One sentence summary – Seven members of an organized crime gang have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a series of ram raids, reprisal attacks, and other crimes that brought violence and destruction to communities in Horden and Hartlepool, with the gang leader recruiting trusted allies to participate in or assist in the crimes, endangering lives and escalating a confrontation and shooting, while the use of digital and forensic investigative techniques played a crucial role in gathering evidence against them, resulting in guilty pleas and reduced sentences, with one gang member found to be using his home as a storage facility for drugs.
At a glance
- Seven members of an organized crime gang sentenced to lengthy prison terms
- Crimes brought violence and destruction to communities in Horden and Hartlepool
- Gang involved in ram raids, reprisal attacks, and arson
- Attacks were part of an ongoing feud with a rival gang
- Arrest made possible through digital and forensic investigative techniques
The details
Seven members of an organized crime gang have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Their crimes brought violence and destruction to communities in Horden and Hartlepool.
The gang members were involved in a series of ram raids and reprisal attacks.
These attacks were part of an ongoing feud with a rival gang.
James Stephenson, the gang leader, recruited trusted allies to participate in or assist in the crimes.
One incident involved a coordinated ram-raid attack and arson on a house associated with a rival gang member.
This act endangered the lives of a woman and young children.
In response to a burglary at one of the gang members’ homes, Stephenson organized a counter-offensive.
This counter-offensive escalated into a confrontation and shooting.
The gang’s crimes also included a car chase through east Durham.
The vehicles involved in the chase were later found burned out in Hartlepool and Coxhoe.
The arrest of all seven gang members was made possible through the use of digital and forensic investigative techniques.
These techniques were instrumental in gathering evidence against them within a few weeks.
Initially, the gang members refused to answer police questions.
They eventually pleaded guilty when the case was set for trial.
Their guilty pleas resulted in a 10% reduction in their sentences.
The gang members admitted to various charges, including conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of drugs, and arson.
During the trial, the judge described the case as a “serious and organized criminality” stemming from a feud.
The exact cause of the feud remains unclear.
One gang member, Wayne Griffin, was found to be using his home as a storage facility for tens of thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs.
Griffin received a sentence of 19 years and nine months.
The other gang members received sentences ranging from five years and four months to 16 years and nine months.
The judge commended the officers involved in the investigation.
Specifically, the contributions of Detective Sergeant Samantha Young and Detective Constable Helen Tindale were highlighted.
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| thenorthernecho.co.uk |
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| – Seven members of an organised crime gang have been given long jail sentences for their roles in bringing violence and destruction to communities in Horden and Hartlepool. – |
| The gang was involved in tit-for-tat ram raids and reprisal attacks as part of a long-running feud with a rival gang. – Gang leader James Stephenson recruited trusted allies to participate in or assist in the crimes. – |
| The gang carried out a coordinated ram-raid attack and car arson on a house linked to a rival gang member, endangering the lives of a woman and young children. |
| – In response to a burglary on one of the gang member’s homes, Stephenson organized a counter-offensive that led to a confrontation and shooting. – |
| The crimes involved a car chase through east Durham, and the vehicles used were later found burned out in Hartlepool and Coxhoe. – Digital and forensic investigative techniques led to the arrest of all seven gang members within a few weeks. – |
| The gang members initially refused to answer police questions but eventually pleaded guilty when the case was listed for trial. – |
| The defendants received 10% discounts on their sentences due to their guilty pleas. – |
| The gang members admitted various charges, including conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of drugs, and arson. – |
| The judge described the case as a “serious and organised criminality arising out of a feud” and stated that the precise reason for the feud remains unclear. – |
| One gang member, Wayne Griffin, was found to be using his home to store tens of thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs. |
| – Griffin received a total sentence of 19 years and nine months, while the other gang members received sentences ranging from five years and four months to 16 years and nine months. – |
| The judge commended the officers involved in the inquiry, specifically Detective Sergeant Samantha Young and Detective Constable Helen Tindale. |
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