Blyth man convicted of murder and attempted murder after deliberately driving a van at a Cramlington pub

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court has found Toby Kelly guilty of murder and attempted murder after he deliberately drove his van at two people in a Cramlington pub car park earlier this year.

Kelly, of Wansbeck Avenue in Blyth, ran over ambulance worker Sheldon Flanighan and his friend Wayne Common at the Bay Horse pub, on April 1.

Sheldon and Wayne had been socialising in the pub when they noticed a disturbance between Kelly and associate Shannon Wooden - with the pair offering their assistance to her.

After Kelly, Wooden and another man, David Fairclough, were ejected from the pub, they got into 38-year-old Kelly's van.

When Sheldon and Wayne left the venue, Kelly drove his vehicle into them, causing devastating injuries, before leaving the scene.

Emergency services were called to the pub and despite the best efforts of paramedics, Sheldon, a 55-year-old dad-of-two, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Wayne was taken to hospital with serious injuries - he was later released but has been left with long-term injuries following the incident.

Kelly, Wooden and Fairclough were all arrested in connection with the incident and were all later charged with Sheldon’s murder and attempted murder of Wayne.

The case against Wooden and Fairclough was later dropped, with no further action to be taken against them.

Kelly denied the charges put against him but on Thursday, November 9, he was found guilty of both offences following a trial that lasted almost five weeks.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Johnson, of Northumbria Police, branded Kelly's actions as "pointless violence" and praised the families of Sheldon and Wayne for their strength following the incident.

He said: “This has been the most incredibly difficult year for Wayne and Sheldon’s loved ones as they continue to grieve, and I am pleased that the jury returned the right verdict today. 

“Kelly’s actions were despicable and there was absolutely no need for Sheldon to lose his life, or for Wayne to sustain the serious injuries he did.

"This pointless violence has caused so much pain and I hope that today offers a sense of closure to the families, and to the wider community, who I know have been deeply affected by this.

“I have no idea what was going through Kelly’s mind when he made the decision to get in his van and use it as a weapon.

"Nothing good will ever come from a situation like that and as we’ve sadly seen in this case, there was nothing but tragic consequences for all involved.

“I hope the courts recognise the severity of Kelly’s offending because his violence, anger and disregard for life mean he is not suitable to live in our communities.

“I would once again like to thank Sheldon’s family and Wayne and his family, for their cooperation and support during this difficult investigation.

"I also extend my thanks to the wider team at Northumbria Police who have helped ensure Kelly is brought to justice for his actions."

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The judge at Newcastle Crown Court remanded Kelly in custody following the guilty verdict - he is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, November 15.