South Shields thugs face jail after ‘kind and funny’ 19-year-old killed outside nightclub

Three man face jail after a violent assault in South Shields left a family without their 'kind and funny' teenage son.

In the early hours of August 30 last year, Steven Thompson, 19, had been out socialising with friends before he was left unconscious following an assault outside a club on Anderson Street, South Shields.

Sadly, despite the efforts of emergency services Steven died later that same day.

An investigation was launched into the brutal assault and detectives swiftly arrested Leon Wildgoose, 23, Dylan Ford, 25, and Ian Hall, 42.

Wildgoose, of Laygate, South Shields, and Ford, of Egglesfield Road, South Shields, both pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February. In court it was heard how Wildgoose and Ford had repeatedly kicked and punched Thompson until he lay unconscious in the street.

On Tuesday, following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Hall, of Revesby Street, South Shields, was found not guilty of manslaughter however, Hall previously pleaded guilty to affray after an altercation during the same incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Dodds, the senior investigating officer on the case, said: “These three men will now face the consequences of their violent actions. Once again we want to thank those who came forward and helped with our enquires and assisted in ensuring justice for Steven and his family.

“Hopefully this case acts as a reminder to everybody that violence of any kind has a devastating impact on victims and families and there is no place for it in our communities.”

In a previous tribute Steven’s mother, Elaine, said: “Kind, funny and loved by everyone – that was Steven.

“We are an extremely close-knit family and this loss has truly devastated us, it’s not possible to put into words how much we love him and will miss him.”

Wildgoose, Ford and Hall are all due to be sentenced at a later date.