PERVERTS, robbers and burglars were among the people facing justice at Teesside Magistrates' and Crown Court.
The deputy head teacher of a primary school has admitted watching child rape videos online.
Richard Swinnerton said he had watched child sexual abuse on the dark web for two years before he was arrested by National Crime Agency officers at his home on May 15 this year.
The 30-year-old, of Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, told investigators the footage including adults raping children.
Swinnerton - who has resigned from his job at St Clare’s Catholic Primary School in Middlesbrough – will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
Officers have found no evidence to suggest that any of the images were made at the school and there is no allegation of physical abuse.
A CONVICTED drug trafficker who fled to Thailand when he was wanted by police has today been brought home to face justice.
Ross Hemington, of Darlington, was tracked down following an investigation by North Yorkshire Police’s Force Intelligence Bureau that spanned two continents.
The 33-year-old was part of a drugs gang that imported tens of thousands of pounds of cocaine into the UK from India, hidden in fake designer handbags.
In January 2016, he was jailed for four years for possession with intent to supply.
Following his release from that sentence, he broke the terms of his release licence. North Yorkshire Police then launched investigation to find him, and issued a wanted appeal containing his custody photograph.
He was arrested last month by Thai police and held in a Thai prison before being brought back to UK last week.
He was taken directly to prison and could now face an additional spell in jail for breaking the terms of his licence.
A MAN who robbed a shop as a 'joke' has been warned that he is facing a custodial sentence.
Bradley Younger demanded that a woman shopworker hand over cash from the till before realising what he had done and handing the money back to her.
It is alleged the 31-year-old entered the One Stop store in Norfolk Place, Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, armed with a hammer on Friday, May 15, at around 11am.
Judge Jonathan Carroll said: "I'm only agreeing to a pre-sentence report because I'm having to adjourn it anyway.
"You have pleaded guilty to this matter, clearly a serious matter – robbery of shops are always taken seriously."
The case was adjourned until October 12 for sentence.
A SERIAL burglar has been warned he faces a substantial prison sentence if he offends again after a judge gave him a final chance.
James Lawrence struck in the early hours of Boxing Day when he entered a home in Stockton to steal the keys to an Audi A3 before crashing as he made his way home.
The victim was left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after the car was written off by insurers and her plans to buy a house were derailed.
Lawrence, of Queens Road, Loftus, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft in connection with the incident in the early hours of Boxing Day 2018.
Judge Paul Watson QC warned Lawrence that if he offended again he would be brought before him and would face a substantial prison sentence.
He said: “If I’m making a catastrophic error, then I am the one who is going to put it right."
Lawrence was given a two year sentence, suspended for two years.
A SEX offender caught with a 'deplorable' collection of vile child abuse images and videos been given a suspended sentence.
Peter Charlton had been downloading the 'filth' for a decade before he was finally brought to justice.
Teesside Crown Court heard how one of the child abuse videos lasted for more than an hour and other images showed a baby being sexually abused, bestiality and sado-masochistic abuse.
The 64-year-old was already the subject of a sexual harm prevention order which was imposed in 2016.
Charlton, of Boxford Walk, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to three charges – possession of 243 category A images, including 48 videos; possession of 133 category B images, including 12 videos; and 119 category C images.
He was given an eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
AN 'AGITATED' armed man who threatened to stab a police officer in the neck has been jailed for a year.
Adam Trainor reacted angrily when officers turned up at his girlfriend's house after she flagged them down while in a 'distressed state' following an argument.
Trainor answered the door with a large kitchen knife in one hand and a rolling pin in the other, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said Trainor then threatened the officers shouting 'You had better be from armed response, I will stab you in the neck you little ***' before closing the door.
A four-hour long stand-off then ensued as officers retreated to a safe distance while the 32-year-old continued the hurl threats and abuse at them.
Trainor, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to affray and threats to kill.
Judge Stephen Ashurst told Trainor that police officers didn't go to work to be threatened by people with knives.
"You made a lot of extremely threatening remarks, remarks backed up by the fact you were holding up a weapon," he said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here