On April 16, 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling stating that, under the Equality Act 2010, the terms “woman” and “sex” refer exclusively to biological sex assigned at birth. This decision has significant implications for the legal recognition of transgender individuals in certain contexts. Background of theContinue Reading
Controversial podcaster James English, best known for his YouTube show Anything Goes with James English, has appeared in court facing serious domestic abuse allegations. The 42-year-old former reality TV star is accused of carrying out a sustained campaign of abuse against his ex-partner over a 16-month period. English, who hasContinue Reading
A paedophile who sexually abused two children and boasted online about his offending has been jailed. Ian Campbell threatened to share indecent photographs of one of his victims online if she did not follow his orders, and his abuse lasted over a two-year period. In March 2021, he unwittingly braggedContinue Reading
A County Durham man has been left more than £1,500 worse off and with a criminal conviction after failing to assist a flytipping investigation. Byron Cant-Raine was successfully prosecuted by Durham County Council after failing to attend an interview in relation to a flytip at Brancepeth. Ian Hoult, the council’sContinue Reading
Courts across the region have sentenced individuals for heinous crimes, ranging from murder and sexual assault to burglary and domestic violence. Here is a summary of the cases that saw justice served this month: Army Veteran’s Jealous Rage Leads to Prison Army veteran Steven Files, 36, has been sentenced toContinue Reading
A Stockton-on-Tees man has been handed a conditional discharge after admitting to stealing jars of mayonnaise and peanut butter from a local store. James Dobbing, 43, of Leybourne Terrace, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on December 18, where he pleaded guilty to the theft and two counts of failing toContinue Reading
A man who left a family traumatised after a fake kidnapping report led to armed police raiding their home as they ate dinner has been jailed. Ricki Kendall, 30, called 999 to say he had seen a man being bundled into a house at knifepoint in Newcastle last December, theContinue Reading
A specialist team setup to assist our takedown of serious and organised crime has now passed the milestone of 500 years in jail sentences. Operation Venetic was launched in 2020 with our officers working alongside international law enforcement agencies to clampdown on organised criminal networks by infiltrating the encrypted messagingContinue Reading
A non-league footballer has appeared in court charged with the murder of another player following an altercation at York Station. James Hitchcock, a goalkeeper for Barton Town FC, sustained serious injuries on 15 December after a night out in York. He passed away in hospital on Wednesday. Mckenzie Dicicco, 22,Continue Reading
A paedophile caught in an online sting where he thought he was sending sexual messages to a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for three years. Nathaniel Morley, 26, invited the “girl” to commit a sex act, not realising he was talking to online paedophile hunters, Teesside Crown Court heard. AfterContinue Reading
Image (C) Durham Police A man who stabbed his ex-partner more than 30 times after she told him she didn’t want to be with him anymore has been jailed for 17 years. Andrew Fowler stabbed his former partner, Anastasia Wade, around 35 times on her arms, back and neck whileContinue Reading
Mason Longstaff from the Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland area who was a volunteer with local charity Angel Trust has been convicted. He has been convicted with 18 months suspended sentence and had to sign a SHPO for 10 years. Angel Trust in a statement has said: Recently, social mediaContinue Reading
(C) Durham Police A Durham woman whose infant son drowned unsupervised in the bath while she played a video game on her mobile phone has been jailed for seven years today after pleading guilty to gross negligence manslaughter at Teesside Crown Court. Danielle Massey, 31, of West Chilton Terrace, Ferryhill,Continue Reading
A paedophile has been jailed for offences committed more than 30 years ago – thanks to the bravery of his survivors. John Corby subjected three young victims to sexual offences in the Newcastle area. After a report was made by one of his victims in November 2021, officers in NorthumbriaContinue Reading
A Company Director from Watford has been given a suspended prison sentence after claiming a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan and then dissolving her business. Irena Tokarczyk, 66, from Ashburnham Drive in Watford, was the sole director of Good Food Shops Ltd when she applied for a £50,000 Bounce Back LoanContinue Reading
