A jury has been told about a series of attacks on the Sayers family before three of them allegedly took part in a violent street clash. Stephen Sayers, his two sons and three other men are accused of taking part in a disturbance on Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle, in which glasses, bottles and punches were thrown towards a Ford Ranger pickup.
The court has heard the pickup was linked to the Freeman organised crime group, who had allegedly been involved in a feud with the Sayers family. CCTV shows the vehicle pulling up outside a pub owned by Thomas Sayers as people were socialising outside.
Stephen Sayers approaches the car and allegedly throws something towards the passenger window and others then also throw things at the car. Stephen Sayers, 61, Stephen Sayers Jnr, 33, Thomas Sayers, 31, Anthony Brown, 24, Lee Jamieson, 22 and Bradley Fraser, 26, all deny violent disorder and are standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
CCTV footage shown to jury
Jurors were being played CCTV footage from outside The Road bar on Shields Road, on July 12 last year. It shows a number of people socialising outside the bar and the Ford pickup slowly approaches on Shields Road before pulling in towards the group in a disabled parking space, the car pointing towards the group.
As it approached, Thomas Sayers spotted it and called “da”. After items appear to be thrown at the car, it reverses up the road with people chasing it then drives forward back past the bar.
Footage from a bus was also played, showing the car reversing away from the bar then narrowly avoiding hitting a man as it drives forwards.
Background of attacks revealed
Jurors were also read a number of agreed facts about the background to the incident, which are read out by prosecutor Deborah Smithies. Miss Smithies says: “Police are aware from 2022 onwards that the Freeman organised crime group have been involved in a violent campaign involving a number of attacks on the Sayers family.”
The jury was told that on Thursday June 16 2022 at 4.22pm, a large group of masked males armed with weapons arrived in multiple vehicles, at least six, and attacked the business premises and home address of Stephen Sayers' brother, John Henry Sayers, and John Henry Sayers Jnr at Lou’s Diner, Fossway, Newcastle. John Henry Sayers and his children were at home at the time of that incident. One of the offenders filmed a part of the incident on a mobile telephone which was later uploaded to social media. The offending was also captured on CCTV footage.
Another agreed fact states that John Henry Sayers was seen to leave his house holding a large knife and footage from the incident shows that one of the offenders drove a Nissan Pathfinder vehicle towards him deliberately and at speed.
The jury was told that “the individuals responsible for this attack are known to be part of, or associated with, the Freeman Organised Crime Group”. They were also told police hold intelligence/information that the Freeman organised crime group has a hierarchy with John Freeman at the top and he has “ultimate responsibility for controlling the incidents against the Sayers family”, the agreed fact states. Others in the hierarchy are named as Ben Freeman and Stephen Freeman.
On September 8 2022, a car belonging to Michael Sayers, the brother of John Henry Sayers and Stephen Sayers, was set on fire outside his home. The offenders approached the vehicle and used accelerant to set fire to the vehicle.
On September 19 2022, just after midnight, John Sayers Jnr’s “Saye’s To Go” retail van, in Newcastle city centre, was approached by masked men on an offroad motorcycle. The men poured accelerant on the van and set fire to it before leaving the scene.
At 9.10am on May 31 2023 a stolen tipper truck was reversed into the gable end of the home address of Stephen Sayers and his partner, who were both present in the home at the time. The truck was reversed into an area containing gas and electric meters which ruptured the main gas intake to the property causing a gas leak. The damage to the electrical intake unit caused a spark which ignited the gas and caused a significant fire within the property and substantial damage to the side of the property.
An agreed fact states: “No persons have been charged with the attack on Stephen Sayers Snr’s home address. However, Northumbria Police have held information since 2023 that Stephen Freeman is responsible for the attack and further incidents are likely.”
On July 4 2023 at 5.39am, three men wearing balaclavas arrived in a Jeep Cherokee at John Henry Sayers' daughter’s home, where a six-year-old was present. The men were carrying weapons including a machete, pickaxe handle and bladed garden tool. They smashed the windows of the house and threw glass bottles containing a black mixture damaging the property outside and inside. A parked car was also damaged.
