Brothers who went on sawn-off shotgun rampage get hefty jail sentences

Two brothers who went on a 48-hour shotgun-touting crime rampage have been jailed with hefty life sentences.

Thomas and James Lee planned and carried out two shootings over two days in November 2019 which saw two victims narrowly avoid death.

The first incident took place on the evening of October 3 when the brothers fired a gun through the kitchen window of a Westerhope home.

It is thought the address on Fordmoss Walk was targeted after a dispute with the son of the woman who lived there.

While cooking in the kitchen, the mum heard a loud bang and the window smash.

She suffered serious injuries to her back, arm and face caused by shotgun pellets and flying glass.

Less than 48 hours later, in the early hours of October 5, the pair then fired a gun at another man in his St Keverne Square flat following a separate suspected fallout.

The victim sustained injuries to his ear and calf – but survived.

Both brothers were found guilty by a jury of attempting to kill the mum following a three-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court in October 2021.

They were cleared of attempting to murder the man but were found guilty of attempting to wound him with intent by firing a shotgun at him.

Thomas, 21, of no fixed abode, was also convicted of possessing a firearm when prohibited, assault on emergency worker and racially aggravated disorderly behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

James, 27, of Henry Nelson Street, South Shields, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in relation to a police pursuit that occurred shortly after the St Keverne Square shooting.

On Tuesday, January 4 both brothers were back in the dock and each was sentenced to 24 years behind bars.

Detective Chief Inspector Jane Fairlamb, of Northumbria Police, said: “Both brothers hatched a complicated plan to carry out these two shootings, using various vehicles to disguise their movements with the aim of avoiding detection.

“Guns are not toys. They knowingly and willingly pulled the trigger in an attempt to kill a mum in her home, as well as injure a second man after a suspected falling out.

“Incidents involving firearms are thankfully rare in this region, but when they do occur, this case shows that Northumbria Police are committed to using every tactic at our disposal in order to secure effective justice and put the perpetrators behind bars.

“Thomas and James Lee have proven themselves to be a danger to society and I am pleased that the jury saw through their lies. The streets of Newcastle are certainly a safer place with them both behind bars.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this significant investigation who have all played their part in bringing these offenders to justice.

“Under the banner of Operation Sentinel, we will continue to do everything we can to tackle and prevent serious and violent crime across Northumbria.”

Whilst hunting down the criminal in October 2019 police located the sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in the boot of a Ford Mondeo both brothers had access to.

When Thomas Lee was arrested, he was found in possession of two shotgun cartridges which he claimed were planted by officers.

Thomas went on to admit both possessing and firing the gun in the second incident but claimed he did not intend to kill or cause serious harm to anybody.

About an hour after the second shooting, police saw a VW Golf on nearby Millfield Walk with James Lee behind the wheel.

Officers responded by activating their blue lights, causing James to reach speeds of up to 80 mph through residential areas as he fled arrest.

Future enquiries placed James and Lee together at the same address close to that vehicle.

Both men now begin prison terms.