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Drug-driving Sunderland dad led police on chase through city centre before crashing into lamppost

By
February 15, 2023
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A Sunderland dad high on drugs has been jailed for a 60-second early hours danger drive where he powered blindly down a walkway while being pursued by police.

Unlicensed and uninsured Kieron Wright, 30, is starting 40 weeks behind bars for his cannabis-fired 50mph antics at the wheel of his Ford Focus.

After his arrest, Wright, of Rosedale Street, Bishopwearmouth, admitted he was so drugged up he could not recall getting into the motor.

He was caught on police dashcam driving above the speed limit in city centre High Street East at 1.47am on Friday, November 11.

Footage shows him flinging his motor over speed bumps while being pursued and stopping only when he jammed it between a lamppost and railings in Coronation Street.

A blood test showed he was over the legal limit for cannabis derivative THC, and illegal amphetamine was also found in the vehicle.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Kathryn Meek told him his drug taking had made him oblivious to the danger he posed to unsuspecting pedestrians.

She said video showed his driving was “completely out of control” – and confirmed he had confessed to having no recollection of taking the wheel due to drugs.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “Police state he was driving at up to 50mph in a 30mph area.

“Officers describe it as being a residential area and on two occasions his car mounts the footpath.

“He then collided with railings and was arrested for dangerous driving. A roadside swab was positive for cocaine.

“A swab at the police station showed he was under the limit for cocaine, but a blood sample showed he was over for cannabis.

“He was also found to not have insurance or a driving licence, and checks found a small bag of white powder in the car. It was amphetamine.”

Wright pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of a single wrap of class B amphetamine and drug driving at an earlier hearing.

He also admitted driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failing to stop for police.

His reading for cannabis derivative THC was 2.2mcg per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Footage showed Wright also driving on Sans Street, Borough Road and Hendon Road.

David Wright, defending, said the pursuit had been short and dashcam showed no other drivers or pedestrians.

Mr Wright added: “It’s less than 60 seconds before he comes to a stop. I don’t think we see a single person or a car during the clip.

“If the custody threshold is crossed you do have the option of imposing a suspended sentence of up to 12 months.

“The Probation report does contain a lot of positive information. He has expressed to me that he does want help with his drugs’ use.”

Judge Meek jailed Wright for 40 weeks for dangerous driving, 12 weeks for drug-driving and four weeks for drug possession, to run concurrently.

She banned him from driving for 40 months, due to a drink-drive conviction in 2013, and he must take an extended driving test. He must also pay a £187 victim surcharge.

Sunderland Echo

Tommy Robinson fined £900 for contempt of court

By
August 1, 2022
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English Defence League founder has 14 days to pay

Tommy Robinson has been fined £900 for failing to turn up at a High Court hearing to be questioned about his finances.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had been expected at a hearing in March over an unpaid legal bill after he lost a libel case brought against him by a Syrian teenager last year.

Jamal Hijazi successfully sued Robinson after the then-schoolboy was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

After the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims, including about Mr Hijazi attacking girls in his school, leading to the libel case.

Following a pre-trial hearing in November 2020, the English Defence League founder was ordered to pay more than £43,000 in legal costs.

Earlier this year, Mr Hijazi’s lawyers successfully applied for an order requiring Robinson to return to court to answer questions about his finances on March 22, but the 39-year-old failed to attend.

He was summonsed to court to face contempt proceedings in April and, at hearing on Monday, was handed a £900 penalty after admitting being in contempt of court.

Mr Justice Nicklin said: “I’ve decided to punish Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s contempt by imposing a fine.”

He added that Robinson now has 14 days to pay and could be liable to serve 28 days in prison if he fails to do so.

The High Court was previously told that Robinson was facing mental health issues at the time of the March hearing, which he claimed were a result of being harassed.

However, on Monday, Mr Justice Nicklin said: “Whatever psychiatric issues Mr Lennon had, they did not prevent him from coming to the hearing that he failed to turn up at.”

The judge later said Robinson had recently published a video asking for support, including the words “Don’t let them lock Tommy up again” and “Keep him free of the clutches of the corrupt establishment”.

