These are the faces of vile burglars who terrorised households and communities across the North East.
Targeting the homes of the elderly, stealing game consoles, pinching charity boxes, and threatening occupants, were among the heinous crimes carried out by these thieves.
Thankfully justice has been served at Newcastle Crown Court and they are now serving time in prison after being convicted for a series of crimes.
Callum McAlpine
A brazen burglar walked free from court after stealing charity boxes from cafes for the second time in a year.
Career crook Callum McAlpine first struck at premises on the Westmoreland Road, in Newcastle, in November 2021 and was given a community order. However, just six months later, the 24-year-old breached the order by committing another burglary and was locked-up for 20 weeks.
But spending time behind bars proved not to be a deterrent for the persistent pest and he was soon back up to his old tricks. This time, he targeted the Super Natural Café, on Grainger Street, in Newcastle City Centre, by letting himself in and making-off with two charity boxes from behind the counter.
McAlpine's brazen theft has now landed him back in the dock after police easily identified him from CCTV and he was arrested. He appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to burglary of a non-dwelling.
Magistrates gave McAlpine, of Westgate Road, in Newcastle City Centre, a chance by giving him a 12-month community order and fining him £40. He must also pay a £114 victim surcharge.
Harry Allen and Wayne Froud
A couple were robbed in their own home in the dead of night by attackers who stole their safe.
The victims were woken by a loud bang and when the man went to investigate he was assaulted and forced to open the safe, which contained cash and bank cards.
Harry Allen admitted carrying out the robbery while the charge was "left to lie on file" against Wayne Froud, 38, as it was deemed not in the public interest to pursue it given he is now serving life for murder.
The victims didn't recognise the intruders but they were caught on camera on a smart doorbell.
The court heard Froud was recognised by an officer who interviewed him for the murder of Sean Mason and Allen's fingerprint was found on the front door.
When Allen's home was later searched, a bank card belonging to the victim, taken during the raid, was found.
Allen, of Best View, Houghton-le-Spring, also admitted assaulting three police officers in separate offences in December 2020.
Allen, 32, who has 25 previous convictions, including for violence, pleaded guilty to robbery and three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for a total of 1,440 days.
Murder victim Sean Mason was subjected to brutal violence by Froud on May 16, 2020, backed by Steven Milroy, who was found guilty of manslaughter.
Froud, who inflicted "all or almost all" of the serious injuries on Sean in a vicious beating, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years in December 2020 for Sean's murder.
Dylan Newall
Dylan Newall was involved in burglaries, affrays, driving offences and fraudulent activity which took place in 2021 and 2022. The 27-year-old broke into businesses and a home during his offending and was finally jailed after appearing at Newcastle Crown Court.
Newall, of Grindon Lane, Sunderland, appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for offences of burglary, fraud, affray, non-dwelling burglary, handling stolen goods, and driving without insurance or a licence. He had pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing.
Newall was jailed for 50 months.
Darren Blench
A burglar left his blood on a bed and stole a boiler during two raids on County Durham homes.
Third-strike burglar, Darren Blench carried out the offences on two homes in October 2022, when the occupants were out.
The 30-year-old smashed into one Horden property and stole a stereo, TV, and an iPhone and left his blood on the bed of the home. Later that same month, he broke into another home by removing a kitchen window and stole items including a boiler after turning off the stopcock and gas switch at the property.
Blench, of Larch Crescent, Yeading, Hillingdon, appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs to be sentenced for two counts of burglary. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.
Sentencing him, Recorder Edward Legard, jailed him for 900 days, which is around two years and five months.
Paul Docherty
A burglar from Newcastle who targeted the home of a woman who had been moved into care twice in the space of a year has been jailed.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Paul Docherty of Stratford Grove West broke into a Newcastle flat in March, taking a television and a charm bracelet. Then, on October 1, he was spotted gaining entry to the same property, this time taking a television set.
A member of the public called the police and Docherty was subsequently identified as the suspect and arrested. Under interview, the offender admitted both burglaries.
He had forced a window to gain entry on both occasions and said he sold the television and charm bracelet from the March burglary to feed his drug addiction.
The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and on November 25 at Newcastle Crown Court he was jailed for a total of 16 months.
READ NEXT:
- Ponteland pensioner admits smothering her 81-year-old husband after a disagreement over finances
- Stakeford pervert jailed for attempted rape and sexual assault of two schoolgirls
- Kind woman sexually assaulted by North Shields man she allowed to stay at her home for the night
- £1m Roker explosion victim lost everything and cat died when neighbour cut gas pipe and flicked lighter
- Elswick thug attacked girlfriend with mop handle and smashed through her window armed with a knife
