Bruce Unwin

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Bruce Unwin

Jordan Lee was said to have fallen out with his drinking companion after he made a remark threatening to set light to the home of the defendant’s sister, in Consett. Durham Crown Court heard that Lee confronted the other man before punching him three times, throwing him onto the road, in Allison Street, and taking a flying leap from the pavement to stamp on his head.

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Bruce Unwin

The ex-officer sent messages and images of himself on Snapchat in bed, in his underwear, of his crotch and genital area - in one case in an obvious state of semi-arousal. The 25-year-old, who quit the force last week, just days before the start of a police misconduct hearing, denied all of the allegations. But a panel found a gross misconduct allegation “proven” against him, after a two-day hearing in Durham, which went ahead in his absence this week.

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Bruce Unwin

The recently resigned now ex-constable is facing potential formal dismissal from the force, potentially barring him from working with any force, depending on the outcome of a police professional standards misconduct hearing, if found guilty of gross misconduct. It began in the former officer’s absence in Durham today (Monday May 19), despite him previously denying the misconduct or gross misconduct allegations.

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Bruce Unwin

9 1/1 Burglars, robbers, a rapist and an arsonist were among the defendants jailed in cases at Durham Crown Court, so far this month. As with courts across the country, judges sitting at Durham are busy dealing with the heavy case backlog, against a backdrop of almost full prison facilities in the region. But that has not deterred them from sending defendants in serious cases "down the steps" to begin serving sentences of various lengths.

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Bruce Unwin

Nathan Egan, 26, stored the offending images on a hidden application on his phone, not immediately visible on examination, and would view them while using cannabis. Durham Crown Court heard that expert analysis of the phone revealed the contents and a search history showing numerous requests for paedophilic material.