A number of people have appeared in court in connection with a series of riots and violent disorder which took place in the summer across the North East.

Defendants from around the region were charged following outbreaks of largescale disorder in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool as well as smaller disturbances in Darlington and Willington in late July early August.

Judge Francis Laird KC dealt with about 20 defendants throughout a day of hearings to set trial dates and sentencing hearings.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, handled the cases and brought together several defendants into different trial dates in the coming months.

Leah Lee, of Hall Lane Estate, Willington, has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated damage to property after she smashed a window during a violent disturbance in the town on August 5.

A charge of violent disorder was allowed to lay on file.

The court heard how the teenager called a man a ‘P*** b******’ after smashing a window.

The 19-year-old was remanded in custody until she is sentenced on Friday, November 8.

Tabitha Buck, representing the teenager, asked for a pre-sentence report to be conducted as her client was a vulnerable young woman.

Judge Laird warned the teenager that she is facing a custodial sentence for her behaviour.

Andrew Livingstone, Clifton Street, Middlesbrough, who has pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article following the violent disorder in the town on August 4.

The judge heard how the 53-year-old’s home had been targeted by a group of youths and he came out to chase them away.

Tabitha Buck, representing the defendant, said he handed over one of the youths to the police before they discovered he was carrying a knife.

Judge Laird KC said: “You are in a different position to many of those who have appeared before me charged with violent disorder from these events.

“As I understand it, you were at your home and people came to cause trouble and you chased them away.

“Unfortunately for you, you had a knife on you at the time. It is accepted that it was not produced.”

Livingstone will return to court next week to be sentenced.

A teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced on Thursday, October 10, for his behaviour in Middlesbrough on August 4.

Paul Thirlwell, of Gloucester Crescent, Wigan; 19-year-old McCauley Shirbon, of Cornwall Street, Hartlepool; and 42-year-old Anthony Allen, of Ormesby Road, Hartlepool; are all accused of being involved in violent disorder in Hartlepool on July 31.

All three had earlier entered a not guilty plea to the charge.

The 42-year-old Thirlwell pleaded guilty to a charge of racially aggravated common assault from the same date.

All three cases were joined together and a five-day trial will start on December 3.

Karl Croaker, of Longford Street, Middlesbrough, who is charged with violent disorder in Middlesbrough on August 4.

The 31-year-old denies the charge and will go on trial on February 3, 2025 alongside other co-accused.

Regan Walker, 23, of Saltney Road, Norton, near Stockton, had pleaded not guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, a metal bar, when he was allegedly spotted holding it while on Park Road North, Middlesbrough.

Connor Stokes, 26, of Mansfield Avenue, Thornaby, had pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.

While Lucas Taylor, 44, of Worcester Street, Middlesbrough, is also due to go on trial with the two other defendants after he was charged with violent disorder.

They will go on trial in February.

Ethan Bowes, 18, of Woodhouse, Road, Guisborough, 42-year-old Christopher Howard, of Huntley Close, Middlesbrough, 20-year-old Kaleb Peacock-Lightfoot, of Dixon Grove, Middlesbrough, and Anthony Brown, 37, of Windsor Road, Middlesbrough, have all pleaded not guilty to violent disorder from events on August 4.

Their cases were all joined together and the trial will take place on November 25 this year.

Judge Laird KC remanded them in custody until that date.

Northern Echo