Mr Justice Nicklin said he had decided to fine Robinson prior to seeing the video and that “it was never serious enough to justify a period of imprisonment”.

The High Court judge also noted that Robinson had legal aid for his barrister for Monday’s hearing, adding: “He was in no need for donations for his representation today, the state was paying for it.”

In June, Robinson appeared at the High Court to be questioned over his finances at the postponed hearing, where he told the court that, in a two-year period prior to declaring bankruptcy, he spent around £100,000 on gambling – largely in casinos.

Robinson was previously jailed after being found in contempt of court after he filmed men accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streamed the footage on Facebook, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

He was sentenced to 13 months in jail after being found in contempt of court on the day of the broadcast but served just two months before being freed after that finding of contempt was overturned by the Court of Appeal in August 2018.

The case was then referred back to the Attorney General and he was jailed again in July 2019.

Following Mr Hijazi’s successful libel claim, Mr Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay him damages of £100,000 and his legal costs, thought to be around £500,000.

The Independent

Sunderland demolition worker kicked homeless woman in the head after she asked for cash and spat at him when he refused

By
April 8, 2022
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A Sunderland demolition worker kicked a homeless woman in the head after she asked him for cash and spat at him when he refused, a court heard.

Peter Scotter, 61, booted her as she sat on her sleeping bag outside B&M’s store at Roker Retail Park, at 8.40pm on Monday, April 12 last year.

The woman also told police he struck her twice more, on the right side near the stomach, and towards her back.

Scooter, of Hendon Close, denied those allegations and entered a guilty plea to assault by beating solely on the basis he kicked her once in the head.

That plea was accepted by magistrates at a special hearing.

Prosecutor Emma O’Hegarty revealed Scotter had a lengthy criminal record of 74 previous convictions from 166 offences.

Greg Flaxen, defending, said: “Mr Scotter had not set out for violence that day. He has been asked for money and has taken umbrage.

“He told the injured party that she should get a job and she spat at him and he has reacted. I don’t condone the spit and I don’t condone the kick.

“He’s a man who has been before the court numerous times on many offences, but there has been a gap.

“I dealt with his last case and thought that would be the last I’d see of him.

“He accepts that alcohol has been an ongoing problem throughout his career of criminality.

“His long-term partner is now at the point of ‘quit the drink or go’.”

Mr Flaxen added that Scotter had been accepted onto an alcohol treatment programme, an opportunity for change he had never before had.

Magistrates told Scotter his offence was aggravated by him being drunk and because of his history of offending.

They sentenced him to a two-year community order, with 25 rehabilitation days and an alcohol treatment requirement.

He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim £100 compensation, with a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
Sunderland Echo

Some of his previous convictions can be found in these links.

https://far-rightcriminals.com/2016/11/17/patient-was-abusive-to-sunderland-paramedics-before-spitting-into-police-officers-eye/

https://far-rightcriminals.com/2016/07/19/sunderland-man-threw-milk-over-sleeping-female-friend-before-beating-her-with-the-glass-in-row-over-rumours/

https://far-rightcriminals.com/2016/07/19/cannabis-smoker-caught-by-police-noses/

https://far-rightcriminals.com/2017/07/19/peter-scotter-who-ripped-womans-niqab-off-in-sunderland-sent-sick-message-to-a-child/

Muslim-hating decorator finds out he has half-Iraqi grandson

By
January 20, 2022
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The 51-year-old called for people to cook bacon over burning mosques

Paul Shelton, Buxton Road, Furness Vale, called for Islam to be made illegal

A Derbyshire painter and decorator posted “utterly vile” rants on social media where he said “we need to burn all mosques in our country” and “cook our bacon on the ashes”.

Derby Crown Court heard how Paul Shelton used an anonymous Facebook profile to spout his abhorrent views.

His sentencing hearing was told how like-minded people liked and shared his posts including one where he called Muslims “dirty, twisted, s***-stinking, paedos”.

And in what his own defence solicitor called “a beautiful and ironic silver lining” the 51-year-old has since found out he has a grandson who is half-Iraqi.

