A thug has been locked up for more than 18 years for his part in a shotgun conspiracy.

Sean Ree was among six people put before the courts after a feud between warring factions from Tyneside's underworld spilled out into the open in 2017, with houses shot at and innocent lives put at risk.

Last month, five of them - Michael Conroy, Darren Appleby, Jamie Moran, Kenneth Moran and Bailey Wilson - were jailed for a total of almost a century for their part in the dispute.

Now Sean Ree, 26, previously of Coach Road, Wallsend, has been sentenced to more than 18 years in prison following a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

Sean Ree convicted in gang feud shooting trial
Sean Ree convicted in gang feud shooting trial


All six men were found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life in March after a trial.

Prosecutors revealed how what started as a petty spat "quickly escalated" into a potentially deadly war.

Two masked men ransacked a cafe on the West Road owned by rival Paul Scott on October 13, the first in several aggressive attacks towards the business.

Prosecutor Matthew Donkin told Leeds Crown Court it happened in front of members of the public "including school children"

On another occasion, a car deliberately rammed the shutters of Cafe West and the home of the owner was sprayed with graffiti.

Scott responded by moving his wife and children to a house on Drysdale Court in Brunswick, the scene of the first shooting on January 4, 2018.

Prosecutors said the target was Scott - but the hapless triggerman shot at the wrong house, shattering a window just feet away from an innocent woman who was doing her knitting.

Mr Donkin said: "The trial heard expert evidence that the shot was potentially lethal and would normally have been expected to shatter the window and cause serious harm to a person inside the premises."

Four days later somebody shot the window of a home in Deepdale Crescent, Cowgate. Nobody has been convicted of that offence.

When police attended the Cowgate shooting, they found the address which had been shot at belonged to Michael Conroy Snr, his wife and children and Appleby, according to prosecutors.

Top from l-r: Bailey Wilson, Kenneth Moran, Darren Appleby. Bottom l-r: Michael Conroy and Jamie Moran. The gang have been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court
Top from l-r: Bailey Wilson, Kenneth Moran, Darren Appleby. Bottom l-r: Michael Conroy and Jamie Moran. The gang have been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court


The court heard how there was evidence of a petrol bomb attack by unknown assailants at the same address but no information was offered to the police as the "matter was being taken into their own hands".

The same night, five bullets were shot at a home in Oakfield Gardens, Benwell.

Detectives established that a shotgun was used to shoot at the house in Brunswick and at least two weapons were used in Benwell - a .22 rifle and a .410 shotgun.

Officers identified who had been involved in the violent conspiracy using CCTV, DNA and phone data and narrowed in on a "safe house" on Wingrove Avenue in Fenham, Newcastle.

The six men were found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the Brunswick shooting.

Appleby, Conroy and Jamie Moran were also found guilty of the same charge in relation to the Benwell shooting.

Michael Conroy, 36, of Heathfield Crescent, Cowgate, Newcastle, was jailed for 22 years and will serve five on licence. He had also been found guilty of possessing ammunition, namely a .22 bullet, without a certificate.

Darren Appleby, 23, of Deepdale Crescent, Cowgate, was jailed for 24 years and five on licence.

Jamie Moran, 29, of Whickham View, Newcastle, was jailed for 21 years and will serve five on licence.

Kenneth Moran, 28, of Caroline Cottages, Slatyford, Newcastle, was jailed for 19 years and five on licence.

Bailey Wilson, 21, of Cartmell Green, Slatyford, was jailed for 22 years and five on licence.

Previously, Appleby and Jamie Moran were also found guilty of possessing a firearm without a certificate, namely a pump-action rifle, and guilty of possessing ammunition without a certificate, namely .22 bullets during the March trial.

Paul Scott, his brother Steven Scott and Steven Melvin all admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and were jailed earlier this year.

Northumbria Police' s Det Chief Insp Paul Woods has previously said he was delighted that a "dangerous and violent criminal gang" had been taken off the streets.

He added: "This case focused on two rival organised crime gangs who have no respect for the law or for the members of the public who were caught up in their reckless behaviour.

"Our streets are a safer place today because a team of detectives, officers and police staff worked day and night to gather the evidence needed to secure these convictions.

"Under the banner of Operation Sentinel that hard work continues and we will not let organised crime groups put lives at risk.

"This should send a strong message to all organised crime gangs across our region - if you take the law into your own hands then we will take your freedom."