A Darlington police chase that ended in a car rolling on Tornado Way led to an 18-year-old being locked up after officers discovered a machete tucked in his jacket. The defendant, Rio Jamison, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and to offences of theft and battery from a separate incident in Middlesbrough.
What happened in Darlington
Prosecutors told Teesside Crown Court that the incident in Darlington began after a black Kia Sportage was used to ram a parked Nissan Qashqai outside a woman’s home, pushing the victim’s car into the property. The Kia drove away and was later pursued by police. The pursuit ended when the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned, rolling through a hedge on Tornado Way.
"It is worth pointing out that the defendant was not the driver,"
Officers who approached the overturned vehicle found Jamison in the passenger seat with the weapon concealed in his jacket. The court was told that Jamison informed police promptly that he had a weapon.
Related offences and background
In addition to the bladed-article charge, Jamison admitted offences arising from an incident in Middlesbrough on 28 December last year in which he and others attacked a man and took his bank card while the victim’s sister attempted to intervene. The charges from that encounter were theft and battery.
The court heard Jamison has an existing criminal record, with ten convictions for 22 offences, including robbery and burglary, and that at the time of the recent offending he was subject to an 18-month conditional discharge for assaulting four emergency workers.
Sentence and mitigation
Jamison, of Kildale Court, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article on 6 January and to the theft and battery from 28 December. He had been held on remand since his arrest on 6 January.
A defence lawyer drew attention to Jamison’s youth and a pre-sentence report which, the court heard, raised concerns about maturity and suggested possible ADHD that may affect impulsivity.
| Offence | Plea |
|---|---|
| Possession of a bladed article (machete) | Guilty (pleaded 6 January) |
| Theft and battery (Middlesbrough, 28 Dec) | Guilty |
Recorder Ayesha Smart imposed a total custodial term of ten months to be served in a young offenders’ institute for all offences. The judge noted Jamison’s age and lengthy criminal history during sentencing.
Local impact and policing
The case highlights several issues for Darlington and neighbouring communities: the dangers posed by high-speed pursuits through residential areas, the presence of bladed weapons, and the wider consequences for victims whose property was damaged. Residents displaced by the shunting of a car into a home will be seeking reassurance about safety and about how such incidents are prevented in future.
- Incident involved vehicle collision outside a home and a police pursuit ending on Tornado Way.
- Weapon recovered was a machete found on the passenger, Jamison, who is not the driver.
- Defendant received a cumulative sentence of ten months in a young offenders’ institute.
Police and local agencies will continue to manage the aftermath for those affected. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the courts' approach to offences involving weapons and the ongoing challenge of preventing repeat offending among young people in the Teesside and Darlington areas.
