Man pleaded guilty to US threats to kill
A man from South Shields has pleaded guilty to using Facebook to make threats to kill 200 American school children.
Elderly neighbour denies involvement in murder
An elderly neighbour of murdered pensioner Judith Richardson, whose fingerprints were on a hammer found nearby, gives evidence in court.
Hammer murder victim suffered '50+ injuries'
A woman who was bludgeoned to death in her own home suffered more than 50 injuries to her head and arms, a court has heard.
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Man accused of biting actor's ear appears in court
A man accused of biting off part of Casualty actor Clive Mantle's ear has appeared in court.
Philip McGilvray, 32, from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court charged with wounding with intent.
Mantle, 55, who also appeared as Greatjon Umber in the hit US show Game Of Thrones, had been appearing in a touring production of The Ladykillers in the city.
In Casualty he played surgeon Mike Barrett.
McGilvray was granted bail and a trial date has been set for July.
Man pleaded guilty to US threats to kill
by Rachel Sweeney
A man from South Shields has pleaded guilty to using Facebook to make threats to kill 200 American school children.
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Latest: James Allen trial
A man has told a court of the moment he found the battered body of his best friend in the victim's home.
Colin Dunford, 81, was killed in Middlesbrough last April 2012. James Allen, 36, is on trial for the killing.
The trial at Newcastle Crown Court continues.
Drug smuggler jailed for 8 years
A man who tried to smuggle thousands of pounds of cocaine through Newcastle Airport has been jailed for 8 years.
Bonniface Tsuna Chakka from Germany was stopped by border staff after he got off a flight from The Gambia via Brussels.
Officers found 1.8 kilos of Class A drugs in the linning of his suitcase.
Malcolm Braggs from Border Force said:
"Cocaine is an evil drug, which ruins the lives of users and creates misery for the wider community.
"Border Force officers work round the clock, using the latest technology and their own experience and expertise to prevent illegal drugs reaching UK streets and make life as difficult as possible for those who seek to profit from this vile trade.
"The sentences handed out today should serve as a warning to anyone involved in drug smuggling. We will catch you and you will pay a heavy penalty.”
Family left 'shattered' by prison murder
The family of a man who was murdered while serving an indefinite sentence in prison say they have been left 'shattered' by his death.
Mitchell Harrison was an inmate at HMP Frankland when he was attacked and killed in his cell in October 2011.
Today Michael Andrew Parr, 32, and Nathan Mann, 23 were sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the murder.
– Statement from Mitchell Harrison’s familyOur lives have been shattered by Mitchell's horrific murder. His death was cruel and unnecessary. As his family, we live with the pain and heartache that losing Mitchell has caused us.
Now that criminal proceedings are over we await the outcome of the Ombudsman's review of the Prison Service so that we can find out how this terrible crime was allowed to happen.
We would like to thank Durham police for their support and assistance throughout this tragic time. We would like to be left in peace and for our privacy to be respected.
Harrison was found dead in his cell after being attacked by Parr and Mann, who used make-shift tools fabricated from toothbrushes and razor blades. He had been disembowelled.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will carry out an investigation into circumstances surrounding his death.
– DCI Steve Chapman, Durham PoliceMitchell Harrison was a young man who was by all accounts a model prisoner at HMP Frankland. Although his family never condoned his past actions, he was still their much loved son and brother and they were supporting him as he served his custodial sentence. His untimely death, and the horrific nature of it, left his family devastated.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is carrying out an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mitchell’s death. We are offering every assistance and await the findings.
Two sentenced to life in prison after prison murder
Two men have been sentenced to life in prison after admitting the murder of a fellow inmate.
Michael Andrew Parr, 32, and Nathan Mann, 23, admitted killing Mitchell Harrison at MHP Frankland in October 2011. They appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing today.
Harrison, originally from Wolverhampton, was found disembowelled in his cell. He was serving an indefinite sentence at the prison - which houses some of the UK's most high profile and dangerous prisoners - for the rape of a 13 year old girl in Kendal, Cumbria in 2009.
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Sentencing of prisoner who admits killing inmate convicted of rape
A prisoner who admitted disembowelling a convicted child rapist in his top security jail cell in Durham will be sentenced.
Michael Parr killed Mitchell Harrison, who was serving an indefinite sentence at Frankland Prison for the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
Harrison was disembowelled in his cell at the category A facility, which has housed some of the UK's most high profile and dangerous inmates, in October last year.
Parr, 32, will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court by Mr Justice Openshaw.
A plea hearing will be held at the same court for Parr's co-accused Nathan Mann, 23.
Harrison, originally from Wolverhampton, was jailed in January 2010 after he admitted raping the girl.
He was 21 at the time of the attack, which took place in August 2009 in Kendal, Cumbria.
Mitchell admitted two counts of rape at Carlisle Crown Court, where he received an indeterminate sentence and was put on the sex offenders' register for life.
Burglar from Washington jailed
A man has been sentenced to 40 months in prison after pleading guilty to a burglary in Washington.
David Hill, 37, of Stoneycroft, Albany appeared at Newcastle Crown Court this morning after his arrested on May 16. A number of offences in the area were taken into consideration.
– Paul Stewart, Neighbourhood InspectorBeing broken into is hugely distressing and we're pleased this man will now face the consequences of the crimes he has committed. We will continue to tackle burglaries across Washington and take proactive action against burglars to make sure they are put before the courts and face the consequences of their actions.
Latest developments in the Graeme Jarman trial
by Ben ChapmanElderly neighbour denies involvement in murder
by Ben Chapman
An elderly neighbour of murdered pensioner Judith Richardson, whose fingerprints were on a hammer found nearby, gives evidence in court.
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