Gordon Gault's Elswick gang associates sentenced

Gordon Gault died from his wounds six days after being stabbed

Six gang associates of a 14-year-old boy who was killed in a feud have been sentenced for their part in the violence.

Gordon Gault was stabbed with a machete after a "tit-for-tat" postcode rivalry between youths in Newcastle erupted in November 2022.

Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty, both 18, have been jailed for his manslaughter.

Gordon's six friends admitted affray and received a range of sentences at Newcastle Crown Court.

Gordon was part of a gang named in court as the North Group or Elswickers, who began a feud with their Benwell-based rivals called the South Group in the summer of 2022.

It began with the youths making and sharing rap videos mocking each other before escalating into violence, prosecutors said.

Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty, both 18, were found guilty of Gordon Gault's manslaughter

Prosecutor Christopher Moran said both groups had "characteristics of gang affiliation" such as having defined territory and referring to themselves with a "group identity".

He said both gangs engaged in "tit-for-tat threats, violence and intimidation" towards each other.

At about midday on 9 November, members of the North Group ambushed one of their rivals outside Gateshead College with the "violence and humiliating assault" filmed and shared on social media, Mr Moran said.

At about 18:00, the South Group went "seeking retribution" in Elswick Park which was part of the North Group's territory, the court heard.

The South Group youths were armed with machetes, a kitchen knife and a hammer and they loitered behind the West End Women and Girls Centre to try and catch one of the North Group, Mr Moran said.

At about 18:15, Gordon retrieved a metal baseball bat from a bush and ran towards the park with two associates, with all three donning blue latex gloves.

Mr Moran said they wore the "forensic" gloves as they knew they would be handling weapons and "didn't want to leave a trace".

Several others joined them including convicted drug dealer Liam Thompson, 28, who was seen driving around the park in a white car.

Trouble erupted in Elswick Park on 9 November 2022

Realising they were "outnumbered", the South Group fled back down through the park pursued by the North Group, Mr Moran said.

They were caught up with on Westmorland Road by Gordon, who was riding pillion on an electric bike, and the 17-year-old bike rider.

There then followed an altercation in which Neto slashed Gordon through the top of his arm "severing vital blood vessels and causing extensive bleeding", Mr Moran said.

As the fatally-injured Gordon was ridden away on the bike, other members of the North Group caught the fleeing South Group on Brunel Terrace.

There Neto slashed the back of his rival Jack Hardy, then aged 17 and now 18, before a motorist broke up the brawl by beeping her horn.

"This was organised and concerted violence on the streets of Newcastle in which unfortunately a 14-year-old boy died," Mr Moran said.

The court heard several members of Gordon's group had exchanged Snapchat messages about violence, including 18-year-old Raymond Matthew who had discussed weapons and said "on my mother's life, one dies tonight".

In mitigation for the 17-year-old rider of the bike, Christopher Knox said the youth was "very good friends" with Gordon and he quickly realised the 14-year-old was "grievously injured" so rode him away to get medical attention.

Mr Knox said the youth had been "deeply upset" and had "very much retreated into himself" after Gordon's death, adding he needed "crucial support" in maturing.

Josh Normanton, for another 17-year-old defendant who was 16 at the time, said Gordon Gault had been his "best friend" and he was "haunted" and left with "long-lasting depression" by his death.

Mr Normanton said the youth was with Gordon at the start but "stopped and turned away", adding the effect of violent offending had been "brought home to him in the most horrible way".

'Injustice'

Judge Edward Bindloss said Gordon was a "friend" to the defendants and they had been "adversely affected by his death".

He said the "fighting lasted for a few intense minutes" on the "streets of Newcastle in the early evening" and each defendant "encouraged violence to take place".

The judge said he accepted there was a "sense of injustice" within the North Group that they were being punished while four members of the South Group, who jurors found not guilty of murder or manslaughter, had walked away "scot-free".

But he said the North Group gang did commit an affray and the consequences of that had been Gordon's death, adding: "The harm could not be conceived to be any greater".

The defendants and their sentences were:

• Liam Thompson, 28 but 27 at the time, of HMP Northumberland, jailed for 27 months

• Jack Hardy, 18 but 17 at the time, of Quarry Bank Court, Elswick, 11 months detention suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work

• Raymond Matthew, 18 but 17 at the time, of Durham Street, Elswick, 11 months detention suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work

• A 17-year-old boy, 16 at the time, who rode the bike Gordon was passenger on, a 12 month standard referral order

• A 17-year-old boy, 16 at the time, an intensive six month referral order

• A 16-year-old boy, 15 at the time, a standard nine month referral order