On November 3 2023, a stolen commercial flatbed vehicle was deliberately reversed into the front shutter of John Henry Sayers daughter’s restaurant in Newcastle.
Another agreed fact states: “Northumbria police received the following on 13 August 2024 from a member of staff at the West Road Crematorium: “She [the member of staff] is reporting that one of the CCTV cameras has been changed to focus on Yvonne’s grave. She said the grave has a six inch concrete foundation that would need to be dug through before actually getting to the coffin.” Yvonne Sayers is the mother of Stephen Sayers Snr and John Henry Sayers. On 6 October 2024 John Henry Sayers reported to the police that between October 13 and 14, 2024 his mother’s grave was vandalised with spray paint.
The jury was also told that on 5 November 2024 men wearing balaclavas threw a significant number of lit fireworks into the yard at the side of John Henry Sayers home and business premises at Fossway, causing damage.
On November 22 2024, a vehicle belonging to a niece of Stephen Sayers was damaged at the rear of her home address by two offenders. The passenger side door handle was pulled off and a window smashed.
On January 31 2025, occupants of a black Vauxhall Astra reversed into the driveway to side of John Henry Sayers' property. Two men got out of the vehicle and set fire to John Henry Sayers Jnr’s VW Golf which was in a garage connected to the property. This caused substantial damage to the vehicle and also caused damage to the roof of the garage.
Also on January 31 2025, occupants of a black Range Rover set fire to Thomas Sayers’ car outside his home address. The offenders also rammed his sister’s car which was parked nearby. Officers attended the property and observed three large sandbags positioned on the driveway acting as a barricade and the letter box had been secured shut.
On February 2 2025 a black Range Rover was repeatedly rammed into the front of John Henry Sayers’ property. The vehicle contained canisters containing petrol. The occupants of the vehicle set fire to the vehicle and made off from the scene. John Henry Sayers was able to move the vehicle away from the property before it exploded, thus preventing significant damage to the property and risk to the lives of the occupants. At the time of the attack on the property John Henry Sayers children were at home.
On May 4 2025, a further arson attack took place at the premises of John Henry Sayers. At the time of the attack, his teenage son was alone in the property. A vehicle displaying only rear plates approached the premises, offenders climbed onto the vehicle to access the roof of the property and threw an ignited object towards the building on multiple occasions, causing fire damage primarily to the exterior, including the roof and brickwork, and also scorch damage to the interior of the property.
Evidence from detective
Detective Constable Lee McGregor, the officer in the case, was called to give evidence. In cross-examination by Laura Miller, for Stephen Sayers snr, footage was played showing the attack on John Henry Sayers’ home in June 2022.
Footage was also played showing a car being driven at John Henry Sayers, who has to jump onto the bonnet of another car to avoid being struck.
Footage was also played of a car being set on fire outside Michael Sayers’ home. Further footage was played showing the aftermath of the incident where a tipper truck was reversed into Stephen Sayers’ home, showing smoke billowing from the property and the fire service in attendance.
A picture was displayed showing graffiti damage to the grave of Yvonne Sayers, Stephen and John Henry Sayers’ late mum. Footage is played of a firework attack at John Henry Sayers’ home, which Miss Miller says was uploaded to social media with the song Firework by Katie Perry playing.
Footage is played showing Thomas Sayers’ car being set on fire outside his home. CCTV is played showing a Range Rover being rammed into John Henry Sayers’ home and setting it on fire before he comes out and puts it in gear, sending it across the road, suffering burns in the process. Pictures are shown of the damage caused to Lou’s Diner and to the Range Rover and a fence across the road.
Footage is played of another fire attack on John Henry Sayers’ property on May 4 last year while his 18-year-old son was home alone. It shows figures getting onto the roof of Lou’s Diner by climbing onto the car they arrived in, igniting an object and throwing it at the residential part of the property on multiple occasions. It left scorch marks to the interior of the home and the fire brigade had to put the fire out, Det Con McGregor confirms.
Stephen Sayers, Stephen Sayers Jnr, Thomas Sayers, Brown, Jamieson, and Fraser all deny violent disorder. None of them will be giving evidence. The trial continues.
