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

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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

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

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December 6, 2020
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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

Court listings for Newark area: Racially-aggravated offence, drink-drivers and assaults on police officers

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November 20, 2020
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A NEWARK man received a suspended prison sentence for his third racially-aggravated offence since 2016.

Chris Conroy, the former head of the English Defence League in Newark, was sentenced by Nottingham magistrates to 12 weeks custody, suspended for a year, for the use of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour towards a police officer.

Conroy, 31, of Wolsey Road, Newark, admitted the offence and must take part in rehabilitation as part of his sentence and pay the officer £50 compensation.

Newalk Adveriser

Harry Vaughan: Neo-Nazi teenager sentenced

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November 2, 2020
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A high-achieving grammar school pupil who secretly promoted neo-Nazi terrorism online has been sentenced.

Harry Vaughan, 18, from south-west London, had pleaded guilty to 14 terror offences and two of possessing indecent images of children.

Passing sentence at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Sweeney said: “You are a dangerous offender.”

He sentenced Vaughan to two years detention in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years.

The 18-year-old was also ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme.

The judge said Vaughan had lived at home with his family and been an “A* student”, adding none of them knew that from the age of 14 he had been involved with groups on the internet.

Vaughan’s father, who was in court, is a clerk in the House of Lords and his mother is a teacher. Vaughan had been a pupil at Tiffin Grammar School in Kingston upon Thames.

The judge told the teenager neo-Nazi material found during police searches showed “the depth of your extreme right-wing mindset”.

He added that expert evidence stated Vaughan’s ideology was a “hybrid” of neo-Nazism and left-hand path Satanism.

Vaughan was prolific online and hid behind a series of aliases.

He uploaded self-made propaganda images to a neo-Nazi website promoting the now-banned terrorist organisation Sonnenkrieg Division.

He also possessed – and posted online – a series of weapons and explosives manuals.

The 18-year-old previously pleaded guilty to 12 counts of possessing documents useful to a terrorist, one count of encouraging terrorism, and one of disseminating terrorist publications.

He also admitted two counts of possessing indecent images, relating to videos showing young boys being raped.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: “What this case tells us is that anybody can be affected, anybody can be radicalised.”

He said Vaughan is a “very intelligent young man” but he “now has convictions for terrorist offences which will stay with him for life and I think that is a saddening case and also a salutary example of how this can affect young people”.

BBC News

Democratic Football Lads Alliance steward left stranger with brain injury after march in Sunderland

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June 22, 2020
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A march steward caused a brain injury to a stranger who he pushed to the ground when violence flared after a city centre protest.

Dean Lawrence, 42, had provided security for the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) during their march in Sunderland in September 2018, which was met with counter protesters on the day.

Newcastle Crown Court heard in the hours after the event, some of the attendees went drinking in bars.

Prosecutor Alec Burns told the court two men walking home from the pub, through a park behind Crowtree Leisure Centre, came under attack.

One victim, who had been at the counter-protest and had been involved in “banter” with the DFLA during the event, was punched to the ground and beaten by an unknown attacker.

His friend, who had not been at the march, was pushed to the ground by married dad-of-two Lawrence and left with four areas of intracranial bruising with bleeding on the brain.

Mr Burns told the court: “He pushed the complainant and knocked him to the ground. He had no time to react and wasn’t able to soften the blow and hit the ground with his head, which knocked him unconscious.”

The court heard Lawrence walked away and left his victim on the ground.

His victim spent three days in hospital, with an injury prosecutors said could potentially be fatal, and was unable to drive for seven months after the attack.

He said in an impact statement he was left with painful headaches and when out alone he is always “wondering if i’m going to be attacked again”.

He added: “I don’t think I will ever get over the psychological effect this had on me.

“I am trying to take each day as it comes in the hope that as time goes by it will become easier to deal with.”

Lawrence, of Aintree Close, Catshill, Bromsgrove, West Midlands, admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced him to 20 months behind bars, suspended for two years, with a £2,500 compensation order.

The judge told him: “You left, you walked away, you left him there without checking to see if he was alright.”

Judge Clemitson said Lawrence has since “distanced himself” from the DFLA organisation, has positive references, has never been in trouble before and is remorseful for the attack, which faced delay in being concluded in court.

The judge added that the current public health crisis had influence over her decision to suspend the jail term.

Steven Reed, defending, said Lawrence struggled to accept what he had done in the aftermath of the violence and was “scared”.

Mr Reed said Lawrence had been a steward at the march and had gone to the pub afterwards.

He adde: “In relation to the confrontation in the park, he went there with the intention of preventing a confrontation, not being involved in a confrontation.”

Mr Reed said Lawrence has raised money for charities supporting homelessness and autism and got himself “caught up through naivety”.

Sunderland Echo

Kent terrorist, 20, had ‘extreme right wing and racist mindset’

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May 19, 2020
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A classmate told teachers George Fowle could become ‘a school shooter’

A “racist” caught with explosive-making instructions after saying he wanted to bomb Camp America has been spared jail by a judge who told him: “Change your ways.”

