TikTok stalker, child sex predator jailed and the Halloween burglar - South Tyneside crime round-up

As ever, crime never stops across South Shields and South Tyneside - and it’s fair to say, it never pays either, as these criminals found out the hard way.

Here’s every story we’ve published from the dock and beyond, including the shocking case of a South Shields paedophile nabbed by police and a TikTok stalker.

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South Shields sexual predator jailed for arranging to watch child sex abuse

A child sexual predator has been jailed – after arranging to watch the sexual abuse of a child online.

Tony Bonner, 62, is now behind bars after he was caught making arrangements to watch a live stream of a 12-year-old girl being sexually abused.

In 2023, Bonner engaged in communication with someone online who he believed had access to children overseas who he could watch being sexually assaulted via live stream and eventually meet.

However, what he didn’t realise was he was actually speaking to a police officer who was closing in through their investigation.

Bonner was subsequently charged with arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possession of indecent images of a child.

Faced with the overwhelming evidence against him, Bonner eventually pleaded guilty to all charges. He was sentenced to four years in prison and a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Ex-partner threatened to torch car

A South Tyneside dad who shouted abuse at his former partner and threatened to torch her motor in an outburst in front of their child has been spared jail.

Billy Swan, 38, of Landseer Gardens, Whiteleas, pulled alongside her in his gold Range Rover on Saturday, September 14, 2024, called her a “slag” and warned, “The van’s getting burnt out”.

His behaviour was sparked by an encounter minutes earlier between the woman and his new girlfriend outside a shop, borough magistrates heard.

District Judge Zoe Passfield found the case proven on the basis he made threats which made his victim fear violence and which he knew would cause her harassment.

When he returned to court to be sentenced on Monday, April 13, he was jailed for 14 weeks, suspended for 12 months.

The court heard Swan has 17 previous convictions from 30 offences, mainly driving matters.

Dad who assaulted partner while she was holding his child set for sentence

A dad assaulted his partner by grabbing her wrist and pulling her off a sofa as she sat cradling their child at her South Tyneside home, a court heard.

Matthew Ellis, 26, also spat towards her during an emotionally charged incident regarding care of the boy at a property in Hillside Drive, Whitburn, on Wednesday, October 15.

Prosecutors initially also claimed Ellis, of Sycamore Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, kicked her.

But he entered a guilty plea to a charge of assault by beating on the basis he did not, a claim they accepted.

District Judge Zoe Passfield adjourned the case for reports and Ellis is expected to be sentenced at the same court on Monday, May 11.

She granted him bail on condition he has no contact with his victim or his son, save via an approved third party, and does not attend Hillside Drive.

Jail avoided for worker caught with Stanley knife in public in South Shields

A South Tyneside plasterer caught with a Stanley knife in his pocket after exiting his works van with job colleagues has been spared jail.

Robert Hansen, 40, faced a minimum six months behind bars after being convicted of possession of a bladed article but magistrates allowed him to walk free from court.

They heard police spotted Hansen, of Honeysuckle Avenue, South Shields, in a Ford Transit van and followed due to his previous offending.

It drove along Sunderland Road in South Shields, and they approached after it stopped in Mortimer Road on Monday, December 30, 2024.

A search revealed the knife, making it the second time in six years he had committed the offence of having a blade in public.

The dad-of-three denied the crime but was found guilty after a trial in March this year, a ruling which made him subject to a minimum six-month jail term.

Magistrates imposed that but suspended the sentence for 12 months, meaning he kept his liberty, but warned him to take more care with the placement of his work tools.

TikTok stalker hounded ex-work colleague - who was forced to install camera for safety

A South Tyneside stalker who hounded a former work colleague to the point she installed a camera outside her home has been handed a suspended prison term.

Persistent pest Daniel Dyer, 26, made her fear for her safety so much she also changed her work routine and only left her city centre office when in company.

Dyer, of Embleton Avenue, Horsley Hill, South Shields, even self-harmed, telling her in a TikTok message he did so because he was in pain from not being with her.

They briefly worked together at a company in Grey Street, Newcastle, and soon after he left, he contacted her on the social media app, borough magistrates heard.

In a separate incident on Monday, March 2 this year, police found him in possession of a kitchen knife at Newcastle’s Haymarket bus station.

Borough magistrates, who heard he was suffering from poor mental health, jailed him for a total of 12 weeks, suspended for 15 months.

Dyer, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a bladed article and stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

Magistrates jailed Dyer for eight weeks for the bladed article offence and four consecutive weeks for stalking, both suspended.

They also imposed a two-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting the woman or referring to her on social media.

Jarrow pest gets lengthy jail term for breaking order not to contact grandfather

A troublesome grandson who persistently pestered his fed-up step-granddad for cash at night at his South Tyneside home is starting a lengthy prison term.

Scott Atkinson, 39, was caged for 40 weeks for turning up uninvited at the Jarrow property when ordered to stay away by a court until September 2028.

The homeless horror paid no heed to a five-year restraining order against him, imposed by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court in late 2023.

It prohibited him from any contact with his relative except via a solicitor in regard to his inheritance and not to enter Calf Close Lane, his elderly relative’s street.

But the bearded offender went there three times in four weeks in January and February, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

In total, he has breached the order five times, with his presence instilling fear even though he had never threatened, prosecutor Bushra Begum said.

Such was his grandfather’s disquiet he would phone Atkinson at 7pm, knowing if he answered it meant he was settled elsewhere for the night and would leave him alone.

Atkinson pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment - breach of a restraining order.

Rebecca Stephenson, defending, said Atkinson had believed his grandfather was happy to see him and thought they were taking steps towards reconciliation, following a previous jailing.

She added: “The breach does not involve any violence or threats, and when asked to leave, he did so.

“He truly believed that he was building the relationship with his grandfather after he had left prison.

“He was brought up by his grandfather, and they had a good relationship in the past.”

In jailing Atkinson, who must pay £620 court costs and a £187 victim surcharge, magistrates told him his offending had been “persistent” and was domestic in nature.

Burglar left family ‘terrified’ in South Shields Halloween raid

A mum was left "terrified" when a burglar targeted her family home in a Halloween raid.

The woman, who was asleep with her husband while their child slept in another bedroom, was woken up in the early hours of October 31 last year to the sound of someone running down the stairs.

Newcastle Crown Court heard she alerted her husband and when the couple checked their home in South Shields, they discovered items had been moved around. They also found the glass in a rear door had been smashed, with an estimated £500 repair cost.

Lee Hepplewhite, 39, of Hatfield Square, South Shields, later admitted burglary. Hepplewhite also admitted theft in relation to £9,260 worth of tools he took from a works van parked in the same area as the burgled house. He also pleaded guilty to assault on an emergency worker after he kicked out at a custody officer after his arrest.

Hepplewhite, who had a troubled background, had penned an apology letter. An extract of it read: "I would like to apologise for entering this home. I had no intention of causing harm and I understand how this has impacted on the family. I am ashamed of my behaviour."

Recorder Craig Hassall KC sentenced Hepplewhite, who has a criminal record and was under the influence of drugs that night, to a total of 926 days behind bars.