Gareth Crickmer

Michael Baker, 37, was jailed after driving a borrowed Mercedes in Sunderland while disqualified, uninsured and almost twice over the legal alcohol limit to buy more alcohol. He pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to drink-driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. The court imposed a 12-week sentence for disqualified driving, with a concurrent four-week term for drink-driving, extended his driving ban by four years and six weeks, and ordered him to pay a £154 victim surcharge. The judge cited his previous drink-driving convictions, refusal to address his alcohol use and awareness that he was banned from driving.

Lee Fairley, 37, of Roker, was convicted in his absence of being drunk and disorderly after kicking a marked police vehicle at Sunderland's Park Lane Interchange and behaving abusively toward an officer. Magistrates noted that he already owed £7,500 from previous matters, describing the debt as “ridiculous,” but imposed a further £150 fine, £85 in court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Ryan Cannon, 19, pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to breaching an interim sexual risk order by possessing three mobile phones without notifying police. The breach occurred on August 2, his birthday, after he approached officers claiming he had been the victim of a knife robbery. Cannon had been under investigation for three years without being charged, and his solicitor criticised the application of the order. He received a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months, along with a new 18-month community order, rehabilitation requirements, a £154 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

Lee Rogan, 43, admitted stealing goods worth a total of £218.85 from Home Bargains in Houghton-le-Spring on three occasions within six days. The court heard that he committed two of the thefts with a female accomplice and had 21 previous convictions, although he had not offended since 2016. South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court ordered him to pay £109.42 in compensation to Home Bargains and imposed a two-year conditional discharge.

Callum MacGregor, a Sunderland sex offender registered indefinitely after convictions for sexual assault and possessing images of children, admitted using unregistered aliases to access Facebook, Instagram and Reddit. It was his fifth breach of the notification requirements, but South Tyneside magistrates suspended a 32-week prison sentence for 18 months. He must complete an accredited programme and rehabilitation days, while the court warned that any further breach would likely result in imprisonment.

Whitburn residents will be consulted from September on proposals to establish a parish council, following South Tyneside Council’s approval of a Community Governance Review. The Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum says the council would give residents statutory consultation rights on planning, licensing and traffic matters and help protect the village’s Green Belt and rural character. A second consultation is planned for October and November, with a final decision expected in January; the council must fund the review from existing revenues despite having no dedicated budget.

Cosmin Cariga, 48, pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to driving while disqualified and without insurance after police stopped him in Sunderland in April. He had been banned following a 2025 excess-alcohol conviction but drove a grey Jeep after a sick friend asked for help getting to hospital. His solicitor said Cariga knew he was banned, had tried calling 101, and had since disposed of the vehicle to avoid driving again. He was granted unconditional bail pending sentencing on 20 August.

Sunderland care worker Anand James, 32, pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to driving with excess alcohol after police stopped him for erratic driving in Tunstall. He recorded 56 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, against a legal limit of 35, despite believing that mixing red wine with Sprite or Monster would prevent alcohol from affecting him. Because of a previous 2023 conviction for failing to provide a sample, he received a three-year driving ban, a £403 fine, a £161 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

Norman Anderson, 46, pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to stealing £127 worth of plants from Lidl’s Roker store with two other people. Some of the plants were recovered, and the court heard that Anderson has multiple previous convictions, including eight thefts, as well as alcohol problems and a brain injury for which he is receiving treatment. He received a nine-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a £36 victim surcharge, with the judge warning that any further offending during that period could reopen the case.

Ryan Crinson, 38, pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to assaulting his partner at his home in Gilley Law, Sunderland, on March 11. Prosecutors said he tried to prevent her from leaving, pushed or struck her face with a mobile phone and grabbed her arms, causing bruising. Crinson was fined £140 and ordered to pay £200 compensation, while the court notified the Crown Court that imposed his existing suspended sentence. He was released immediately.