Jailing him for 20 months, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “What you posted was utterly vile, grossly offensive and appalling.

“No right-thinking person would think this is anything other than abhorrent.

“The internet is a wonderful thing which has brought many benefits for all of our society.

“The problem, however, is that it is a medium which allows individual groups to peddle hate against sections of our society.

“Your views demonstrated hostility towards Muslims which does not allow me to accept the submission these were merely drunken rants.

“You posted anonymously and included you talking about an EDL (English Defence League) protest ‘outside Didsbury paedo cult hall’ in which you said people should “burn it down and cook our bacon on its ashes”.

“You called for Islam to be ‘completely outlawed in our country’ and said ‘we need to burn all mosques in our country.”

Jennifer Joseph, prosecuting, said police became aware of anti-Muslim postings made by a Facebook profile called “Pedro Smokey,” which following an investigation in late 2018, turned out to be Shelton.

She said messages were posted on an open public group called The Realist People Movement, the first of which read “we need to burn all mosques in our country, what say you?” which received messages of support from other online users.

Miss Joseph said a second message posted online referred to Muslims as being “dirty, twisted, s***-stinking, paedos” and used a racially offensive term toward Asian people.

She said: “(The prosecution) say it would not be right to suggest the messages are completely out of character and just a drunken mistake.

“He was interviewed and he was not particularly co-operative.

“He would not tell the police what his Facebook password was and when asked ‘are you Pedro Smokey?’ he replied ‘I can’t answer that question’.”

Shelton, of Buxton Road, Furness Vale, High Peak, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to two counts of publishing material that would incite religious hatred.

He has no relevant previous convictions and nothing for 10 years.

Richard Orme, mitigating, said since being arrested his client has got back in contact with his estranged daughter who has an Iraqi partner who has a child by him.

He said: “It’s a beautiful and ironic silver lining that he adores his half-Iraqi grandson and, in his own words, spoils him rotten.

“There has been a lot of water under the bridge, this is three-and-a-half years old and he is a new man who now does not share those views.

“He bears no ill-will towards Muslims.”

As well as the jail sentence, Shelton was handed a five-year criminal behaviour order limiting his use of the internet and meaning he has to tell the police about passwords and social media accounts should they demand to know them.

Derby Telegraph

Disgraced ex Gateshead football coach punched man who mocked his convictions on nightclub dancefloor

By
February 11, 2021
Uncategorized

Kane Hutchison, nicknamed the ‘Beast of Bensham’, assaulted the man who made remarks about his convictions for sex offences



A disgraced former football coach and sex offender knocked out a man who mocked his convictions on a nightclub dancefloor, a court heard.

Kane Hutchison, originally from Gateshead, was jailed for four years in 2015 after a jury found him guilty of targeting two teenage boys over the internet and inciting them into sexual activity online.

The 31-year-old, nicknamed the ‘Beast of Bensham’, was already in custody when he stood trial after being sentenced to three years for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy who he had offered to take to watch a football match.

He was released from prison in December 2017, but put back behind bars the next year for breaching the terms of his licence.

Now living in Leeds, Hutchison is in court again after punching a man to the floor in the city’s Tunnel nightclub.

LeedsLive reports that the victim and his group of friends had made remarks about Hutchison’s previous convictions.

Hutchison’s pal Jason Burd then attacked the victim and his friend after they were all kicked out of the nightclub.

Hutchison and Burd, 28, were handed suspended sentences this week at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to a number of offences.

Both groups were kicked out of the club but there was another confrontation outside.

The court was shown CCTV footage of Hutchison’s friend Jason Burd attacking the first victim and his friend and Hutchison joining in.

The first victim suffered bruising to both eyes and his nose and a cut to his head and the second victim suffered a fracture to the middle finger on his right hand.

The court was told Hutchison later apologised to the victims in person and via text and offered to pay them compensation.

In statements, the victims described being afraid to leave their homes after the incident.

Hutchison, of Savoy Court, Bradford Road, Pudsey, Leeds, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

He has 13 previous convictions, most of which are for breaches of football banning orders.

