Newcastle Crown Court Sentencing Results

Serge Maudsley assisted in managing a County Lines network, including possession with intent to supply heroin, as part of an operation that trafficked nearly five kilos of cocaine and heroin from Cheshire and Merseyside to the North East between January 2018 and September 2020, generating nearly £500,000.

Dilovan Sindi entered a barber shop on May 23, 2023, carrying a can of petrol. He poured petrol over furniture and several people inside, then ignited it with a lighter, causing an explosion. This resulted in serious burn injuries to himself and others, including one victim with 65 per cent burns who required months of hospital treatment. A child and his father suffered psychological effects, and the incident stemmed from Sindi's belief in a financial interest in the business.

Ben Hughes, who had only known Laura Robson for two days, attacked her in his flat on Appledore Close, Greenside, Gateshead. The incident began around 9pm with an argument, escalating to Hughes choking and stabbing her at least 27 times with a kitchen knife. Laura was heard screaming for help and stating she was going to die, while Hughes responded that she would bleed out and no one would help. A neighbour recorded the noises and contacted the police, who arrived to find Hughes had changed clothes, hidden the weapon, and washed off blood.

Thomas Kwan, a 53-year-old GP, devised an elaborate plan to murder his mother's partner, Patrick O'Hara, by injecting him with iodomethane, a toxic substance, to secure his mother's inheritance. He forged letters from a fake nursing team, disguised himself, and administered the poison on 22 January 2024, posing as a nurse giving a Covid booster. This led to Mr O'Hara suffering severe pain, necrotising fasciitis, multiple surgeries, and ongoing physical scars and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Alistair Paylor acted as a drug mule, attempting to smuggle £8.5 million worth of cocaine through Newcastle Airport from Mexico. He carried two large suitcases containing 25.18 kilos of 97% pure cocaine and agreed to do so to settle his debts. He was questioned by Border Force upon arrival.

Reece Greenwood, 31, a father-to-be, live-streamed himself during riots in Sunderland, where he shouted racial slurs, encouraged rioters, and verbally abused police officers.

Riley Adey, 19, was filmed waving from the top of an overturned car, looting fire extinguishers from a vandalised business, and repeatedly throwing missiles, including a vape, a brick, and a scaffolding pole, at officers during riots in Sunderland on August 4.

Carlos Neto stabbed Gordon Gault, 14, in the arm with a machete during a gang-related attack while Gordon was riding on the back of a friend's e-bike in Newcastle's West End in November 2022, leading to Gordon's death six days later.

Lawson Natty supplied the machete used in the attack where Gordon Gault, 14, was stabbed in the arm during a gang-related incident in Newcastle's West End in November 2022, resulting in Gordon's death six days later.

Lawon Natty was involved in a violent clash between rival groups near Elswick Park in Newcastle's West End in November 2022, which resulted in the stabbing of 14-year-old Gordon Gault with a machete, causing severe injuries that led to Gordon's death six days later.

Ryan Grundy engaged in multiple acts of domestic violence against Gemma Laidler, including slapping her during an argument on August 10, 2022, throwing her to the floor on October 4, 2022, headbutting and hitting her on July 25, 2023, during which she tried to escape and contacted a neighbour for help, and harassing her by sending repeated pleading emails between November 2023 and December 30, 2023, despite her requests to stop.

George Ormond, who was 62 at the time of reporting, abused his position as a youth team worker for Newcastle United, committing sex abuse offences against players over a 25-year period.