Northumbria Police releases its 15 Top Targets in appeal to public for help

Officials with Northumbria Police have released a list of 15 fugitives from across the North East, marking them as the top targets for this summer.

Police are asking for help from the public in finding the 15 men, who are wanted for a range of offences including criminal damage, burglary and assaults across the North East.

Suspects are likely lying low or living a transient lifestyle, with police releasing the images of 15 wanted men in the hopes of finding them this summer.

The wanted men are:

• David Annan, 27, of Gateshead, wanted in connection with harassment
• Scott Blackburn, 28, of South Shields, wanted in connection with assault.
• Martin Brown, 23, of Gateshead, wanted in connection with an assault
• Jack Conroy, 22, of Newcastle, wanted in connection with criminal damage and burglary offences. Also has links to North Tyneside.
• William Flamson, 38, of Gateshead, wanted in connection with breach of restraining order
• James Harbetson, 31, of Blyth, wanted in connection with breach of licence
• Kevin Herron, 31, of Sunderland, wanted in connection with witness intimidation
• Dion Johnson, 21, of Easington Lane, wanted in connection with burglary
• Oliver Lamb, 19, of Newcastle, wanted on prison recall
• Ashley Lawson, 50, of Newcastle, wanted in connection with burglary
• Craig Shaw, 23, of Bedlington, wanted on prison recall. Also has links to Blyth area
• Mark Stevely, 39, of Newcastle, wanted in connection with assault. Also has links with North Tyneside.
• Aaron Sutherland, 30, of South Shields, wanted in connection with assault.
• Kristian White, 26, of Wallsend, wanted in connection with criminal damage and threats to kill.
• Michael Whitehouse, 34, of Felling, wanted in connection with an aggravated burglary

Superintendent Andy Huddleston said: “A number of searches are ongoing for each of these suspects who we believe are actively evading arrest.

“They may well be relying on friends or family to help them stay under the radar. I am today appealing for anybody who believes they have seen them – or know where they may be residing – to get in touch.

“When we have previously released images of wanted suspects, we have been overwhelmed by the public’s positive response – and your information has directly helped us detain fugitives and bring them into custody. We are looking to maintain the momentum and achieve that same outcome again.

“As we head into the summer, we are looking to locate these men as quickly as possible so we can interview them in connection with a range of offences committed across our region.

“I would encourage those pictured to hand themselves in to the nearest police station, and would reiterate that it is a criminal offence to harbour a wanted fugitive which could result in a prison sentence.

“By working together, we can continue to detect and disrupt criminality to ensure the North East remains as safe a place as it possibly can be to live, work and visit.”