He also has previous convictions for sexual offences, including for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy and inciting other underage boys into sexual activity.

The former football coach used his victims’ love of football to groom them, ChronicleLive reported.

Speaking about Hutchison’s attack inside the nightclub, probation officer Eme Musgrove said: “The other group were calling him names in regard to his previous convictions but he has heard [that type of abuse] before so does not know why he reacted that way on this occasion.”

Rukhshanda Hussain, mitigating for Hutchison, said her client believed a punch had been thrown as well as the insults.

She said he was just trying to ‘have his co-defendant’s back’ during the confrontation outside the nightclub but then de-escalated the situation.

She said his apology showed “maturity and contrition”.

The barrister also said Hutchison was born and raised in Gateshead but moved to Leeds to escape “negative influences” and abuse he was getting.

She said he has stopped going out since the incident and will soon be in stable employment and settled accommodation.

Burd, of Manderston Chase, Armley, Leeds, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Hutchison was handed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Burd was handed a 13-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

They were both ordered to pay £500 compensation to the first victim and £500 towards prosecution costs.

Burd was also ordered to pay £750 to the second victim.

The Chronicle

His previous conviction can be found here

Banned Scotswood driver got friend to pick him up in order to flee scene of serious crash

By
January 8, 2021
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Stuart Spence was severely injured after being involved in a collision and was being helped by members of the public before he jumped on the back of his friend’s bike and sped-off

A banned driver got his friend to pick him up from the scene of a serious accident in order to evade arrest.

Stuart Spence was severely injured after being involved in a collision with another vehicle and was being tended to by members of the public while the emergency services arrived.

But, knowing he was disqualified and rather than receive treatment, the 33-year-old phoned his friend and asked him to come and pick him up on his motorbike, a court heard.

Spence then fled the scene of the accident, on Dudley Lane, in Dudley, North Tyneside, but was found nearby after his concerned father shouted at him “I’d rather have a son in prison than a son dead” and rang for an ambulance.

The motor menace, who had two driving while disqualified offences on his record and a dangerous driving offence, was arrested after spending a number of days in hospital and appeared before magistrates in North Tyneside on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of driving while disqualified, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with no insurance.

Rebecca Slade, prosecuting, said Spence was behind the wheel of his Honda motorbike on July 2 last year when he was involved in a collision with another car.

“It was a substantial collision that wrote-off both vehicles,” Miss Slade continued. “The defendant was injured and members of the public treated him and rendered him first aid.

“The defendant then contacted an associate, who arrived at the scene on a motorbike and the defendant left the scene as a passenger without leaving details or waiting until the police arrived.”

The court heard that, since the crash, Spence, who has 71 offences on his record, had been given two separate suspended sentences, one for dangerous driving and one for burglary.

Kevin Smallcombe, mitigating, said Spence, of Muswell Hill, in Scotswood, Newcastle, was wanting to go to prison.

He added: “The charges don’t relate to the manner of his driving. He nearly lost his life. He was propelled head-first from his bike through the other vehicle’s window.

“He suffered very serious injuries. The words of his father are quite telling when he arrived at his house. He shouted, ‘Get an ambulance, get an ambulance, I would rather have a son in prison than a son dead’.”

Magistrates gave Spence a third suspended sentence, giving him 18 weeks, suspended for two years.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

The Chronicle

County Durham grandad branded ‘paedophile’ jailed for life after stabbing tormentor outside Aldi

By
December 24, 2020
Uncategorized

Mark Pearson has been locked up for the attempted murder of a man, who repeatedly called him a “nonce”, outside Aldi in Spennymoor

Mark Pearson has been given a life sentence for attempted murder in Spennymoor (Image: Durham Constabulary)

A grandad who was falsely accused of being a paedophile has been given a life sentence for stabbing his tormentor.

Mark Pearson repeatedly stabbed Michael Inwood with a lock knife in a “frenzied” attack outside the Aldi store, in Spennymoor, in front of horrified shoppers.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Inwood suffered “life-changing” injuries after being stabbed eight times, including the neck, heart and lung, on the afternoon of September 9 last year.

