Nine convicted of blackmail and torture of men in South Shields garage

The group lured their victims to a lock-up off Fowler Street on September 18 last year, before holding them prisoners and subjecting them to "horrifying levels of violence".

They then demanded significant amounts of money from the victims and their families in order to secure their release, following a dispute suspected to be rooted in criminality.

The three victims were each treated in hospital for a range of injuries, and Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team (MIT) immediately set about identifying those responsible.

Over the weeks that followed, dawn raids were executed across the North East with nine suspects arrested and charged with a string of offences.

Seven pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and one count of blackmail when appearing at Newcastle Crown Court on April 15 and 16, while two other suspects yesterday (June 12) admitted affray.

The defendants are:Craig Seales (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)

• Craig Seales, 37, of Rembrandt Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmailDaniel Lake (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)
• Daniel Lake, 33, of Landseer Gardens, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmailSamantha Olsen (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)
• Samantha Olsen, 36, of Sheridan Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmailJonathon Ferguson (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)
• Jonathon Ferguson, 31, of Quary Lane, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail
• Iain Sutherland (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE) Iain Sutherland, 33, of Marigold Walk, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

Kasim Thompson (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)

• Kasim Thompson, 35, of Cedar Grove, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmailGrant Maclean (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)
• Grant Maclean, 24, of Bluebell Way, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

Jonathon Mason (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)

• Jonathon Mason, 35, of Pine Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affrayJonathon Mason (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)
• Liam Price, 30, of Oak Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affray

All nine defendants have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on September 2.

Northumbria Police Detective Inspector Mark Atherton, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the three victims who were subjected to significant levels of violence.

“While the exact nature of the dispute is unknown, it is clear the origins lie in organised criminal activity and these defendants set about to punish and intimidate them that day.

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“Violence of any kind will never be tolerated and a huge amount of work from a team of specialist detectives has culminated in the conviction of nine violent offenders.

“I would also like to commend the outstanding bravery that the victims have shown throughout the criminal justice process.

“As part of Operation Sentinel, our dedicated activity to tackle serious and organised crime, we will continue to consider every tactic at our disposal to dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”