'Violent thug' given life sentence for murder

Tony Johnson was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a man by punching him repeatedly in the head.

Tony Johnson, 36, of Princes Street in North Shields, was found guilty of murdering Trevor Bishop, 45, following an assault last year.

Johnson was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

Police said Johnson was a "violent thug" who had been "brought to justice for his actions".

Johnson had been drinking with Mr Bishop and others at an address on Clifton Gardens in Meadow Well on 7 March, when he assaulted Mr Bishop by punching him at least three times in the head, police said.

Mr Bishop was found by emergency services lying in a pool of his own blood and died in hospital two days later.

Mr Bishop's sister said she was "devastated" to have lost her brother

After the sentencing, Northumbria Police Det Insp Tam Fowler said: "I know that no sentence will ever take away the pain Johnson caused that night, or bring Trevor back, but I do hope today can serve as a form of closure and allow all those grieving to begin moving forward with their lives.

“The jury heard a lot of detail around the movements of those in the address the night he tragically lost his life, before he was brutally assaulted and left to die by someone he thought was his friend.

“Even when we arrested Johnson in connection with Trevor’s death, our body worn video footage clearly shows his demeanour as he attempts to deny all knowledge of what has happened just hours after he’s captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.”