23 years for kidnappers
MAN TELLS COURT OF TERRIFYING ORDEAL AT KNIFEPOINT AS KIDNAPPERS ARE JAILED
TWO kidnappers who took a man from his home at knifepoint in the middle of the night and threatened to kill his children have been jailed for 23 years.
Kevin Lawson and Thomas Weatherson subjected their victim to a terrifying ordeal lasting more than an hour during which he was forced to drive them around under duress.
A court heard the kidnap happened for no known reason but the victim was robbed and ended up having to abandon his car and run away.
Lawson, who also carried out a spate of burglaries to steal cars for joyriding, then went on the run and the police spent hundreds of man hours hunting him down during a 10-day search.
Now Lawson, 27, who admitted kidnap, robbery, threats to kill, six burglaries and five offences of taking without consent, has been jailed for 13 years.
Weatherson, 30, who admitted kidnap, robbery and threats to kill, has been locked up for 10 years.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the kidnap happened in September last year when the victim was at home in Newcastle with his partner and four children.
Lawson and Weatherson - who knew the victim - turned up around 5.30am and demanded a lift.
Vince Ward, prosecuting, said: “They arrived at his house banging on the door, both of them acting aggressively.
“Weatherson in particular was demanding to be taken to an address and the complainant said he didn’t want to take him anywhere.
“They entered the house, continued their demands and Weatherson produced a knife which had a blue handle and a three to four inch blade.
“He continued to make the same demand and the complainant was clearly fearful.”
The court heard eventually the victim and his friend were “compelled by fear” to get into his car and give them a lift.
After calling at the house they wanted to visit, the kidnappers ordered the man to pull over near Scotswood Bridge at Blaydon, taking the car key as the pair went outside to talk.
After a while they got back in the rear seats, Weatherson sitting directly behind the driver.
“For no apparent reason he suddenly grabbed the complainant by the neck and began choking him,” Mr Ward said.
“Lawson produced a knife and opened the driver’s door. He said ‘we need to take your car.’
“Weatherson was screaming ‘stab him, ******* stab him.’
“Lawson lunged towards him in
a stabbing motion but didn’t make contact.”
The complainant’s friend - not classed as a victim because he didn’t want to co-operate with the prosecution - tried to intervene but Lawson then went round to the passenger side.
The two terrified men then took their chance to make a run for it and tried to flag down members of the public to help.
But Lawson and Weatherson drove the victim’s car towards him.
Mr Ward said: “Lawson was driving and Weatherson told him to run the complainant over and threatened to harm his children.
“He said ‘If you grass me I will kill your kids.
“He repeated the threat to kill his children more than once.”
A member of the public stopped and allowed the victim to use his phone to contact police.
Soon afterwards, the stolen car crashed in Newburn, hitting a number of vehicles and causing extensive damage.
The police helicopter was scrambled and Weatherson was found hiding in bushes but Lawson was not caught for 10 days after a manhunt.
The kidnap victim said: “I was absolutely terrified for myself and my family.
“I was in fear of serious harm being committed against my family. I feared for all our lives.
“I knew we would never feel safe in our home and I knew we couldn’t live there any longer.
“We’ve since moved to different, safe accommodation in a different area. The disruption has been immense. The children have been uprooted from their friends and family and school.
“We now don’t have anywhere near the contact we had with family and friends and we fear returning to Newcastle.
“A new life has been forced on us. It’s caused me and my wife anxiety and depression. We are always aware of the threat of violence towards us.
“I’m shocked and angry Thomas Weatherson would do this to my family. “I considered him a friend. “I’m shocked he would bring Lawson to my house and do this to me. I’ve known Thomas a long time and I’ve no idea why he did this.” Lawson also carried out a spate of burglaries, including targeting a house in Westerhope in the early hours of September 18, where a Skoda was stolen. The female victim, who has spent her life helping people, including those in custody, and whose mother was critically ill at the time, went into the witness box to explain the impact.
She said the break-in cost her around £1,500, adding: “This doesn’t include the loss of counselling appointments for some of the most vulnerable children.
“I’ve spent a lifetime serving others, including as a custody visitor to protect the wellbeing of those held in police custody.
“Sadly I felt the need to stand down from my role as a custody carer.”
Lawson burgled another home in Cowgate the same morning, stealing two cars.
Four other homes were also targeted, two of which had cars stolen.
Judge Edward Bindloss said: “They were for joyriding purposes.
“They were burglaries just for a cheap thrill through town.”
Jamie Adams, for Lawson, of no fixed address, said: “From a very early age he had been let down by adults around him.
“He grew up in a subculture where the sense of right and wrong is not the same as in the rest of society.
“He expresses remorse for what he has done.”
Regarding the kidnap Mr Adams said: “They initially go there to take a lift to Weatherson’s girlfriend’s house, I think, and it became something horrendous.
“He is articulate and intelligent but has been misguided.”
Richard Bloomfield, for Weatherson, of no fixed address, said: “He says he didn’t threaten to kill the children.
“He pleaded guilty to that offence because he thought he would be convicted of that by a jury.
“This looks like it was something in the order of some bullying in the early hours of the morning.
“They were always likely to be found out.
“It seems inexplicable really. There was substance misuse. He had a troubled childhood.”
Michelle Ravenhall, 50, of Oak Court, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, who admitted one of the burglaries and allowing herself to be carried in a stolen vehicle, was given a 12-month community order.
Paul Caulfield said Ravenhall’s role in the burglary was limited to keeping watch while Lawson broke in and stole car keys.
For no apparent reason he suddenly grabbed the complainant by the neck and began choking him Vince Ward, prosecuting