George Fowle, who studied public services at North Kent College, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on June 18 last year on his way to the summer camp in the US.

The 20-year-old had been referred to the national anti-terror Prevent programme in March 2019 after a class member raised fears with teachers he could become a “school shooter”, the Old Bailey heard.

Fowle, from Snodland, appeared in court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of collecting a record of use to a terrorist in January and February 2018.

The documents, entitled “Plastiqe.txt” and “How to make Nitroglycerin”, were said to contain “essentially correct and viable” instructions for making explosives.

Prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds said other material seized in the investigation showed Fowle had an “entrenched extreme right wing and racist mindset, as well as an interest in explosives, firearms and mass casualty incidents in public places such as schools”.

This included a video of the Christchurch mosque mass shootings, which left 51 people dead during Friday prayers on March 15 last year.

Investigators also found a Snapchat comment sent by Fowle on June 10 last year, which said: “I want to petrol bomb Camp America.”

But the court heard there was no evidence of any risk to Camp America with nothing to suggest Fowle had tried to use the explosive-making instructions or had any links with terrorist groups.

His barrister Gavin Holme said Fowle needed help to increase his maturity and that his guilty pleas showed his “remorse and responsibility”.

“This is a young man who the authorities can work with, and not against,” he said.

Sentencing Fowle, Judge Mark Dennis QC said: “This was shameful and very disturbing criminal behaviour.

“You have purported to embrace a vile mindset, which should have no place in a tolerant, democratic and peaceful society.”

The judge said a sentence of 20 months in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years, along with a 60-hour rehabilitation programme and 120 hours of unpaid work, would reduce the risk of Fowle re-engaging with the extreme right ideology.

He added: “I hope you listened to my words. You are being given a chance today. It’s not ‘mend your ways’, it’s ‘change your ways’.

“Wake up to how dreadful your views were and how dreadful your conduct was. You are part of a civilised society.”

Kent Live

Tommy Robinson supporter weeps in court after being spared jail over ‘disgraceful violence’ at protest

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September 27, 2019
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A Tommy Robinson supporter cried as she was spared jail over her role in an afternoon of “disgraceful violence” against police.

Kate Beveridge, a single mother of two and primary school cook, avoided immediate jail after she joined a violent pro-Robinson demonstration in which cans, traffic cones and various makeshift missiles were thrown.

She was handed a 15-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and spared immediate custody because she is the sole carer of her children.

Beveridge, who was the only one of five defendants to be spared jail, was reportedly drunk when she threw a one litre plastic drinks bottle at police during the protest in central London in June 2018.

Three of the other defendants were jailed for violent disorder, while the youngest member of the group was sent to a young offenders institution.

At the sentencing, Judge Deborah Taylor told Beveridge: “You have two children aged 14 and two for whom you are the sole carer.

“You should think what sort of example you are setting your own children and the children at the primary school by the actions you carried out that day.”

The 35-year-old, from Singleton in Lancashire, wiped away tears as the judge told her she would be spared immediate custody at Southwark Crown Court.

Her counsel, Sheryl Nwosu, said: “She expresses not only sorrow but embarrassment and shame. She does not align herself with what went on that day.

“She acted on intoxicated impulse … this is a one-off.”

Danny Grealey, Keith O’Sullivan and Robert Sandford were jailed for violent disorder, while Andrew McLean, who is 20 years old, was sent to a young offenders institution.

The court heard how police were “overrun” by the disorder in the capital in June when thousands of people packed into Whitehall to demand Robinson’s release.

The former EDL leader was in prison for contempt of court at the time of the demonstration.

Prosecutor Aska Fujita said: “It turned ugly. The police have been constantly abused, missiles were thrown at them, they have been punched, kicked and had barriers thrown at them.

“The number of defendants does not reflect the actual occurrence of violence – police have tried incredibly hard to identify the people involved.

“However, out of a crowd of hundreds and thousands, it is impossible to identify everyone.”

She added that more than 20 police officers were injured, although there were no injuries more serious than cuts and bruises.

However, Ms Fujita insisted that this was only “due to sheer coincidence.”

“Each of the defendants were involved in serious acts of violence, including using weapons that could have caused serious injury,” she said.

The five defendants were the first of 14 defendants due to be sentenced for violent disorder during three hearings at the court.

Robinson was released from Belmarsh prison in southeast London a fortnight ago, two months into a nine-month sentence for contempt of court.

The Independent

Mo Salah: Man sentenced over racist tweets about Liverpool star

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August 30, 2019
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A man who posted racist tweets about Liverpool FC footballer Mohamed Salah has received a suspended jail sentence.

During an online chat with Liverpool fans, Gary Hyland, 32, from Bootle, Merseyside, joked about the Egyptian striker praying to Mecca at half-time and sent altered images of the whole team praying to Allah.

A supporter asked him: “What’s the issue with Muslims lad? Can you even articulate it?”

