Man threatened burglary victim with syringe when she went to question him at a 'crack den' about some stolen goods

The two women had gone to a "crack den" to speak to Craig Dixon about the break in, where property including an X-Box and controller had been taken.

Newcastle Crown Court heard both women were left "in fear" when the 34-year-old produced a syringe, which he had been using to take cocaine intravenously, and pointed the needle towards them.

Prosecutor Chris Baker told the court the women had gone to a house in Horden on December 27 to speak to Dixon in the early evening.

Mr Baker told the court: "They found the defendant there and wanted to speak to him about the stolen articles.

"During that meeting the defendant produced a syringe and held the needle towards them.

"Both of them were in fear as a result of what the defendant did."

The court heard two days after the confrontation, the burglary victim spotted Dixon in the street in Horden while she was out with her boyfriend.

Mr Baker said there was an altercation between the two men and the boyfriend's finger was cut after Dixon pulled out a steak knife.

Mr Baker added: "He described punching Mr Dixon a number of times and that Mr Dixon fell to the ground."

Dixon, of no fixed address, admitted handling stolen goods that were taken in the break in but was cleared of burglary.

He pleaded guilty to affray and having an article with a blade in relation to the confrontations.

Judge James Adkin sentenced him to ten and a half months behind bars.

The judge told him: "You were in possession of a syringe which you used to threaten.

"The complainant said she was thinking you might stab her and she might acquire an infection."

Judge Adkin added: "It is concerning you were carrying two different weapons within two days."

Jane Waugh, defending, said the women had confronted Dixon at a "crack den, where the defendant was taking cocaine intravenously".

She added: "He opened the door, he didn't step over the threshold.

"He does accept he had the syringe in his mouth, he had just taken cocaine intravenously."

Miss Waugh said Dixon pulled out the knife during the confrontation two days later to "try and deter the attack continuing".

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