North East - Crime in the news

• Sex cult leader convicted

  A so-called sex cult leader has been sentenced to three years in jail for forcing his ex to engage in sexual acts with other men. [03 December 2008]

• Chinese student murderer remanded

  A man has been remanded after making a crown court appearance charged with the murders of a Chinese couple in Newcastle. [ 10 November 2008]

• Man killed by gang

  A man has been killed and his two-year old son seriously injured after a hit-and-run crash in Bishop Auckland. [13 October 2008]

• Man set on fire in attack

  A man is in a critical condition after he was set alight in County Durham. [30 September 2008]

• Paedophile pilot launched

  A new scheme will mean that parents can find out if anyone with access to their children is a sex offender. [15 September 2008]

• Held at gunpoint for chips

  A teenager has been threatened with an air rifle by a youth who demanded his takeaway food. [15 September 2008]

• Beaten grandfather dies

  A 73-year old man who was badly beaten outside a pub in County Durham has died in hospital. [8 September 2008]

• Murdered students in Newcastle

  Police will release more information today about two Chinese students found murdered in a flat in Newcastle. [11 August 2008]

• Help for victims of sexual violence

  A new group has been set up to help victims of sexual violence in Teesside. [5 August 2008]

• Bowling to beat crime

  Throughout the month of July, Crimestoppers teamed up with the Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association (TBPA) to promote the charity through a ‘111' competition. [5 August 2008]

• Thanks a Million!

  Crimestoppers has received its one millionth actionable call at its 24:7 call centre. The call was about a knife crime. [29 July 2008]

• Man arrested for Hartlepool murder

  A man has been arrested over the murder of a man who was found dead in the street in Teesside.[21 July 2008]

• Shadow CS anti-gun and knife week continues

  Following the recent high profile reports of gun and knife crime among young people in the media, Crimestoppers' youth website www.shadowcs.co.uk for 11-16 year olds is running an anti-gun and knife week this week. [1 July 2008]

• Farm diesel raid causes death and injury

  A wife has died and her son seriously injured after a man tried to steal fuel from their County Durham farm. [23 June 2008]

• Car theft partners face charges after a year of crime

  Two County Durham men have been charged in connection with a year-long car theft operation. [5 June 2008]

• Missing mother traced to London

  Northumbria Police have traced a missing Wearside mother to the Harlsden area of London. [29 May 2008]

• Teenager killed by police car

  A 16-year old girl has been hit and killed by a marked police car in Newcastle. [20 May 2008]

• Family dog hammered and stabbed to death

  A 16-year-old boy has to face a four-month detention and training order for killing his family's Staffordshire bull terrier. [13 May 2008]

• 19-year-old shooter charged

  A man has been charged for an attempted murder incident in County Durham. [19 May 2008]

• Family dog hammered and stabbed to death

  A 16-year old boy faces a four-month detention and training order for killing his family's Staffordshire bull terrier. [13th May 2008]

• Stockton drugs crackdown

  Three cars have been seized and a man has been arrested for possessing crack cocaine in a police operation targeting drug dealing. [24th April 2008]

• 19-year old admits  killing brother

  A 19-year old from Teesside has admitted to stabbing his brother to death at the home they shared. [17th April 2008]

• Teenager gets life for murder

  A 15-year old girl who stabbed an 18-year old mother to death following an alcohol and cocaine binge has been sentenced to life in prison. [8th April 2008]

• Man cleared after post-rape suicide

  A man accused of raping a Teesside woman, who later killed herself, has had the charges against him dropped. [4th April 2008]

• Newcastle stabbing CCTV released

  CCTV footage has been released following the murder of 22-year old Paul Gilbert in Byker. [28th March 2008]

• 23 Middlesborough children in danger of forced marriages

  Up to 23 children have gone missing from schools in Middlesborough. Authorities fear that this may be because they have been forced into marriages. [12th March 2008]

• County Durham residents call for CCTV that can see in the dark

  Residents in Willington are demanding infrared cameras in the High Street, claiming that street cameras that are unable to see in the dark are ineffective in combating crime. [12th March 2008]

• Reward offered to catch arsonists

  A County Durham businesswoman is offering a £5,000 reward to catch arsonists who started a fire at some stables, which killed two horses and a donkey. [26th February 2008]

• Teesside fugitive returns to court after seven years on the run

  A young man who was moved away from Teesside by his Mum to keep him out of trouble, has finally made court appearances he was due seven years ago. [7th February 2008]

• Ice cream man's assets seized

  An ice-cream man, who earns as little as £7,500 per year from his ice cream business, has had £600,000 of assets derived from the proceeds of crime, seized by the courts. [5th February 2008]

• Metal thefts drop by 70%

  During a two week operation targeting lead and copper thefts in Newcastle there was a 70% reduction in the crime. [31st January 2008]