How motorbike crash lead to Newton Aycliffe stabbing

The catalyst that sparked a series of events happened when Bobby John Grimes, 13, and Wayne Arthur Hodgson, 18, died when they were hit by a car after swerving into oncoming traffic. Neither teenager was wearing a helmet when they suffered fatal injuries shortly after noon on Friday, July 5, 2024, near Rushyford, County Durham. And a year later, the younger rider's older brother Alfie Grimes was caught on CCTV as he stabbed his dad and uncle when a funeral wake in Newton Aycliffe descended into violence.[1]

Bobby Grimes, 13, and Wayne Hodgson, 13, died after the motorcycle they were on collided with a car The tragic events started when 18-year-old Hodgson was driving the scooter with his younger friend Bobby riding pillion on the back when they clipped the side of a car and went into the path of an oncoming Audi. Paramedics including the air ambulance attended but Wayne was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bobby suffered an "unsurvivable" brain injury, an inquest was told, and he died at 9.19pm that evening at the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle.[2] The brother of Bobby Grimes, Alfie, and bunch of a "demonic Munchkins" were caught up in a stabbing incident in Ferryhill on March 16 last year. The 18-year-old was not responsible for inflicting the stab wound, but a judge described how his 'presence and behaviour while outside the pub was aggressive and intimidatory until the police arrived'.

Grimes pleaded guilty to affray after the knife victim told jurors that the injuries were inflicted earlier in the disturbance. Stuart Cowell was caught on CCTV being passed the knife before attempting to stab Chad Carmedy outside The Greyhound pub.[3] Stuart Cowell (Image: Durham Constabulary)

And as an outpouring of grief continued to sweep through the tight-knit community of the friends of the two teenagers, who died in the motorbike crash, a memorial event to mark the day when Mr Hodgson was due to turn 19 attracted huge support in Newton Aycliffe. However, tragedy struck again when Cameron Stewart died in a bike crash following a collision with a car on Williamfield Way on June 3 at the same time. The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering fatal chest injuries.[4]

An inquest into his death will take place later this month. Flowers, balloons and written tributes were placed on the corner of Williamfield Way and Kirkstone Place after Cameron's death. Cameron Stewart (Image: HANDOUT/DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

Mr Stewart's funeral took place on July 16 last year when friend and family turned out to pay their respects, but the wake at the Aviator Sports and Live Lounge descended into violence. Alfie Grimes, who had been out of custody for four days, became embroiled in a violent dispute with his father, Dwayne, and uncle John Grimes. CCTV footage captured witnesses screaming 'Alfie, stop it' during the melee, but the teenager denied starting the trouble.

Aviator Sports and Live Lounge, in Newton Aycliffe (Image: The Northern Echo) Recorder Peter Makepeace, who sentenced Grimes on Friday, January 9, described the teenager's version of events as 'nonsensical' at he sentenced him for affray. Following the stabbing outside the Newton Aycliffe bar, Grimes was initially charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of affray after he maintained he had acted in self-defence.

And while the teenager was on remand for the knife attack, one of his co-accused from the violence outside the pub in Ferryhill died in a car crash. Harley Patterson (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE) Harley Patterson was behind the wheel of a silver Ford C-Max when he crashed on the A-road heading southbound between the A179 and the Elwick turn off on Saturday, December 13.[5]

The 17-year-old suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 11pm, and the road was closed throughout the night due to the seriousness of the incident. As the dust settled on the carnage and heartbreak which spread throughout this group of friends and families, Alfie Grime was expecting to be picked up at the prison gates by his father just six months after he had stabbed him twice in the abdomen. Last Friday, Grimes, of Nash Grove, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to affray on March 16 and a second charge of affray from July 16.

The teenager, formerly of Newton Aycliffe, was sentenced to an 18-month community order with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement order, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work attached.

References

1. ^ And a year later, the younger rider's older brother Alfie Grimes was caught on CCTV as he stabbed his dad and uncle when a funeral wake in Newton Aycliffe descended into violence. (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
2. ^ Bobby suffered an "unsurvivable" brain injury, an inquest was told, and he died at 9.19pm that evening at the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle. (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Stuart Cowell was caught on CCTV being passed the knife before attempting to stab Chad Carmedy outside The Greyhound pub. (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
4. ^ The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering fatal chest injuries. (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Harley Patterson was behind the wheel of a silver Ford C-Max when he crashed on the A-road heading southbound between the A179 and the Elwick turn off on Saturday, December 13. (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)