Four men sentenced to over 20 years for violent attacks

A group of men responsible for a string of violence and burglaries in Hartlepool, have been sentenced to 22 years between them.

Alan Metcalfe, John Robbins, Jake Honour and David Halcrow were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Thursday 23 April, for the offences which include a stabbing and a vicious attack on a man.

John Robbins, 40, and David Halcrow , 47, both from Hartlepool, were sentenced for several offences, including the stabbing at an address on Glastonbury Walk in the town on 21 October last year.

The victim, a man in his 60s, has been left a shadow of his former self, who can no longer work following the ordeal.

The pair punched and kicked him inside of the house, before throwing a blanket over his head and dragging him to the living room where he was stabbed to his thigh. Robbins then instructed Halcrow to “finish him” before he was stabbed a second time.

Officers and paramedics found him seriously injured in a pool of blood, and he was rushed to James Cook University Hospital, after losing one and a half litres of blood from an 8cm deep wound.

Robbins of Tiverton Grove in the town, and Halcrow of Murray Street, were found guilty of wounding with intent following a trial in February.

John Robbins also took part in another vicious assault on a man on 16 April last year, along with Alan Metcalfe, 27, and Jake Honour, 21, as part of a robbery to get money for drugs.

The men had been driving in a bar with their victim before they attacked him outside, punching and kicking him, filming the assault on a mobile phone.

The victim suffered multiple fractures to his face, requiring surgery where plates and screws were fitted. The man has been left unable to leave his home since the attack.

When the victim’s aunt challenged Metcalfe about the attack, he threatened to petrol bomb her home.

In addition to the violent offences, Alan Metcalfe, from South Bank, was also sentenced for a burglary in Cameron Road last May.

Robbins’ sentence included a burglary in Hartlepool last March, where he stole two guitars worth around £2,000.

Jake Honour, of Tiverton Grove, also admitted to stealing alcohol from the staff area of a shop on October 21 last year.

John Robbins was sentenced to nine years, plus three years on extended licence due to being classed as a dangerous offender.

Alan Metcalfe was sentenced to five years in prison, and David Halcrow and Jake Honour were each sentenced to four years.

Detective Constable Robyn Smith, who investigated the stabbing, said: “All four of these men have been involved in horrendous violent assaults, and are a danger to the town.

“The victims of these attacks will live with the horrors of this abhorrent violence for years to come. Thankfully these men will now be behind bars for some time, which I hope will being some kind of peace to their victims.”