Criminal cases that the Crown Prosecution Service take to court are in the news every day. This section also covers many issues related to our work, including violence against women and girls, hate crime, support for victims and witnesses, statistics, and speeches by the Director of Public Prosecutions and other senior staff.
Latest news
You can find our latest news stories here and search for older stories. You can also find more information about high-profile cases and the work of the CPS.
Working with the media
To make criminal court reporting more open, the CPS, police, and media representatives created a joint protocol (agreement) for working together. We are currently working on an updated version of the protocol.
Showing 21 - 30 of 55 results for area "North East"
A Sunderland man has become the first person to be convicted of riot following the recent disorder across the UK.Kieran Usher, 32, of Bramwell Road, Hendon, today pleaded guilty to a charge of riot at Newcastle Crown Court in relation to his role in the Sunderland disorder on 2 August. The…
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of riot against Ashley Mark Wilkinson, 35, in relation to the disorder that took place in Sunderland on 2 August this year.Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: “The defendant previously faced a…
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of riot against Brian Gilby, 29, in relation to the disorder that took place in Sunderland on 2 August this year.Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: “Brian Gilby had previously faced a charge…
A youth who stabbed a schoolgirl to death outside of a Hexham pizza shop has been convicted of her murder at Newcastle Crown Court today.The 17-year-old, who was only 16 at the time of the attack, was responsible for a brutal and sustained knife attack on Holly Newton, 15, of Haltwhistle, in…
Gale Gilchrist, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of riot against Kieran Usher, 32, in relation to disorder that took place in Sunderland on 2 August.“This defendant is one of a number of individuals who we expect will be charged…
Gale Gilchrist, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East, said: “Following a review of further evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has today laid a charge of riot in relation to a 15-year-old boy, following disorder that took place in Sunderland on August 2.“This is the first such charge to be…
UPDATE: James Aspin pleaded guilty to distributing a recording intending to stir up religious hatred and was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 18 November 2024 to a 20 month prison term. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Northumbria Police to charge James Aspin, 34, with…
Four violent offenders, who each played a role in the harmful disorder in Sunderland city centre last weekend, have been jailed today at Newcastle Crown Court.Leanne Hodgson, 43, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and was sentenced to two and a…
Update: This press release was updated on 8 August 2024 to include the sentencing of Shirbon, Gatenby and HollidayThe first prison sentences have been handed down for those involved in one of the recent incidents of disorder in the North East of England.Ryan Sheers, 28, of Powlett Road, Hartlepool,…
Four men who were involved in a series of ammonia attacks across Tyneside that left one man dead have been sentenced to life imprisonment today at Newcastle Crown Court.The group had previously been found guilty after trial of charges relating to the series of attacks, which were carried out at…
Press ReleaseViolent crimeNorth East
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If you are a national or international journalist with a media enquiry, you can contact the CPS Press Office on 020 3357 0906 or email [email protected] (9am-5pm weekdays only).
For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 3357 0906 to reach the duty press officer.
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Media protocol
To ensure greater openness in the reporting of criminal proceedings, the CPS, the police and media representatives developed a joint protocol for working together. We are currently in the process of updating the protocol.
