WE'VE rounded up the latest court cases concerning the region heard at Northumberland's courts.

The cases appeared in this week's Hexham Courant or online.

Ashignton

A “dangerous” paedophile teacher who tricked young teenage boys into filming themselves performing sex acts has been jailed for 17 years.

Dean Davidson, 38, admitted 18 sexual offences over 10 years, including possession of indecent images of children, online exploitation of young teenagers and indecently touching boys.

The defendant, of Brockwood Court, Ashington, Northumberland, who taught in a number of schools in the North East of England, “posed as a good-looking blonde girl” online, one of his victims said.

In other cases he used a male alter-ego, depending on the sexuality of his young victims, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

The disgraced defendant held his head in his hands during the lengthy sentencing hearing, during which statements from 27 victims were heard.

Andrew Epsley, prosecuting, said Davidson was “a dangerous offender” who tricked some of his victims, now adults, after contacting them on social media.

In some cases, he posed as a sexually adventurous older girl, and cajoled them into performing sexual acts on camera.

Davidson, without their knowledge, made recordings of those videos, the court heard.

One told the court he had remained in contact for years with what he thought was a woman, but which was actually Davidson.

The man only realised the deception when detectives approached him and showed him video of himself as a boy aged around 13 performing sex acts.

Officers had recovered the video from Davidson’s electronic devices.

The victim said: “I had been enticed by who I thought was a girl showing me attention at a very early age.

“Over the years it had been casual, friendly, on occasions flirtatious and sexual.

“I feel deceived and misled.”

Another victim said he felt anxious in public in case Davidson had shared videos of him as a young teen, adding he felt “violated”.

And another said he recalled making friends online with that he thought was a girl who asked him to do “weird things – stuff I would never dream of doing as an adult”.

David Comb, defending, said Davidson was “ashamed and upset” by his conduct.

He added: “He genuinely enjoyed his work and he had a commitment to it, but he was also a confused, isolated and closeted young man who had been unable to establish or maintain healthy relationships with adults.”

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to serve 17 years in jail, with a six-year extended period.

Referring to his victims, she said: “Several of them have described their lives, as a result, are in ruins.”

Hexham

A NEW trial date has been set for a man charged with causing a woman harassment, alarm or distress.

Joseph Scott Rumney (45), of Saint Pauls Road, Hexham, was due to face trial on Friday (July 2) in relation to an incident alleged to have taken place in Gibson Fields, Hexham, on September 29 2019.

Rumney was expected to stand trial at Newcastle Magistrates' Court but the trial was vacated due to over-listing.

A new trial date has been set for November 2.

Rumney denies a charge of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress.

He remains on bail

Prudhoe

A man from Prudhoe has been banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel while drunk.

Lewis Brown, 29, was driving his BMW X5 in the car park of The Gate, Newcastle, when he was stopped by police on May 28 2021.

Brown, of Broomhill Road, Prudhoe, was breathalised and found to have 50 mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg/100ml.

He pleaded guilty to drink driving and was sentenced by Newcastle magistrates.

Magistrates banned him from the road for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £200 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.