Dead baby dad to go back to prison
MAN HAD A KNIFE AND DRUGS
A DAD who was previously jailed over the death of his baby daughter was found in the street with a knife and drugs.
Paul Nicholson was locked up for eight years alongside his partner Victoria Burke in 2015 after the pair were convicted of causing or allowing the death of their four-month-old child, Tequiilah Burke.
A court at the time heard that the vulnerable baby was picked up by the leg, shaken and banged off a hard surface by Burke or Nicholson at their West Denton home, probably while they rowed with each other.
She suffered fatal head injuries and died in hospital. Both parents denied any involvement in her death but were convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
Before he was sentenced, Nicholson went on the run but was found a week later in the Byker area and jailed for eight years, of which he served half.
But less than 12 months after his release, Nicholson is back behind bars after he was caught carrying a knife and the drug Spice in Newcastle city centre.
Ian Martin, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said members of the public alerted police to Nicholson on Clayton Street on November 24 this year.
“The officers approached the defendant to conduct a drugs search, during the process of which the Stanley knife and drugs were recovered,” Mr Martin continued.
The court heard that Nicholson had a previous conviction for carrying a knife from 2015, so faced the mandatory sixmonth prison sentence.
Kate Matthews, mitigating, said Nicholson, of Scrogg Road, Walker, Newcastle, was “distressed” at finding himself back before a court and still denied being involved in his daughter’s death.
The solicitor said that he had been released from prison in March this year and was living in the Middlesbrough area without any problems until he was moved back to Newcastle.
“Mr Nicholson didn’t want to go back,” Ms Matthews continued. “He knows people here and was receiving serious threats.
“He tried to get moved away but wasn’t getting anywhere. He had the knife in his pocket because he was so terrified for his life.
“He’s terrified of going back to HMP Durham where a lot of people know him.”
Nicholson, who pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and possession of a class B drug, was visibly upset in the dock and appeared at times to cry as he strode from side to side.
Jailing Nicholson, who has also been recalled to prison, for six months, Judge Paul Currer said: “You pleaded guilty to a serious offence. Having a knife in your possession to potentially use to defend yourself is a serious offence.
“You know it’s a serious office because you committed a similar offence in 2015.”
The judge added: “This is made worse as you committed the offence while on licence. As a result, you will be recalled to prison.”