Bruce Unwin

Crime and Court Reporter

Latest articles from Bruce Unwin

Matthew Smith received a three-year prison sentence at Durham Crown Court for offences of threats and violence

Wanted County Durham man who 'hates police' attacked officer with key and cut him
A man who was being arrested by police attacked one of the officers using a key to inflict a facial injury, a court heard.

Sycamore Gap tree prior to being felled in September last year

Sycamore Gap tree One of the Sycamore Gap alleged tree fellers failed to attend court due to illness
One of the two men accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree was excused attendance at a pre-trial hearing today (Mon Nov 11) due to illness.

Mason Curley jailed at Durham Crown Court as a 'fourth strike' burglar

Three-strikes burglar struck at County Durham home of 81-year-old dementia sufferer

A three-strikes burglar broke into the home of a dementia-suffering octogenarian only two weeks after being released from prison on licence.

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Rioter Ashley Wilkinson has now admitted involvement in disorder in both Hartlepool and Sunderland, two days apart this summer

Summer riots County Durham man went equipped with a 'riot kit' to two planned protests

A Durham man who went equipped with a ‘riot kit’ to two separate incidents of the recent disorder across the UK has been convicted at Newcastle Crown Court today.

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James Douglas was found to have cocaine in his system at the time of crash

'Lucky to be alive' Durham drug driver fails to have prison sentence suspended
A drug driver who crashed his Land Rover while under the influence of cocaine has failed to have his resulting prison sentence suspended.

Adrian Wright, right, was today given a life sentence at Newcastle Crown Court for the murder of Allen Tejan, in Sunderland, in April

Allen Tejan murder Life sentence for man who brutally beat victim he had only known for a few hours
A man who carried out a brutal sustained attack on a victim he had only known for a few hours, today received a life sentence.

'Entrenched paedophile' Lee Mole jailed at Durham Crown Court for exchanging images of young children being abused on the internet

'Entrenched paedophile' from County Durham incited man in US to abuse young child
Lee Mole, of Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, encouraged his online American “friend” to sexually assault a young girl and asked him to then post images of the abuse on the internet.

Killer Stephen Todd given life sentence at Newcastle Crown Court for the murder of Melissa Eastick, in October, last year

Melissa Eastick murder Brutal killer treated fragile partner like a 'punch bag' before her death

A Sunderland alcoholic who subjected his vulnerable on/off partner to a series of “brutal beatings” in the days before her death has been sentenced.

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John Mason jailed at Durham Crown Court for firearms offences

Wannabe gangster rapper threatened motorist in Durham village with replica air weapon

John Mason's "ludicrous" interest in gangster-rap culture landed him behind bars after waving a replica air pistol threateningly at a motorist in a road rage-type incident in Ushaw Moor.

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Brian Gilby was among the rioters who attacked a police office in Waterloo Place, Sunderland, on the night of widespread disorder in the city, on August 2

Sunderland rioting Rioter at forefront of attack on Sunderland police office jailed for 40 months

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