Kerry, Charlotte and Thomas Tams have been jailed for more than 15 years after a teenager was shot in the leg during the summer of 2019. contact the editor here. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The authors spent some time with reporter Micky Welch talking about their book. A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "Our detectives have worked incredibly hard to piece together what happened and that has resulted in those responsible being put before the courts. Bernard OMahoneys Fog on the Tyne novel on Newcastles criminal underbelly with tales of murder, robbery and torture is to be adapted for Channel 4, Get the latest news from Newcastle straight to your inbox. They were all convicted by a jury following a trial and Kerry was jailed for six years, Thomas for six-and-a-half years and Charlotte was handed a three year sentence. Strathclyde Police, for example, report that these four triad groups have all firmly established themselves among the Chinese communities, mainly in Glasgow. Also gun trafficking and protection rackets. Viv first started to make a name for himself as a bouncer on the rural outskirts of the city (Newcastle), he unwittingly became involved in the lifestyle of disorganised crime. 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Nixon and Daniel Tait were both subscribers and contacted each other and other criminals to organise their illegal activities. Their reign during the Seventies and Eighties ended after a series of successful police operations: during an attempted armed robbery in November 1990 one of the gang was shot dead by detectives and Dogan Arif, 42, the head of the family, is currently serving 14 years for his part in an pounds 8.5m drug-smuggling plot. Thompson, of Bentinck Street, Elswick, was jailed for six years last April after he admitted possession of a loaded firearm in a public place and criminal damage. He wrote the book Essex Boys, which was turned into a film starring Sean Bean. A 'never-before-seen' picture of Lee Duffy is set to feature in a new book which details the notorious life of a reformed Tyneside gangster. In the North-east and North-west of England the figure jumps to around 80 per cent. A Gannett Company. There are plenty of suspects - from his compulsive gambler and drug addict son Tom to rival "businessman" Bobo Simpson. Bernard OMahoneys Fog on the Tyne novel documents Newcastles criminal underbelly with tales of murder, robbery and torture. The producers said they thought it was a great idea and they wanted me to write a fictionalised version. Paddy Conroy, 42, was found guilty of abducting and torturing a. suspected member of another gang in Newcastle's tough West End. He said: For 20 odd years I have kept quiet. Bernie, 53, from Ferryhill, County Durham, said: In Newcastle, the criminals are uniquely family orientated and its all about the families. Keeping it in the family: The North East criminal families who were THREE members of a notorious crime family are behind bars after being convicted of plotting to shoot a teenage rival. Callum Wilson breaks Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer's longstanding record in Southampton win. Only a small number of "cells" in operation, comprising about 50 people, mainly in London. Among the tales documented in the novel, Fog on the Tyne, is the execution of Tyneside doorman Viv Graham, who was gunned down on New Years Eve in 1993. Paddy Conroy- Newcastle, UK - IRISHORGANISEDCRIMEFORUM No one was ever brought to justice but detectives say that the file on the gangland killing remains open and they still hope to identify his killer. Eddie Lennie, Tony Sayers, Steve Wraith. The author looks at the unsolved murder of Viv Graham and makes claims about the fierce feud between two well-known West End families. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Feared Stephen Sayers today insisted that after 20 years at the centre of Tynesides underworld he has turned his back on crime for his family. Gangster cleared of ordering shooting of bouncer after his son was He said: The book has been very, very successful. Police believe this is responsible for more than half of all the illegal activities of these groups. The killing is believed to have been carried out by a rival gang. A round-up of the latest Newcastle United headlines. Newcastle Chronicle) By. This Bank Holiday Monday could be your lucky day as another chance to become a National Lottery winner comes around. He cornered some fella in Newcastle, an associate, and he had a few pals with him and despite hitting this lad . Paddy Conroy is nothing but a thiefs Ponce and a raving Grass. a look at the North East's gangland past - ChronicleLive I was constantly in and out of prison. Tyneside gangster Stephen Sayers lifts the lid on the fight organised between Teesside hardman Duffy and his Newcastle rival Viv Graham As always you can unsubscribe at any time. A Glock handgun as used by armed police in the UK was hidden at the home of Thomas Tait Snr, while Daniel