Hyland – reportedly an Everton fan – then sent a photograph of Salah with a suicide vest superimposed on the top part of the player’s body as well as making racist remarks about Salah and sending further images that poked fun at people praying to Allah.

The tweets on August 6 were reported to Merseyside Police and two days later Hyland was arrested at his home.

Hyland later said to officers: “I know I’ll get charged. It was me.”

Earlier this month he pleaded guilty to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment and obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty.

On Friday he was given a six-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, said the Crown Prosecution Service.

Sefton magistrates also ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and 14 days of a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, including attending a Promoting Human Dignity Course.

Angela Conlan, of Mersey Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: “He pleaded guilty and admitted what he’d done was stupid. These sorts of remarks fuel racial hatred and are extremely offensive to people from the race or religion that they are aimed at.

“Mohamed Salah does not deserve to be the object of abuse and neither does any person in a civilised society. The tweets were sent in the early hours of the morning and Hyland turned a discussion into a racist rant.

“That is not acceptable. Let this be a lesson to everyone that words can hurt and society has standards that must be upheld.”

Evening Standard

James Goddard banned from Parliament Square for 5 years in Soubry ‘Nazi’ case

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July 22, 2019
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Goddard was spared jail by a judge but is banned from contacting the Remain supporting MP for the same amount of time

Self-styled ‘yellow vest’ James Goddard has avoided prison after being handed an eight week suspended sentence after calling Remain MP Anna Soubry a Nazi.

Goddard, 29, pleaded guilty to causing Ms Soubry harassment, alarm or distress during protests outside Parliament last Friday.

He also pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence against a police constable.

He initially denied the offences.

Goddard was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, on Monday after pleading guilty to one charge using disorderly behaviour with intent to cause Ms Soubry harassment, alarm or distress.

He was also handed a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Soubry and told he cannot enter an area, including Parliament Square, College Green, the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House and Downing Street, and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay the MP £200 compensation.

Goddard, who was often seen on demonstrations with his supporters wearing a hi-vis vest, originally denied one count of harassment without violence outside the Houses of Parliament when Ms Soubry, then a Conservative MP, was called a “Nazi, traitor and scum”.

Last month, Goddard was fined £300 after being convicted of assaulting a photojournalist at a demo in Manchester.

Goddard, of Timperley in Altrincham, was thrown out of court during a previous case management hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court last month after interrupting the judge.

His trial hearing was delayed today after he mounted a bid to have district Emma Arbuthnot removed from his case.

Her husband, James, was a Tory MP for almost 30 years and is now a Tory life peer.

He will be sentenced on Monday.

In a statement following the case on Friday, Ms Soubry said: “I am pleased that both defendants have pleaded guilty to two public order offences and in relation to Goddard the additional offence of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer.

“They have admitted these crimes and accepted that their behaviour on two occasions outside Parliament was wrong and unjustified. Everyone is entitled to go about their lawful business.

“In a democracy, people have a right to peaceful lawful protest. No-one has the right to intimidate and abuse anyone. I am particularly pleased justice has been done in relation to the police officer.

“Racist abuse is deplorable and should never be tolerated.”

Daily Mirror

‘You are a thoroughly unpleasant, unsociable racist…’ – Judge slams this protester, 22, who hurled ‘vile’ religious abuse during Stoke-on-Trent Infidels demo

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April 9, 2019
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Britain First supporter David Davis shouted ‘vile’ racist and religious abuse during a far-right demonstration.

The 22-year-old hurled the insults during the Burslem protest – which was organised by Stoke-on-Trent Infidels – and featured Britain First leaders Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard he has already been prosecuted 13 months ago for assaulting a police officer during the October, 2017 demonstration.

But two further charges have now been brought following analysis of footage captured on police body-cams.

It recorded Davis shouting racial abuse at a group of Pakistani men and him also making a derogatory comment about the Muslim faith.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of intentional harassment, alarm or distress that was racially-aggravated, and a further charge of the same offence that was religiously-aggravated.

David Davis being arrested at the demo in 2017

David Davis being arrested at the demo in 2017

Scott Ashdown, representing Davis, said his client had already successfully undergone work with the probation service to address his behaviour.

He said: “There have been no further offences committed by Mr Davis since this occasion. If this had been prosecuted in a timely fashion with the other matter 13 months ago, he would still have received the community order he was given then.

“He did not attend this demonstration, he got caught up in it after he had been to watch Port Vale and was walking through the area.

“His words were said in response to a firework being thrown which exploded close to a woman and child. He is not a racist.”

Davis, of Alexandra Road, May Bank, has been handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the latest offences. That includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 42-day curfew which means he must stay in between 7pm and 7am.

District Judge Kevin Grego told Davis: “I don’t accept it was a complete accident that you were there. You shouted vile religious and vile racist abuse at people of Pakistani origin.

“You have been before the court nine times before for offences including racist assault, affray, battery and public order. That is the record of somebody who is a thoroughly unpleasant, unsociable racist.”

Davis must also pay £185 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Stoke Sentinel