Drug dealer sent brother to enforce £300 debt

Liam and Jordan Lockyer both admitted affray

A drug dealer who sent his brother to attack a man over a £300 debt has been jailed for three and a half years.

Liam Lockyer, 33, waited outside the victim's home as his brother Jordan Lockyer, 39, went in and confronted the man with a knife, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Liam Lockyer, from Lemington in Newcastle, had previously been caught by police dealing drugs, including cocaine.

Both brothers pleaded guilty to affray, with Jordan Lockyer jailed for two years.

Police on patrol in the Elswick Road area of Newcastle saw someone being handed a package from a VW Golf at about 18:00 BST on 1 April 2022, prosecutor Stuart Graham said.

Suspecting a drug deal had occurred, officers stopped the car, which was being driven by Liam Lockyer and had a female passenger, the court heard.

Having found a bag of white powder and about £434 in cash, officers searched Liam Lockyer's house where they discovered more drugs, including cocaine and dozens of prescription tablets concealed in a beer can, Mr Graham said.

The total value of the drugs was put between £1,300 and £2,350, with analysis of Liam Lockyer's phone showing evidence of him setting up deals, the court heard.

'Terrifying incident'

At about 19:30 GMT on 18 March last year, both brothers went to confront a man at his girlfriend's house over a £300 debt owed to Liam Lockyer, Mr Graham said.

As his younger brother stayed outside, Jordan Lockyer chased the man around the house armed with a small silver knife, which he repeatedly brandished and jabbed against the victim, the court heard.

Jordan Lockyer, of Burwell Avenue in West Denton, grew increasingly irate and said he would "slash" the man and his relatives if the money was not paid, Mr Graham said.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said he had been left "extremely fearful" for his life, no longer felt safe to visit his family and was now seeking to move away from the area.

In mitigation, Tony Davis said Liam Lockyer had become addicted to prescription drugs while being treated for cancer which led to an opiate and crack cocaine addiction.

He then began to work supplying drugs to try and pay off debts to dealers, Mr Davis said.

For Jordan Lockyer, Josh Cornberg said the older brother had already served the equivalent of a full prison sentence for affray while being held on remand.

Judge Carolyn Scott said it was a "terrifying incident" and the effect on the victim had been "profound".

She said Liam Lockyer was the "catalyst" and encouraged his brother's actions.

Liam Lockyer also admitted possession with intent supply Class A and C drugs.