Serial Sunderland menace wrote to judge claiming he was a ‘lovely sweet lad’ before hearing – this was the cutting response

Jake Molloy, who already has 26 convictions on his record, sent a letter to the judge who was due to sentence him for a further nine offences.

Newcastle Crown Court heard in the note, the 19-year-old said: "I know you will have heard all this before but I'm really going to show everyone they are wrong about me, I'm a lovely sweet lad."

But Mr Recorder David Brooke QC told Molloy, who was being sentenced for offences including an attack on a police officer and showering a mum with broken glass when he smashed her window: "You have really got to stop being stupid.

"Describing yourself as a lovely sweet lad won't cut any ice with that police officer or the family who were frightened when you smashed the window.

"You have to realise, if you behave like this there is only one way it can go."

Molloy, of Rosevale Street, Sunderland, had sparked a police chase on May 1 and travelled at speeds of up to 80mph between South Shields and Sunderland, with his girlfriend in the car.

He eventually crashed into a wall in Roker.

When being questioned after the crash, Molloy told police: "I wouldn't have been driving like that if you weren't following me."

While on bail for the offences, Molloy and two females were seen by a resident smashing bottles in the street at Burnville Road in Sunderland.

The court heard Molloy smashed the woman's window and glass "flew into her face".

When police arrived he struggled with an officer, who he punched twice in the head.

Molloy apologised for the offences straight after and said: "I need to stop being stupid and I am sorry for what I have done."

While on bail for the two sets of offences, Molloy was caught driving while disqualified on July 17 and initially gave police his brother's details before admitting who he was.

He was then remanded in custody.

Molloy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, having no insurance, no licence, possessing cannabis, criminal damage, assault on an emergency worker, driving while disqualified and obstructing police,

He has been banned from driving for 19 months and must pass an extended test before he can get behind the wheel again.

Fiona Lamb, defending, said Molloy had provided a character reference to the court from his girlfriend and feels "genuine remorse" for his offending.

Miss Lamb added: "He has had a lot of time to think about things while he has been in custody."

Miss Lamb said Molloy has a job in jail and plans to move away from his hometown when he is released.

She added: "He wants to prove everyone wrong."

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Sunderland Echo website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.sunderlandecho.com/subscriptions to sign up.

You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here: https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/

Thank you.