A 'tormented' family were left living in fear after being bombarded by threats and demands for money from two women - including a member of the notorious Sayers family.
Yvonne Sayers "made reference to her family name" during a prolonged campaign of "bullying" and "extortion" which she carried out with Ashley Donaldson. A court heard they picked on a husband and wife in Walker after their son fled Newcastle with suspected drug debts.
Repeated demands for money were made and damage was done to their property and the scared family handed over what money they could. Sayers, who was also separately found with two kilos of cannabis, and Donaldson, were originally charged with blackmail but prosecutors dropped that charge and they both admitted harassment and affray.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard it was in October 2020 the son of the family told his parents he was leaving Newcastle. He would not say why but they thought it was because of his drug debts.
Sayers and Donaldson then began to take advantage of the situation by demanding money from the man's dad. Graeme O'Sullivan, prosecuting, said: "Sayers would make reference to the family name and she would say it was her father's money that was owed.
"They made threats someone would put their windows out if it was not paid. He was scared for himself and his family's safety. On two occasions his mobility vehicle had its window smashed and his son-in-law's minibus had a window smashed."
Donaldson also attended the family home and made threats and a brick was put through a rear window of a car parked on their drive. The dad managed to borrow more than £1,000, which was given to Donaldson and passed to Sayers. However there were then more demands for money and threats of damage made over the following months.
The son transferred £400 to his dad and this was passed onto them and the dad even sold his computer for £160 because Sayers kept going round and demanding money and making threats.
The son then transferred another £400, which was also given to Sayers. She then attended their home again and appeared under the influence and repeatedly demanded £50, which she was given.
Sayers then mentioned that £4,500 was owed but then Donaldson rang the dad saying the figure had gone up to £7,500. Sayers then attended the house again, walking in and demanding £20. She later walked in again and helped herself to a cigarette.
The dad later saw her outside "shouting and screaming and making threats". Mr O'Sullivan said: "(The dad's) daughters were present. Sayers was shouting threats that she would put out their windows and that their house would be petrol bombed."
She then picked up an internal door that was outside and tried to throw it through the window. Mr O'Sullivan said: "She said she wanted £20 for vodka and if not she would jump off a bridge and kill herself or slit her throat.
"She made reference to the debt being £7,500. Donaldson was with her, egging her on and also tried to pick up a door to smash a window.
"Also present in the (victims') home were their daughters and other family and their six-year-old grandson."
In a victim impact statement, the man said: "I have felt threatened and intimidated and struggled to cope with the demands for money. We don't feel safe and want to move away and move on with our lives.
"The actions of Ashley Donaldson and Yvonne Sayers have had a hugely damaging effect. Even after they were arrested we were living with the worry they might return. For a long time afterwards none of us felt safe."
His wife added: "They have caused me and my family a huge amount of worry and upset. Following damage to our windows I was worried about going out in the garden in case of further incidents with me and my family.
"We had to deal with repeated demands for money and it's affected our children. I've been dealing with serious health problems and the worry of my health has made the additional worry even less welcome. I would like them to keep away from my family."
Sayers and Donaldson admitted harassment between October 2020 and March 2021 and affray in March 2021. Sentencing them, Judge Christopher Prince said: "The pair of you tormented the family. There are various words that could be applied. Some would frame it as a form of blackmail, extortion or extreme bullying - those are all apposite words." The judge later said he used the word blackmail in a non-legal sense.
He warned the two women that if they breached the restraining order and went with 10 metres of the victims' gate, they should expect to go to prison.
Sayers also admitted possessing cannabis after police found 2.31 kilos of the drug, worth up to £2,700, in March 2021. Officers attended an address on Walker Road after reports of a possible intruder and Sayers was there with another woman. The court heard prosecutors accepted her guilty plea to simple possession on the basis a lot of the cannabis was "dust or waste material".
Donaldson and Vincent Graham admitted possessing cannabis with intent. Police executed a search warrant at Donaldson's home on Losh Terrace, Walker. In total, 935 of cannabis, worth around £9,000.
Sayers, 33, of Alfred Street, Walker, Newcastle, who has ten previous convictions, including for battery, threats to kill, affray and breaching a restraining order, was sentenced to an 18 month community order but only because she has done the equivalent of a three-year sentence - on remand for 17 months and on a curfew for 50 days.
Donaldson, 32, of Losh Terrace, Walker, Newcastle, who has four previous convictions, including for racially or religiously aggravated harassment and possessing cannabis, was given an 18 month community order. Sayers and Donaldson were both given indefinite restraining orders.
Graham, 21, of Cheviot Mount, Byker, Newcastle, who has 22 previous convictions, including possessing cannabis, was sentenced to ten months suspended for 18 months.
Andrew Walker, for Sayers, said there is a "complex history in her life" and said she has served the equivalent of a three-year prison sentence on remand and on a curfew.
Penny Hall, for Donaldson, said she has two young daughters and Jane Foley, for Graham, said he now has a child and a job.
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