The jury has retired in the violent disorder trial involving three members of the Sayers family. Stephen Sayers, his two sons and three other men are accused of attacking a Ford pickup by throwing glasses, bottles and punches at it on Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle.
Newcastle Crown Court has heard the car was linked to another family with whom the Sayers had allegedly been embroiled in a feud with. Prosecutors allege Stephen Sayers, 61, Stephen Sayers Jnr, 33, Thomas Sayers, 31, Anthony Brown, 24, Lee Jamieson, 22 and Bradley Fraser, 26, acted in anger and with aggression towards the vehicle. All six defendants deny violent disorder.
Incident captured on CCTV
The jury has heard that three members of the Sayers family were allegedly involved in a violent clash on a Tyneside street as part of a feud with the Freeman family. Jurors were told the incident happened on July 12 2025, while the six defendants were all together at a bar called The Road, which was owned by Thomas Sayers.
CCTV played in court captured what happened while a number of people were socialising outside the pub. Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said: "Suddenly, a car appeared – a Ford pickup. We can see it approach along the road, and then, when it reaches this bar, pull up with its front wheels into the disabled parking bay. It pauses and then drives forwards, right onto the pavement, coming to a stop alongside the outdoor seating."
"As soon as that Ford pickup came into view, Thomas Sayers can be heard on the CCTV calling ‘da’ as he looks towards the bar – seeking to draw the attention of his father, Stephen Sayers Snr, to the approaching vehicle. When the car turns into the disabled parking bay, Thomas Sayers has disappeared off screen, towards the inside of the bar, and he can be heard shouting."
"His father Stephen Sayers Snr, meanwhile, walked quickly towards the front of the pickup, to its passenger side. The front passenger window was down, and we can see that there is a man sitting in the passenger seat."
"As he moved forward, Stephen Sayers snr dumped the contents of his drinks glass onto the pavement, but kept the empty glass in his right hand. With the car still moving, he went to that front passenger window and hurled the glass towards the passenger, who can be seen leaning away from the window."
Self-defence claim
The defence argue they were acting in self-defence amid 15 previous attacks on the family by the Freeman organised crime gang. The defence say when the pickup pulled up outside Thomas Sayers' bar and pointed at a group of people drinking outside, they would have feared another attack and acted to chase the car and its occupants away.
Jurors heard that an intoxicated member of the Sayers family broke a "wall of silence" to tell police investigating the alleged violent street clash "it's the Freemans". When officers turned up to Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle, following a report by a member of the public that a "large group of men were fighting".
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". Jurors have heard the alleged clash happened amid a "feud" between members of the Sayers family and the Freeman family.
Police accounts and background
On the second day of the trial, jurors are 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.
Jurors were also read a number of agreed facts about the background to the incident, which were read out by prosecutor Deborah Smithies. Miss Smithies said: “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 is told that “the individuals responsible for this attack are known to be part of, or associated with, the Freeman Organised Crime Group”. They are 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.
Series of attacks detailed
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.
Judge's instructions to jury
Judge Edward Bindloss told the jury the burden of proving the case is on the prosecution and if the jury are less than sure, the verdict must be not guilty. He also said they must consider each defendant separately.
The judge also said for a guilty verdict to the charge of violent disorder, the prosecution must prove that “three or more persons present together used or threatened unlawful violence and the defendant was one of those persons who used or threatened unlawful violence and their conduct taken together would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety”.
Judge Bindloss also explained the law on self-defence to the jury. He said: “If someone genuinely believes they are under attack or about to be attacked, they are entitled to use force for the purpose of defending themselves and or others and or property but only if they use no more than reasonable force to do so.
“Did the defendant genuinely believe he was under attack or about to be attacked? If not, no defence of self-defence arises.”
