North Tyneside kidnappers jailed for 44 years at Newcastle court

Police received a report that a man had fallen from a moving white Vito Mercedes van on the Coast Road in Wallsend at around 7.30pm on Friday, July 1, last year.

Emergency services were swiftly deployed to the scene and found a seriously injured man who was bound at the wrists with cable ties, lying in the middle of the road.

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The man – then aged 34 – was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and an investigation was immediately launched by officers to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Armed with only a description of the van that had already left the scene, detectives started to trawl nearby CCTV camera footage, and carried out extensive house-to-house enquiries in the area.

Meanwhile, a second male victim – aged 21 at the time – came forward to police, disclosing that he had also been in the van before being moved and released from a different vehicle in the Blyth area, and was concerned about his injured friend.

Enquiries soon revealed an horrific kidnap plot which saw Harri Pearce, Mason Schubeler, Reece Speirs and Ricky Fidler, force entry to an address in East Howden, cable tie their victims and bundle them into the white Vito Mercedes van.

The thugs drove their victims around North Tyneside for more than an hour, physically threatening them with weapons and violence before one of the victims escaped, and the other was released.

Over the coming days and weeks, detectives gathered crucial evidence including proof that two of the kidnappers had purchased the cable ties and a padlock used at Wallsend store less than 20 minutes before the attack was carried out.

The Mercedes van was found burnt out (Image: Contributor)

After finding the Mercedes burnt out in North Shields, police also connected two other vehicles – as silver Ford Transit van and a grey Vauxhall Astra – to the investigation.

In an effort to arrest Fidler, officers were also forced to abandon a pursuit on the Coast Road during the morning of Saturday, July 2, when he drove the Ford transit van on the wrong side of the carriageway at speed to evade capture.

It was not long before they had arrested and charged the four men in connection with the kidnap – as well as their associate Laura Watson, who was called in to help release the second victim and clean up the crime scene.

The group previously pleaded guilty to a string of offences in February and appeared before Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, April 6, where they were sentenced to a total of 43 years and 10 months in prison.

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Detective Inspector Katie Smith, from Northumbria Police’s Crime Department, led the investigation.

She said: "This was a truly appalling case and is unlike anything I have investigated during my time with the Force.

"I would firstly like to commend both of the victims in this case for the bravery they have shown throughout these lengthy criminal proceedings.

"Thankfully the victim who escaped from the moving van on the Coast Road was able to physically recover – but it is sheer luck that he did not suffer life-changing injuries, or worse still, that he was killed.

“The offenders in this case thought they were slick enough to carry out such a brazen and violent attack and get away with it.

“However, they clearly underestimated the lengths that we would go to with our investigation to ensure they could be brought to justice for their reckless and dangerous behaviour.

“I’d like to thank the team of officers and staff who worked tirelessly on this case around the clock to put the offenders involved before the courts.

"I would also like to recognise the amazing support we received from people in the surrounding community, especially a mystery Good Samaritan who cut the cable ties off the first victim’s wrists on the Coast Road.

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“During the course of our investigation, we discovered crucial evidence such as plastic packaging with a shop barcode on it for the cable ties used in the kidnap – as well as fingerprints on the packaging found at the scene. Not only that – but shameless Schubeler carried out the offence while wearing an electronic tag for another crime.

“Thanks to the strong case presented in court, all five offenders were ultimately left with little option but to admit their guilt and have now been jailed for a significant period of time. This really is testament to the investigation team’s hard work and efforts on the case.

“I want to make it clear that violence of any kind is completely unacceptable – and is never the answer. We are committed to taking robust action against violent offenders to ensure that our region remains a safe place to live and work in – as well as to visit.”

In addition to the kidnap plot, Schubeler was also sentenced for his role in a cocaine conspiracy which saw him working with associates to supply Class A drugs during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

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Officers monitored Schubeler and his group between March 12 and July 15 as part of a complex investigation which would see encrypted messages infiltrated and a series of targeted raids recover kilos of cocaine worth £135,000 and £260,000 of suspected criminal cash. He was observed at multiple locations where drugs and cash changed hands before his arrest.  

He is the twelfth and final person to be jailed for the conspiracy and his sentence of three years brings the overall total to 68 years.

Harri Pearce (Image: Contributor)

Harri Pearce, 22, of Westmorland Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap, aggravated burglary, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and assault, and was jailed for 12 years and eight months. He was also banned from driving for 11 years and nine months, and must take an extended re-test if he wants his licence back.

Mason Schubeler (Image: Contributor)

Mason Schubeler, 21, of Marondale Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap, aggravated burglary and two counts of assault, as well as being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and was jailed for 11 years and nine months to serve in a young offender’s institution.

Reece Speirs (Image: Contributor)

Reece Speirs, 23, of Norham Road, North Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap, and assault, and was jailed for seven years and four months.

Ricky Fidler (Image: Contributor)

Ricky Fidler, 21, of Victoria Court, West Moor, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap, aggravated burglary, dangerous driving, and two counts of assault, and was jailed for 10 years. He was also banned from driving for nine years and six months, and must take an extended re-test if he wants his licence back.

Laura Watson (Image: Contributor)

Laura Watson, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnap, and was jailed for two years and one month.