Six people sentenced with affray following the death of Gordon Gault
Six young people sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for affray, following the death of 14-year-old Gordon Gault.
Last updated 22nd Mar 2024
Six young people have been sentenced after pleading guilty to affray following their involvement in an incident where a 14-year-old boy died.
Gordon Gault was stabbed after a series of tit-for-tat violence in the Elswick area of Newcastle in November 2022.
On the evening of November 9, 2022, emergency services attended the Elswick area following a report of an assault.
There they found 14-year-old Gordon Gault with a single stab wound to his upper right arm. Gordon died in hospital six days later.
After the attack, an investigation was launched by Northumbria Police, with officers piecing together exactly what had happened.
It became clear that Gordon had been killed after a dispute between two groups culminated in this violence.
Subsequently, following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in January this year Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty, both aged 18, were convicted of Gordon’s manslaughter.
They were also found guilty of wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm in relation to a second victim, who suffered an injury to his back.
Neto, 18, of Manchester Road East, Little Hulton, admitted wounding Gordon but claimed it was in self-defence.
Co-accused Natty, also 18, of Eastgarth, in Newcastle, supplied Neto with the machete used in the attack.
Neto was jailed for nine years and two months, while Natty received a sentence of two years and eight months.
Last month at Newcastle Crown Court, six people aligned to the same group as Gordon, who were due to stand trial over their alleged involvement in the disorder on the night, pleaded guilty to affray.
Five teenagers and one man, part of the “North Group”, which included Gordon, received a range of sentences at Newcastle Crown Court:
• Liam Thompson, 28, jailed for 27-months.
• Jack Hardy, 18, 11 months detention suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work.
• Raymond Matthew, 18, 11 months detention suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work.
• 17-year-old boy, 12-month referral order.
• 17-year-old boy, intensive referral order for 6-months
• 16-year-old boy, standard 9-month referral order
Following the conclusion of the hearing, the Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Matt Steel, of Northumbria Police, said: “The truly devastating impact of violence is clear for all to see with the tragic death of Gordon and our thoughts very much continue to be with his loved ones.
“Gordon was killed after an escalating dispute culminated in violence, with two teenagers subsequently being convicted of his manslaughter and both offenders handed prison sentences.
“A group of people who admitted their part in the disorder which occurred on the evening of 9 November, 2022, have now been sentenced.”
He added: “Violence destroys lives and has absolutely no place whatsoever in our communities.
“As a Force, we are absolutely committed to reducing the impact of this type of offending through a range of tactics.
“This includes targeting those who choose to carry weapons and working with our partner organisations to prevent incidents by educating people about the dangers and consequences of doing so.
“Our message to anyone who does pick up a weapon or involves themselves in violence remains very simple – think again before you do so.
“We urge people to make that choice today, not only for your sake but for your friends and your family too.”