The 47-year-old denied trying to kill Mr Inwood, but a jury convicted him of attempted murder and being in possession of an offensive weapon at trial.

Judge Paul Sloan QC said that the stabbing was “totally disproportionate” to the provocation and jailed Pearson for life with a minimum term of 12 years.

The court heard how Pearson snapped after two years of torture from Mr Inwood, who had repeatedly branded him a “nonce” and a “paedophile”.

However, Pearson is registered as a Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) 2 – meaning he is a classed as a violent offender, not a sex offender.

The pair had initially clashed earlier that day on the top deck of a bus heading towards Spennymoor when Mr Inwood called the defendant a “wrong ‘un”.

It spurred Pearson to follow Mr Inwood, who was leaving the bus, until he was stood next to the driver where he told him that he was a “dead man walking” and that he was going to “slit his throat”.

Pearson then drew his finger across his neck in a cutting action.

He got off the bus at the next stop, walking past the Aldi shop on Cambridge Street towards his home. However, he suddenly turned around and headed back towards the store – and in the direction of Mr Inwood.

The pair confronted each other and began shouting “come on then” before Pearson got out a lock knife from his pocket and hid it behind his back.

Newcastle Crown Court was told when Pearson got in range he swung his right arm and stabbed Mr Inwood in the neck. He then proceeded to stab the victim “up to 10 times”, including the heart and lung, until he fell to the floor.

The offence took place in broad daylight outside the busy supermarket with one horrified witness saying it was like “something out a horror movie”.

Pearson fled the scene and called 999 after stashing the lock knife in a bag of flour in his kitchen cupboard.

He told police he didn’t deliberately stab Mr Inwood and claimed it was self defence.

The court heard how Mr Inwood had suffered a brain injury with his speech, eyesight and mobility being severely impacted by the attack.

He is also now experiencing regular seizures, mood swings and has lost his independence.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, he said: “My life is a daily struggle. I can’t walk in a straight line. I can’t dress myself, my father is caring for me. I still have no access to my daughter and it is breaking my heart.”

Tony Davis, defending, said the attack arose as a result of two years of “utter frustration” that had “boiled over”.

Pearson, of no fixed abode, has a long list of previous convictions for violence, including in 1996 when he was jailed for eight years for attacking three police officers with a knife.

Judge Sloan said: “You had the knife with you really to use as a weapon as neccessary.

“It was a cowardly attack – holding the knife behind your back to then catch Mr Inwood by surprise.

“The taunts do not begin to justify your subsequent actions. Using the knife you gave up to 10 blows or so, causing eight wounds and leaving him for dead.

“The only sentence I can pass is one of life given the possible threat to the public.”

Northern Chronicle

Tommy Robinson banned from all football matches for 4 years after punching England fan

By
December 15, 2020
Uncategorized

EXCLUSIVE The far right extremist, 38, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was filmed punching a Three Lions fan to the ground in Portugal

Far right extremist Tommy Robinson has been banned from all football matches – including England – at home and abroad for four years.

The thug, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 38, was filmed punching a Three Lions fan to the ground in Portugal during the Nations League finals.

That footage, obtained by the Mirror, was used by Bedfordshire Police to bring a civil case against Robinson this week.

It resulted in an order banning him from “all regulated football matches, home and abroad” for four years – including England at the next two Euro tournaments and the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Dep Chief Constable Mark Roberts, National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Policing Lead, said: “This is a really positive result.”

Robinson was seen thumping a fan before England’s 3-1 defeat to Holland in Guimaraes on June 6, 2019.

The former English Defence League leader approached the England fan, who told him: “You do not represent me.”

A witness said: “Robinson throws a punch. This is from a man trying to become an MEP.” Robinson said the fan had been rowdy and abusive.

Robinson had posted a message before the game saying: “No football banning order here, mate.”

The remark was believed to refer to a banning order Bedfordshire Police applied for over a flag reading “F*** ISIS” at Euro 2016. They said it was inciting hatred against Muslims but he successfully challenged it.

The force worked with the UK Football Policing Unit to obtain the order banning him from football matches.

