes to the victim threatening to "do him in" and smash his windows, the court heard, with the man transferring £700 to Maddison. 'Terrifying for family' The court heard he sent further threats demanding the remaining £600 before turning up at the man's home at about 10:00 GMT on 16 was wielding a machete and wearing a balaclava as he shouted for the man, who recognised Maddison from his voice and build, the court then smashed the living room window before fleeing when the victim begged him to stop as his 10-week-old son was in the room, Mr Hobley a statement read to the court, the victim said he was left physically and emotionally shaken and in fear for his family while his partner, who was also at the house, was afraid to keep on living mitigation, Helen Towers said Maddison, a father of two young children, had not known a baby was inside the house and it now "fills him with shame".Recorder Thomas Moran said it must have been "terrifying" for the victim and his family.A restraining order banning Maddison from contacting his victim or going in the area of his home was made to last for 10 years. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
11-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Thug, 31, who racially abused shopkeeper before pouring petrol over him and setting building alight is jailed for nine years
A thug who racially abused a shopkeeper before he poured petrol over him and set the building alight has been jailed for nine years. Jonathan Brook, 31, also told the terrified worker 'you're a little guy, I'll smash your teeth in' during the heinous attack in Huddersfield on February 5 this year. Leeds Crown Court on Monday heard how Brook first punched a shop worker at a Co-Op store in the eye before he turned on the newsagents. After threatening the shopkeeper, Brook then returned 20 minutes later with a petrol can. The hearing was told how Brook poured petrol around the shop and on the man's clothes before he set the building alight. Prosecutor John Hobley told the court: 'He was on bail for earlier offences at the time. 'That day, at around 2.20pm, a man was working at a Co-Op in Huddersfield. The defendant was a regular customer at the store. 'The man saw the defendant and a few seconds later, without provocation, he was punched by him to the right eye. 'He describes being unable to defend himself as he was carrying stock at the time. 'Later that day, around four-and-a-half hours later, he went to a second shop - a newsagents in Huddersfield. 'The complainant was in charge of the shop and recognised him [Brook] as a person previously banned from there.' The court heard Brook went to the man and told him 'you're a little guy, I will smash your teeth in' and knocked his cap off his head. He then added: 'F*** you, what, what, what?' He then left but returned around 20 minutes later, this time carrying a petrol can. Mr Hobley said: 'The complainant was serving another customer when he [Brook] began to throw petrol around the store and counter top. 'Some of the petrol went on the complainant's clothes. The defendant took a lighter and set fire to the petrol, causing it to burst into flames. 'He continued to pour patrol around the shop. The man ran from behind the till and attempted to push the defendant into the street. 'The defendant then ran from the scene. The shop had been engulfed in flames. The customer said she heard the man screaming, "I'm burning, the shop is burning, someone help me".' Before leaving the scene, the court heard Brook subjected the man to a vile racist rant. When he was outside, Brook was heard to say 'You not dead yet?', before throwing more petrol towards the man. Mitigating, Carl Kingsley, said there were questions over Brook's fitness to plead before a psychiatrist determined him able to do so. He went on to admit assault occasioning actual bodily harm, arson with intent to endanger life and a racially aggravated public order offence. Mr Kingsley said: 'He saw abuse [as a child] from his father to his mother.... He had to attend at a special needs school and there were behavioural problems throughout and truancy. 'He has never been employed and there has been some evidence of self harm. His medical records refer to a diagnosis of ADHD in 2002. 'He was placed on the child protection register at the age of 13 - no doubt due to the background of violence in the [family] home.' Judge Rayfield jailed Brook for nine years.
BBC News
08-08-2025
- BBC News
Sunderland woman secretly called 999 as partner attacked her
A woman secretly called 999 so police could hear her violent partner launching a "terrifying" attack on her, a court has Craggs repeatedly punched the woman, strangled her and held a knife against her throat as he said he would kill her during the ordeal in Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court victim said she feared she was going to die and was scared to return to her whose criminal record included other domestic abuse offences and a 10-year prison term for robbery, was jailed for three years and nine months after admitting assault. 'Slid phone under fridge' The couple had been in a relationship for about five and a half hours which soured due to Craggs' increasing use of alcohol, prosecutor John Hobley had been out together on the night of 8 December with Craggs erupting into a rage when they returned to her attacked her in the kitchen, raining punches down on her face and head as she sat on the floor, before grabbing her throat and squeezing hard causing her to start to lose consciousness, Mr Hobley then grabbed a knife from a drawer and held it to her throat, telling her he had to kill her because if he let her go she would report him to police, the court he made his way into the living room, the woman dialled 999 on her phone and slid it under the fridge so Craggs would not hear the operator, Mr Hobley call handler was able to hear the woman "pleading" with Craggs as he put his hands around her throat was finally able to flee after telling him she wanted to get cigarettes from her car and driving away, with police arriving moments later, Mr Hobley said. 'Risk of harm' In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had been left in pain and with multiple injuries, including swelling and bruising to her said she was "terrified" and believed she would be killed, adding she was "scared to return" to her court heard Craggs, of no fixed abode, had 17 convictions for 45 offences, including for robbery for which he was jailed in 2011 and other domestic abuse incidents, such as when he drove his car into his partner's Penny Moreland said he posed a risk of serious harm to the public and ordered him to serve a further one year and three months on extended licence. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
