Eight appear in court following park disturbance

Eight people have appeared in court following a public order incident in a County Durham park.

Officers were deployed to Eden Lane Park, in Peterlee, following reports of a disturbance shortly before 4pm on Saturday, August 30.

Six men, a woman and a boy people were arrested in connection with the incident and were charged with several offences including affray and inciting racial hatred.

All eight individuals appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court this morning (September 2). No pleas were entered.

The defendants are:

• Nicholas Churchman, 36, of Peterlee, was charged with racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was remanded into custody before his next appearance for trial at Durham Crown Court on September 30.
• Adele Horner, 36, of Peterlee, was charged with affray and bailed with conditions. She is next set to appear for trial at Durham Crown Court on September 30.
• Curtis Russell, 23, of Darlington, was charged with affray. He was remanded into custody and is next due to appear for trial at Durham Crown Court to stand trial on September 30.
• Lewis Crow, 30, of Peterlee, was charged with inciting racial hatred. He was remanded into custody and is next expected to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on September 9.
• Melvyn Foley, 51, of Peterlee was charged with affray. He was remanded into custody and is next set to appear for trial at Durham Crown Court on September 30.
• Lee Hall, 43, of Durham is charged with affray and was remanded into custody ahead of a trial at Durham Crown Court on September 30.
• Leighton Lee, 23, of Peterlee was charged with affray. He was remanded into custody and is next due to appear for trial at Durham Crown Court on September 30.
• A 16-year-old boy of Peterlee, who can not be named for legal reasons, was charged with affray and was bailed with conditions. He is next expected to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on September 19.

Please note, this is an active case, and individuals are asked not to speculate on the circumstances, or anyone involved on social media. Doing so could put you in Contempt of Court which is a criminal offence.

For more information on the Contempt of Court Act, please click here https://www.gov.uk/contempt-of-court