Tait, under the direction of Nixon, had also hidden an arsenal of weapons and ammunition at the home of his grandmother, Ann-Marie Glendenning. Finney (TV Series 1994- ) - IMDb The final sanction used by Triads against anyone who fails to pay is to be chopped with a 14in beef knife. Japanese Yakuza gangs and the Italian Mafia have also established themselves in Britain, primarily via money-laundering. Sections of some Loyalist groups are involved in drug dealing, but the IRA refuses to handle drugs. donaldo@hotmail .co.uk. This is modern gangland Britain. Despite the ceasefire, both Republican and Loyalist terrorist groups are still fund raising in Northern Ireland through armed robberies, extortion, protection rackets, smuggling, illegal gaming, video piracy, and gun running. 18:00, 16 OCT 2016. were jailed for three years for attacking doorman Stuart Watson. Now producers have stepped in to line-up the novel up for an adapted TV drama. The ARRSEPedia is the British Army encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Several gangs are believed to have set up legitimate businesses with an underground banking system. How they make money: mainly enterprise crime with little penetration of the financial world, and in drug trafficking, often through control of pubs and clubs. Since the late Seventies, as new ethnic communities established themselves in Britain, a different type of organised criminal has emerged. From October six police forces and customs officers will provide details of suspected organised criminals. Sayers said it was his brother John Henrys arrest for the Pritchards armed robbery which cemented the brothers place in the criminal hierarchy. "Finney" begins with the murder of the patriarch of a criminal family, Patrick "Tucker" Finney. Viv was soon back in the headlines, this time for pummelling a fellow bouncer at Hobo's nightclub (none other than Stuart Watson!) A childhood friend of the Kray Twins, he was used as a go-between by the Richardson's until his murder by Ronnie Kray at The Blind Beggar pub in 1966. Free Online Library: Gangland thug back behind bars. THREE members of a notorious crime family are behind bars after being convicted of plotting to shoot a teenage rival. Through John Heny and Stephen Sayer's reputation has hard men their family name in recent years has inspired both fear and respect in the city. Newcastle Gangs (West End) - YouTube Mr Sayers, 50, from Newcastle, said he travelled with Duffy to the fight. Almost exclusively involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. Soon, Viv's apparent dislike of drugs and his concern for the community began to annoy the aforementioned West End crime family. He was charged by police and in April last year he was jailed for six years. The secrets of the Sayers will be revealed for the first time later this year in a new tell-all book. Richardson Gang. And today we take a look at the life and crimes of some of Tyneside's criminal families. But the vast majority of gangs control small patches of the UK with specialist interests. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The book, and others about the Sayers family, is available to pre-order here: https://thesayers.bigcartel.com/product/a-breed-apart-signed-by-the-authors-pre-order, Bauer Media Group consists of : Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales. David Allison was the man who made the fatal wound when he plunged a knife into his side, underneath his left arm during a street fight. Those links made them a formidable force in the criminal underworld. Tyneside's most notorious gangland feud to be played - ChronicleLive The groups also control many pubs and clubs. In 1991 in north London a Nigerian drugs courier had her face and breasts ironed by a drugs gang to obtain details of her shipment. There is even a story of Viv having to hide behind a settee when a debt collector came to visit, having blown the thirty grand meant for the debt collector the day before. They wanted to expand their already large drugs enterprise, but the anti-drugs Viv was in the way. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. The Two Gangster Families Who Battled For Control Of Newcastle Members of notorious North-East crime family jailed for shooting But in April last year, French police gained access and found a rich vein of damning evidence against gangsters around Europe. Their father was shot in the throat at close range as he sat drinking in a Quayside pub in 1995 and survived by driving to hospital. After this he started to suffer from frequent headaches and he was receiving death threats almost every day. An assassin sips tea in a south London cafe before stepping up behind two men and firing a handgun into the back of their heads. Its been very hard for my kids. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Something went wrong, please try again later. Kerry, Charlotte and Thomas Tams have been jailed for a total of more than 15 years after a 19-year-old was shot in the leg during the summer of 2019. This book is the real story of the most notorious of Newcastle and the northeasts most feared gangsters and hard men It is through sheer luck that nobody has been killed because whenever a person pulls a trigger that is a very real possibility. Theres a lot of hardworking people in our family. He was one of three villains jailed for the . I have finished all that now. He became a regular at The Queens Head pub (rumour has it he had interests in the place) but a band of locals took an instant dislike to the famous hardman coming to THEIR watering hole. Gone are days of the working-class mobsters, ruling with a razor blade and an iron fist. "We want to be able to spot trends quickly," says Peter Richie, head of the Organised Crime Unit at NCIS's Strategic and Specialist Intelligence Branch. Another well-known London crime family is the Clerkenwell crime syndicate in Islington, also known as the 'Adams family'. Please report any comments that break our rules. The 49-year-old said: People dont realise that when you become a criminal you become a gambler. Today, the 51-year-old promised to "clean up the Conroy image" by . Some have influence all over the country which extends even into the world of finance. Nixon then recruited Daniel Tait as his right-hand man as they moved large quantities of cocaine and deadly weapons around, supplying dealers lower down the chain in a business worth approaching 100,000 a day on occasions, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Rob Armstrong is a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Newcastle. In the early hours of August 7, 2019, they were informed a 19-year-old relative of Thompson had been admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. On April 24 last year, police went to the home of Thomas Tait Snr in Kenton, Newcastle and found a kilo of cocaine in a cupboard and a further 1.5kg in the loft, along with a Glock handgun. "Gun crime in our region is thankfully very rare but when it does happen this case shows those involved will be held accountable and put behind bars.". He was charged with murder and went on trial at Teesside Crown Court. As the Sayers crimes increased in severity their reputation grew. Duffy was the fighting man of Teesside and Viv Graham was the fighting man of Tyneside and I brought him through to fight him.. . "Recent investigations have continued grossly to underestimate the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the British criminal classes," says Dr Barry Rider, a senior legal academic at Cambridge University. Former gangster calls on head of rival family to end 'war' between them In one, Andrew McLaughlin, 31, opened his door to an unknown man who blasted him with a shotgun. The shameless gangs jailed this year for bringing - ChronicleLive No evidence that they are run by bosses; usually a Yardie with a reputation for violence and murder obtains the services of British Afro-Caribbeans to help to run drug rackets. A court was told that after Thompsons attack on the car, Haq and Barry Lynne had gathered at the home of Thomas Tams to plot their revenge. Jul 12, 2007 #22. After violence flared between Lamb and Mr Brown, Lamb summoned help from his brother Paul and nephew James Lamb. he was killed in a street fight in Marton Road, Neigh-thing to see here! George Cornell. The Home Office has warned that a demographic time bomb is about to explode, with young Asian criminals about to come of age. There have also been fears that increasing numbers of firearms will be smuggled into the country. An item resembling a hand grenade was also found, and was destroyed by the Army. 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Organised crime is alive and kicking in Britain. These criminal clans worked together to commit serious offences, which landed many of them behind bars. This Bank Holiday Monday could be your lucky day as another chance to become a National Lottery winner comes around. Det Chief Insp Paul Woods, from Northumbria Polices Priority and Organised Crime Team, said: "The Taits thought they were untouchable but thanks to the hard work and unrelenting efforts of our officers and staff, their illicit business has been dismantled and our communities already made safer.". David Lamb, of Hewitson Terrace, Gateshead, 51, Paul Lamb, 53, of Nursery Lane, Gateshead and James Lamb, 27, also of Nursery Lane, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. Police believe between pounds 2.5bn and pounds 4bn of criminally generated money is entering the UK financial system each year. Haq, of Newbold Street, Byker, also admitted two counts of making threats to kill and was jailed for ten years. However, as quickly as he was making the money, he and his girlfriend Anna were spending it. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Featuring int. Duffy was a young dad when he was killed in a street fight in Marton Road. . Jamaican gangs now control most of the supply of crack cocaine in the UK. Callum Wilson tops Newcastle United fan ratings in Southampton victory. His daughter Kerry, 27, of Hawthorn Walk was jailed for six years and her sister Charlotte, 21, of Silvermere Drive in Ryton, was locked up for three years. Stephen Sayers has penned the tell-all biography along with Steve Wraith, Stuart Wheatman and Rebecca Sayers, entitled; The Sayers: Tried And Tested At The Highest Level. John Henry Sayers was jailed for armed . They've been described as the Peaky Blinders of Newcastle and now a new book will tell all the tales of the notorious Sayers family. Finney: With David Morrissey, Andy Serkis, Melanie Hill, Clive Russell. And Im sick of people attaching our names to things and slandering our good name. Gun crime in our region is thankfully very rare but when it does happen this case shows those involved will be held accountable and put behind bars.. 30,859,600 articles and books. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Leon Haq, 39, and Barry Lynn, 40, initially denied conspiracy to possess a Firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and a section 20 assault before changing their pleas to guilty during their trial. Daniel Tait had left a large holdall there, inside which police found a Stribog Carbine rifle, an Sig Sauer automatic self-loading pistol, a 9mm Glock pistol loaded with a magazine of 12 bullets, and 300 rounds of ammunition. This technique enables foreign criminals to gain a foothold here without stepping on British soil. Get Conroy is about Paddy Conroy who is trying to blame the Sayers family for murders the have . It was a system where users, equipped with expensive handsets, could communicate with others using nicknames and encrypted messages. Office while behind bars because of his extensive underworld contacts. This Bank Holiday Monday could be your lucky day as another chance to become a National Lottery winner comes around. In another chat, Masterpasser asked Nixon about an AK47 weapon, the court heard. Where they are based: mainly in south London, particularly Brixton, also Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, and Leeds. Locke's SAFC said: From what I've heard mate, from a good source, he was a bit of a bully and he wasn't what you would call a hard fella. Who they are: Chinese gangsters, originally from Hong Kong and South- East Asia. Haq, of Newbold Street, Byker, also admitted two counts of making threats to kill and was jailed for 10 years. Nixon, 28, of Chase Meadows in Blyth and all three Taits pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. I brought him through to fight Viv Graham. There is great difficulty in persuading witnesses to come forward because of brutal reprisals and intimidation. He died on the way to hospital. Newcastle's Tait family thought they were "untouchable", say the detectives that brought them to justice. There are consequences to what we did, and that is the excessive sentences. In September Thomass ex-partner, Mary Egan ,48, who had always denied her role in the conspiracy, was found guilty and jailed. Wilson scored twice against Southampton to extend his tally to 15 goals in the Premier League this season. None of the traditional criminal groups has been well organised or ambitious enough to extend much beyond its home base. Along with his brothers, John Henry and Michael, he has a reputation as one of Britains most feared criminals. The Sayers family is well known in Newcastle. He was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter. It is also, according to a recent investigation by a parliamentary committee, a "substantial" and growing problem that is involved in every illegal money-making scheme imaginable. Midfield. Gone are days of the working . James english, the anything goes show Ep/86The story of tough man Stephen sayers Coming from a huge close-knit family of street traders long before it was legalised, Stephen Sayers spent his early years on the barrows, witnessing constant brushes with the law. In the early hours of August 7, 2019, police were informed a teenage relative of Thompson had been admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. They use violence and intimidation within Chinese communities to maintain power. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 1928-1966. It was here that he began to make enough money to fund his two obsessions - gambling and women. Mr Sayers said it was a fight everyone wanted to see and goes down as one of the biggest fights that never happened. Kerry, Charlotte and Thomas Tams have been jailed for a total of more than 15 . A feared gangster from Newcastle has been cleared of ordering the ride-by shooting of a bouncer because his son had been thrown out of a nightclub. Among those snared when the material was passed to the National Crime Agency was former soldier David Nixon, who was being orchestrated by a mystery crime boss known only as Masterpasser. Something went wrong, please try again later. Not well liked by others who were involved in organised crime who thought they could own the doors better. "This is particularly so in regard to financial frauds and money-laundering services.". The Hunt Crime Syndicate, otherwise known as the Canning Town Cartel, led by David Hunt is one of the biggest London crime firms. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Britain does not have a "Mr Big", or single national organisation that controls the distribution of drugs, with gang members in every city and an interest in every major scam. Tech expert speaks out on error which 'destroys your battery', Not many people know these iPhone charging mistakes, Meet the amazing North East people helped by The Prince's Trust ahead of King Charles' coronation, Over the last 47 years, The Princes Trust has helped to transform the lives of more than a million young people in the UK, Set For Life results LIVE: Winning National Lottery numbers for Monday, May 1. Through John Heny and Stephen Sayer's reputation has hard men their family name in recent years has inspired both fear and respect in the city. In March this year, Thomas Tams and his two daughters Kerry and Charlotte were jailed after the relative of a rival was shot in the leg in Elswick, Newcastle. Newcastle Crown Court heard the father and son raced to the scene on Woodlands Terrace, Felling, armed with two swords and a bayonet or dagger. Something went wrong, please try again later. West End Foodbank reports busiest month in 10-year history amid city's 'staggering' need for help, The West End Foodbank handed out more food parcels in March than in any other month since it launched in 2013, What's the best North East pub? 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As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Like it or not we are part of the history of Newcastle so if I had not done this in 20 or 30 years time there would be a false account of our lives written. A father-of-four, he believes the stigma of his family name has landed himself and his brothers with what he regards as excessive sentences. He was. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Where they are based: every major city has its gangs, but there is evidence of growing links between the different outfits, particularly in the distribution of drugs. He was big, but a lot of it was all steroids and not a lot of power. Vincent Palermo, "Vinny Ocean" (born 1944) Angelo Prisco, "The Horn" (born 1939) Marco Reginelli (Philadelphia family member based in South Jersey) (1897-1956) Giovanni Riggi, "John the Eagle" (1925-2015) Nicodemo Scarfo, "Little Nicky" (Philadelphia family member based in Atlantic City) (1929-2017) And thats irreplaceable. A search warrant was also executed at the home of their gran, Glendenning, in Byker. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Reformed gangster Stephen Sayers has now urged foe Paddy Conroy to end the war of words between their families so they can all move on . The self-proclaimed retired criminal decided now was the time to set the record straight on a number of lies, rumours and misconceptions that have circulated about his family over the years. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Every city has its own gangs, although so far no gang or family has occupied such a powerful position as the legendary Krays (although even they failed to extend their influence much beyond south London). There is evidence of a small number of clans involved in drug trafficking, extortion and car theft. One of most powerful family outfits of recent times has been the Arifs, a large extended family from Stockwell, south London, who were involved in armed robberies and drug smuggling and owned a string of clubs, pubs and restaurants - almost certainly bought from the proceeds of their criminal activities. I should have got them good and proper.". The door men, who are part of criminal organisations, allow only their own dealers into the premises or are paid a percentage from freelance traffickers. The incidents were quickly linked and in the days that followed 12 people were arrested and a Luger-style gun was recovered from the River Tyne. He and his younger brother, Dominic Noonan, were suspected by police of being responsible for at least 25 murders during their 20-year reign over . I dont want my children to be stuck with the same reputation. http://www.arrse.co.uk/arrse_wiki/index.php?title=Viv_Graham&oldid=38757. Organised crime in the UK is more complex than ever before. John Henry was jailed for 15 years after a violent 350,000 robbery on the Pritchard's security firm, in Gateshead, in 1989. Many books have been written about him and he now has iconic status as a gangster, whether deserved or not. John Brennan, detective sergeant of the South-East Regional Crime Squad and one of the country's leading experts on Yardies, says that the Jamaican gangs now control most of the supply of crack cocaine in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds and Bristol. Was shot in Wallsend on New Years Eve,1993, when returning home from the pub, apparently carrying a loaf of bread for the missus.