Final members of South Shields torture gang locked up as total jail sentences reach 69 years

Top, l-r: Craig Seales, Daniel Lake, Kasim Thompson; Centre, l-r: Iain Sutherland, Grant Maclean, Jonathon Ferguson; Bottom, l-r: Samantha Olsen, Jonathon Mason, Liam Price
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


The final two members of a torture gang who terrified three men while holding them captive have been jailed - bringing the total sentences handed out to more than 69 years.

Victims were kept in a garage and subject to various forms of violence while demands were cash were made to secure their release. A blow torch or bunsen burner was used, along with substances being poured on them and they were also hit with a shovel, kicked and punched.

As we reported previously, seven people had been locked up for their part in the shocking scenes, which happened following a dispute over alleged drug debts.

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Now Daniel Lake, 33, of Landseer Gardens, South Shields, who orchestrated the plot, and Jonathon Ferguson, 31, of Quarry Lane, South Shields have also received prison sentences. Both men pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail and Ferguson also admitted unrelated charges of common assault and criminal damage.

Judge Amanda Rippon said it was not possible to say exactly who caused specific injuries to the victims. She said Lake was behind what happened and it was his debt and he made arrangements and took part in what happened.

Lake was jailed for 11 years and eight months with an extended licence period of a further 28 months. Ferguson got eight years and seven months.

Judge Rippon referred to a statement by one of the victims, targeted simply because his brother allegedly owed money. He: “I will never forget what I walked into.

“They were big guys, much bigger than me and looked dodgy. The garage was horrible. It was dirty and stunk.

“I was thinking it’s the kind of place people get tortured in, like something in a movie. I could see a shovel and bunsen burners.

“I could see my little brother was already hurt and crying. I knew I was going to get hurt too. I felt helpless seeing him look like this. I won’t forget the look of fear on his face.

“I thought this was it, we were going to die.” He said his brother was saying a Muslim prayer which is said before death and he was saying it in his head.

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He added: “I thought we were at the end of life. I was physically shaking in fear. I find it difficult to even think back to this time in the garage.”

He said he was allowed to leave for a time to try to find money but he knew there was none he could get and when he got back to the garage he thought they would be killed. However they were given two days to find £20,000 and allowed to leave. He said: “I feel lucky to be alive.”

Iain Sutherland, 33, of Marigold Walk, South Shields, admitted two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail and was jailed for nine-and-half years. Grant Maclean, 25, of Bluebell Way, admitted two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail and got nine years and three months.

Samantha Olsen, 36, of Sheridan Road, South Shields, who admitted two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail, was also being sentenced for money laundering and cheating the revenue offences. She was jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years.

Kasim Thompson, 35, of Cedar Grove, South Shields, who pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and one count of blackmail, was jailed for nine years. Craig Seales, 37, of Rembrandt Avenue, South Shields, was jailed for 10 years and four months.

Jonathon Mason, 35, of Pine Avenue and Liam Price, 30, of Oak Avenue, both South Shields, were cleared of blackmail and a jury failed to reach a verdict on false imprisonment charges. They pleaded guilty to affray. They were each jailed for 15 months. They are time-served having been on remand.