Teenager pleads guilty to Chesterton murder

A teenager has pleaded guilty to the murder of a man in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The 17-year-old, from Newcastle, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to the murder of Jack Sumner in a hearing at Stafford Crown Court today (May 10).

The court heard that the teenager was initially arrested for GBH following the incident in Chesterton on 25 June.

Officers attended an address in Victoria Street, Chesterton, following reports from local residents that a man struck another man with a weapon before running off, just after 7pm.

The weapon was described as a sword or metal bar. Mr Sumner, who was 22, had been struck to the head and suffered a fractured skull and lacerations.

A firearms unit was deployed to the area and the teenager was found hiding in a loft at a nearby property and arrested, initially for wounding.

Sadly, Mr Sumner passed away in hospital on 14 October. The teenager, who will be sentenced on 18 June at Stafford Crown Court, was then charged with murder.

Detective Sergeant Georgina Pope, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This was a violent attack which has tragically led to the loss of a young man’s life.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Sumner’s family and we thank the local community for their support in dealing with the incident and helping us bring the case before the court.”