An intoxicated member of the Sayers family broke a "wall of silence" to tell police investigating an alleged violent street clash "it's the Freemans", a court heard. Officers had turned up to Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle, following a report by a member of the public that a "large group of men fighting" in July last year.
When they got there, there were several people outside a bar but no one was forthcoming about what had gone on. However, a woman said to have been Thomas Sayers' gran began talking to officers, despite attempts to usher her away, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Before she was persuaded to end her interaction with officers, she said "it's the Freemans".
Feud between families
Jurors have heard the alleged clash happened amid a "feud" between members of the Sayers family and the Freeman family. The alleged incident was sparked when a Ford pickup which "has links to the Freemans" pulled up outside a bar which was owned by Thomas Sayers.
Stephen Sayers snr, Thomas Sayers, Stephen Sayers jnr and three other men are accused of taking part in a disturbance in which glasses, bottles and punches were allegedly thrown. They deny violent disorder.
Police statements read to jury
On the second day of the trial, jurors were read statements from police officers who attended the scene that night. PC Victoria Gray said there was a "large gathering of people but no one was particularly forthcoming with information about what happened". She added: "All parties were refusing to give any account or engage with officers."
She said she knew the bar was owned by Tommy Sayers and said he refused to confirm his connection to the premises. PC Gray said officers were then approached by an "intoxicated female" who "identified herself as (Tommy) Sayers' grandmother".
PC Gray said the grandmother was approached by a woman who said she needed to go with her but the grandmother declined. Another woman then passed the grandmother a phone and at that point she stopped talking to the police. However, as she was about to walk off, according to PC Gray, she said: "It's the Freemans".
PC Rachel Cassidy described being approached by Tommy Sayers' gran, who she said was "extremely intoxicated" but "confirmed there had been an altercation". She said the men in the pickup were white males wearing black clothing.
The jury was also read a statement from a PC Lawton who said that when he got to the scene there were signs of a disturbance, with glass on the road. He added: "No one was telling the police anything." He added that Tommy Sayers spoke to officers but did not want any help, was not reporting a crime and was "not forthcoming with information" about what had happened.
Arrests and denials
The jury was read a number of agreed facts. These include that a member of the public rang police at 8.32pm on July 12 reporting a "large group of men fighting in the street". The court was told the three Sayers were arrested at different times on July 29 on suspicion of a public order offence. They made no comment when quizzed by police.
When Brown was arrested on August 6 and shown the CCTV, he said he hoped no one had been injured. He also said the "people in the pickup truck got themselves embarrassed though didn't they". Asked if he knew who was driving it, he said "this is another attack on innocent people having a drink". Asked how he thought members of the public would have felt, he said: "How would you feel if you were sat in that bar and a car tried to attack you". He disputed that the footage showed him at the scene during the alleged incident.
When Jamieson and Fraser were later arrested, they made no comment, save for Jamieson denying the offence. The jury was told the pickup truck which allegedly came under attack during the incident was a 2025 plate Ford Ranger which "has links to the Freeman family".
Stephen Sayers, 61, Stephen Sayers Jnr, 33, Thomas Sayers, 31, Anthony Brown, 24, Lee Jamieson, 22 and Bradley Fraser, 26, all deny violent disorder. The trial continues.