He was also ordered to pay £3,600 in costs.

A court spokeswoman confirmed the order was granted for “causing or contributing to violence”.

In 2011, Robinson was convicted of hooliganism for leading 100 Luton Town fans in a clash with Newport County fans.

He lost his £5,000 deposit in the European election last year after getting just 2.2% of the vote in the North West.

After the incident in Portugal, he said: “I was with my wife. If people get physical, I am not going to wait for them to attack me… the man needs to keep his views to himself.”

Daily Mirror

Burglar who raided Newcastle shop caught after leaving blood at the scene of the crime

By
December 6, 2020
Uncategorized

Stuart Spence, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary at the Londis store at Kenton Park Shopping Centre

A bungling burglar who raided a Kenton store was caught after his blood was found at the scene.

Stuart Spence broke into the Londis store at Kenton Park Shopping Centre in the early hours of April 6 and stole cash and cigarettes to the value of £1,200

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 33-year-old forced his way in by breaking bars and a window at the rear of the premises.

Paul Cross, prosecuting, said a cash machine was attacked, money and cigarettes were taken while the shop’s CCTV hard drive was also stolen.

A resident of an upstairs flat saw a man leaving the scene on a bike at around 3.46am and phoned the police.

But he inadvertently left traces of his blood at the scene on the cash machine and a nearby fridge which were later found by investigating officers.

The swabs were sent off for forensic analysis and were later linked back to Spence, who was arrested by police.

He made no reply during an interview but later pleaded guilty to one count of burglary.

The court heard how the shop owner was left in fear of another attack on his premises which had cost him around £3,000 – including £1,720 of his personal savings to secure the store.

Spence, who has 32 past convictions for 71 offences, was on bail at the time of the offence for dangerous driving which he was later sentenced to a nine-month jail term suspended for two years in July.

David Comb, defending, said: “He appears to have had a near death experience in July in a car accident.

“He has reconciled with a former girlfriend and he has indicated his life has achieved a greater stability than it has in the past 12 months.”

Judge Edward Bindloss spared Spence, of Muswell Hill, Newcastle, jail by giving him a prison sentence of nine months, suspended for 18 months.

However, he warned him that he was on his last chance.

He said: “You are at risk of a lot of custodial time. The key thing is to stay out of trouble.

“If you breach this order you face 18 months on top of whatever else.”

Chronicle Live

Thief spared jail after wrecking spree saw seven vehicles damaged in Sunderland streets

By
November 22, 2020
Uncategorized

A thief who launched a wrecking “spree” that left seven vehicles damaged has been allowed to keep his freedom.

Kieron Wright targeted motors that had been parked in the River View area of Sunderland, all within hours of each other, in October last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that all of the vehicles, which included cars and vans, were damaged by the 28-year-old, who smashed windows and lights, and some had personal property taken from inside.

Prosecutor Paul Reid told the court: “It was a spree of breaking into vehicles parked in Sunderland.”

At the time of the car attacks, Wright was on bail after being caught with a balaclava, torch and small hammer near the scene of a burglary and for stealing perfume from Asda.

Wright, who has a long criminal record, pleaded guilty to going equipped for theft, criminal damage and theft charges.

At a previous hearing, earlier this month, Jamie Adams, defending, said Wright, of Rosedale Street, Sunderland, was “wanting to be caught” so he could get help with his drug problem.

Mr Adams said Wright is “trying to sort himself out” and has responded well while in custody on remand.

Mr Recorder John Aitken adjourned the case until today so that Wright can be assessed for his suitability for a drug rehabilitation order.

The judge told him at the time: “It seems to me you have shown some progress and it would be in everyone’s interests if you could get a grip of your drug abuse which might lead to you not offending again.”

Wright was given bail over the last three weeks and was told he would receive a non-custodial sentence if he can convince the drug treatment authorities that he is willing to work with them.

But the judge warned him: “If you are unable to persuade them of that, I will have no choice but to give you a custodial sentence.”

Wright has now been back in court today where the judge sentenced him to a community order for nine months with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

Sunderland Echo