A mum has told how her family has been left "broken beyond repair" as her teenage son's killers were jailed.
Much-loved Steven Thompson, 19, was killed during a night out with friends when senseless violence erupted in South Shields town centre. A court heard blameless Steven was initially assaulted by Leon Wildgoose and Dylan Ford after trying to stop Wildgoose from taking another person's bike.
There was then a lull before the pair attacked him again, Wildgoose throwing the fatal punch which knocked him out cold and left him with a brain injury from which he died. The pair pleaded guilty to manslaughter and now Wildgoose and Ford have been jailed for four years each. Ian Hall, Ford's stepfather, was cleared of manslaughter but admitted affray and was given a suspended sentence.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard the offence happened around 3am outside Roxanne's nightclub, in South Shields, on August 30 2021. Nicholas Lumley KC, prosecuting, said: "The initial disturbance began in relation to a bike at a time when Wildgoose and Ford were outside that nightclub with other people. Steven Thompson had arrived in the minutes before and he tried to prevent Wildgoose from pushing and peddling the bike away, believing he was trying to steal it from another man.
"Steven Thompson grabbed the bike and he was kicked in the back of his legs. Punches were thrown at him by Wildgoose and Ford."
There was then a lull and Hall, who had been in a bar nearby, came on the scene, having been told his stepson, Ford, was involved in a dispute. Hall went to the centre of a group of people and headbutted the owner of the bike, who was also assaulted by Ford but was not seriously injured.
There was then an accidental collision between Steven, who was not involved at that stage, and Ford. After Steven ended up being knocked to the ground, Ford and Wildgoose attacked him.
Mr Lumley said: "As he was getting up from the floor, Wildgoose grabbed him and threw him into the street. Wildgoose and Ford then went after him, Wildgoose throwing the fatal punch, connecting with his head. Steven Thompson fell straight to the floor, where he remained, motionless."
Steven was unconscious from the moment the blow was landed and suffered bleeding from the head and despite the best efforts of medics, he died at 5.11am that morning. He had suffered bleeding around his brain and bruising to the brain, leading to swelling and as a result his brain was deprived of oxygen, which led to his death.
In a victim impact statement, Steven's mum, Elaine Musleh, said: "He went out socialising with his friends and didn't come home. He was a lovely young man, a mild-mannered, gentle person who was never involved in any trouble and he rarely went out in South Shields town centre and preferred to go to a local bar with his friends.
"The loss of Steven has broken our family. It's had a devastating effect on our wider family and Steven's friends.
"I'm a different person. I can't sleep and if I do sleep I often wake up sobbing. I can't function in a normal way. I constantly feel angry, I feel I've turned into a dysfunctional psycho.
"We've had to endure Steven's birthday and Christmas without him. I can't find the words to describe how hard that was."
Elaine added that she found it difficult to deal with the fact those who killed her son were granted bail. She added: "To see people who have pleaded guilty to causing his death going about their business is unbearable.
"Why must a family who have lost a loved one like this have to suffer in this way. It breaks my heart to know my family is now broken beyond repair."
Wildgoose, 23, of Laygate, South Shields and Ford, 25, of Alice Street, South Shields, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and affray while Hall, 42, of Revesby Street, South Shields, admitted affray on the basis of the headbutt to the owner of the bike when he first arrived on the scene.
Wildgoose and Ford were told they will have to serve two-thirds of their four year sentences. Hall was sentenced to 30 weeks suspended for 18 months with 150 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation requirement.
Judge Penny Moreland told Wildgoose and Ford: "I've heard a moving victim personal statement made by Steven Thompson's mother and I've heard how what you did has broken his family. No sentence I pass can bring Steven Thompson back and no sentence I can pass can offer any consolation to her."
Adam Birkby, for Wildgoose, said he had not been stealing the bike but was just "fooling around" on it. He added: "He has genuine remorse, he is deeply ashamed of his behaviour. He knows any apology will sound hollow but he is truly sorry.
"He has abstained from alcohol since this, realising it was a substantial trigger. He is a hard-working, caring and generally responsible young man and this offence was wholly out of character for him."
Gavin Doig, for Ford, said he has significant caring responsibilities as his mum is an amputee. The court heard he is sorry for what he did.
Toby Hedworth KC, for Hall, said his unlawful violence was limited to headbutting the bike owner, who had been "fronting up" to Ford. He added: "He is a hard-working family man and what happened on this night is completely out of character for him. He is genuinely remorseful for what happened." Mr Hedworth added that Hall has recently had four strokes in three weeks.
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