Garage owner jailed for drug gang torture

Craig Seales was one of nine people involved in the kidnap and torture of three men

A garage owner who helped a drugs gang torture three men at his business with weapons including a blowtorch has been jailed for more than 10 years.

The victims of the two-hour attack in South Shields were left with broken bones and "devastating" psychological damage having feared they would be killed, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Eight men and a woman have admitted their involvement in the assaults which were over one of the victim's drug debts.

Craig Seales, 38, was jailed for 10 years and four months having admitted false imprisonment and blackmail.

The court heard one of the victims was said to owe money to drug dealer Daniel Lake, 33, who arranged the attack in September 2023.

Daniel Lake will be sentenced later in the month

The man, his "entirely innocent" brother and an associate were collected in a car driven by Samantha Olsen, 36, and were taken to the garage behind Fowler Street at about 18:30 BST on 18 September 2023, the court heard.

Seales, of Rembrandt Avenue in South Shields, provided the "all-important" garage, offered tools which could be used as weapons and suggested the demand for £10,000 be doubled to £20,000, Judge Amanda Rippon said.

The screams of two of the victims were recorded by nearby CCTV cameras while the third man was escorted "bloodied and scared" to his family's home and business to try to get money to pay off the attackers, the judge said.

All three victims were let free shortly before 21:00 BST under the threat of being killed if they did not pay the gang, the court heard.

One man had suffered broken ribs, another a smashed hand and a third was burned with a blow-torch or Bunsen burner, the court heard.

Judge Rippon said injuring the men more seriously "may have defeated the purpose" of the attack, adding: "The plan was plainly to cause very serious fear and that was done in spades".

Craig Seales was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court

In a statement read to the court, the brother who was taken to get money said he feared they were going to be killed and saw weapons laid out on a table including shovels, knives, sledgehammers and acid.

He said he felt "helpless and horrible" watching his brother being tortured and the whole family had had to flee South Shields in the aftermath.

Judge Rippon said the psychological impact on the family had been "devastating" and it was clear the ordeal had been planned.

She said she could not say who inflicted the injuries but all those present were equally responsible as they were there to "bring fear".

The other defendants are due to be sentenced at later dates.

Their details and charges are:

• Daniel Lake, 33, of Landseer Gardens, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Samantha Olsen, 36, of Sheridan Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Jonathon Ferguson, 31, of Quarry Lane, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Iain Sutherland, 33, of Marigold Walk, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Kasim Thompson, 35, of Cedar Grove, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Grant Maclean, 24, of Bluebell Way, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Jonathon Mason, 35, of Pine Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affray

• Liam Price, 30, of Oak Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affray