Brothers jailed for horrendous attack

DISPUTE OVER LOAN LED TO A CRUEL BEATING

TWO brothers who left a man “looking as if both ears had been partly torn from his head” in a sustained attack have been jailed.

Paul and Ronald Sebastinelli, who were involved in a dispute over a loan with an associate, lured him to a house in Newcastle and set upon him.

A court heard he suffered multiple injuries, including lacerations to both ears, one of which went down into the cartilage.

While on bail for that, Paul Sebastinelli went on to carjack a taxi at knifepoint before crashing it.

Now he has been jailed for eight years while Ronald Sebastinelli got two years.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the assault victim had known the Sebastinellis for more than 20 years and had loaned Paul £60 or £70.

He had asked for the money back and there had been discussions about it.

On February 4, an arrangement was made for him to go to Ronald Sebastinelli’s home on Welbeck Road, Walker, which he did around midnight.

When he turned, up Ronald was wearing a balaclava, but he recognised him. The victim was then attacked for several minutes including with a “tool or implement”.

Judge Sarah Mallett said: “During the attack he believed he was going to die and sustained numerous injuries.

“I’ve seen photographs which show the level of injuries.

“He was taken to hospital and it looked, when his wounds were looked at more closely, according to the police officer, as if both ears had been partly torn from his head.”

As well as the cuts to his ears, he had facial and head injuries and lacerations to his forehead, neck and scalp.

While on bail for that offence, Paul Sebastinelli terrorised a taxi driver in Wallsend.

The 37-year-old victim, who was working for Blue Line at the time, was parked up waiting for his next booking when Sebastinelli approached with Jill McMahon.

Sebastinelli got in the front passenger seat but was told by the cabbie he was not allowed to pick up business without it being prebooked.

Judge Mallett said: “You produced a large kitchen knife which you pointed, with the point at his left side and said ‘give us your money and phone and open the boot.’

“He feared for his life and handed you cash and the keys.

“He was afraid you were going to put him inside the boot. He panicked and jumped out and ran away. “The victim was traumatised by the incident and feared for his life as he thought you were going to stab him. “He has not gone back to working as a taxi driver but is working as a bus driver.” Sebastinelli then stole the taxi, with McMahon in the passenger seat.

But soon afterwards he crashed into a parked Volvo with such force it was shunted ten metres.

When witnesses went to help, McMahon was unconscious and Sebastinelli, who was bleeding from his head, ran off.

The taxi driver said in a victim statement: “I’m totally shocked and feel sick.

“I really feared for my life and thought I was going to be stabbed.

“My livelihood has gone as I’ve lost my car.”

Paul Sebastinelli, 52, of Adelphi Place, Walker, who has 161 previous convictions, admitted unlawful wounding, robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, having a bladed article, failing to provide a specimen, having no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He was jailed for eight years.

Ronald Sebastinelli, 58, of Welbeck Road, Walker, who has 60 previous convictions, admitted unlawful wounding and was jailed for two years.

McMahon, formerly of Denmark Street, Byker, who has 13 previous convictions and was on a community order at the time for failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to an animal, pleaded guilty to aggravated allowing herself to be carried in a stolen car and was jailed for eight months.

No evidence was offered in relation to the assault for McMahon and Caroline Cochrane, 42, of Welbeck Road, Walker. Cochrane was cleared of any wrongdoing and walked free.

The prosecution cannot say which of the two men used the weapon during the assault.

Rachel Hedworth, for Paul Sebastinelli, claimed the assault victim had been “preying” on her client, who she was was “extremely vulnerable”.

She added: “He was not really capable of looking after himself and the death of his mother has had a significant effect on him.”

Penny Hall, for Ronald Sebastinelli, said he was well-liked by people in the community and is a family man with three children and grandchildren.

She added: “He does regret his actions completely on this day.

“He is in ill health physically and mentally.”

Jonathan Pigford, for McMahon, said she has been subjected to bullying and is now homeless again.

He added that she had spent six weeks in hospital after the taxi crashed and continues to suffer the effects of the accident.

I really feared for my life and thought I was going to be stabbed