Three brothers who ruined a day out at the seaside for families by taking part in a series of beach brawls have walked free from court.
Michael Cowell, Tony Cowell and Jordan Cowell brought violence and disorder to picturesque Cullercoats bay. A court heard a series of punch-ups broke out as others jeered and encouraged the disgraceful scenes on the beach and promenade.
A grandmother who was at the coast with her son and grandchildren, aged eight and three, was left so shocked by what they witnessed she is now too frightened to take the children back to the popular area. The woman alerted police to what was happening shortly before 7pm on June 25 2020 and reported seeing a number of men fighting.
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Sentencing the Cowells at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Robert Adams said: "She described them as a gang. People were concerned and trying to stop the fight.
"Michael Cowell was the main culprit. She described him as a plump male who would punch, withdraw and come back and punch again.
"He tried to make off from the police and ran towards the group of witnesses. It's accepted he didn't intend to cause intimidation to them but it did cause intimidation.
"Police arrived on the scene to see a male with no top on behaving in a violent manner and gesturing. Two or three males were fighting and the crowd was jeering. Fights were occurring all over the place.
"One male refused to comply with requests to stop fighting and said 'f****** tramps you are a dead man'. Despite the presence of the police, the fighting continued."
The gran said in a victim impact statement: "The incident left me shocked and upset. I've lived in Cullercoats nearly 40 years and I've never seen anything like this before.
"I enjoyed taking my grandchildren to the beach but I will not do so anymore. I don't know how it started in such a beautiful location.
"I was terrified not only for myself but for my son and grandchildren. We will no longer visit the beach. It breaks my heart every time I tell my grandchildren they can't go and play on the beach." Her son added that the children were "very frightened" and said it lasted around half an hour.
Michael Cowell and Tony Cowell admitted affray while Jordan Cowell admitted a public order offence.
Tony Cowell, Jordan Cowell and Joe Hawkins were also involved in disturbance at Saltwell Park, Gateshead, in May 2020. Music was being using a microphone and when police unplugged it they were met with aggression and abuse. Attempts were made to kick, headbutt and bite an officer and Hawkins spat on an officer's back. The two Cowells admitted a public order offence and Hawkins admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
Jordan Cowell also admitted a burglary in Whitley Bay on January 22 2020, sneaking into a mum's home, including her bedroom as she slept, with her son also in the house. He stole various valuables and £1,500 cash and the victim was left upset and shocked.
Tony Cowell also admitted dangerous driving - doing more than 100mph, failing to stop for police and driving at 60mph in a 30 zone - while Jordan Cowell admitted taking the same vehicle without consent.
Tony Cowell, 30, of Lough Court, Gateshead, who has 36 previous convictions, was sentenced to 24 months suspended for 18 months with an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement, a thinking skills programme and a two year driving ban.
Jordan Cowell, 23, of Bewick Road, Gateshead, who has one previous conviction, was sentenced to 23 months suspended for 18 months with an alcohol abstintence requirement and must pay £1,000 compensation to the burglary victim.
Michael Cowell, 28, of Warwick Street, Gateshead, who has 56 previous convictions, got 12 months suspended for 18 months.
Hawkins, 28, of Selsey Court, Gateshead, who has no previous convictions, got six weeks suspended for 12 months with a curfew.
Peter Schofield, for Tony Cowell, said he used to work for Amazon and on a building site and added: "There are signs he is looking in a different direction. There's a genuine prospect of rehabilitation."
Tony Cornberg, for Jordan Cowell, said he is the youngest brother and there was an element of him joining in with others, except in the burglary. He added that he has autism and ADHD and is now working.
John Wilkinson, for Michael Cowell, said he has been on a curfew for an entended period and is working and Rachel Hedworth, for Hawkins, said he is "extremely sorry".
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