Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
Three men have each been jailed for 13 years and 9 months after admitting their part in a firearms incident earlier this year.
On the evening of 28th May Cleveland Police received multiple calls reporting a man had been injured in a drive-by shooting in Grangetown. Some callers also mentioned a machete.
Numerous officers immediately attended the scene, discovering the 21-year-old victim in a garden in Griffiths Road.
They administered first aid to a gunshot wound to the man’s upper body before he was taken to hospital, where he received treatment for serious injuries
Other officers began to scour the area for vehicles which callers had described as being present at the incident.
Griffiths Road saw continued intense police activity over the next days and weeks as officers pieced together what had happened that day.
Early enquiries revealed the victim had been attacked elsewhere on Griffiths Road at its junction with Atlee Road and searches at Griffiths Road revealed a machete in another front garden.
The Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) managed the investigation and three suspects were identified: Martin Timms (53), Richard Finn (45) and Christopher Teasdale (42).
All three were arrested by armed response officers at Timms’ address in Caernarvon Close in Eston on 30th May and they were questioned on suspicion of attempted murder and firearms offences.
They were charged, attending Teesside Magistrates’ Court later that day from where they were remanded until their next appearance, with Cleveland Police continuing reassurance patrols and other community engagement work until the men attended Crown Court at the end of June.
On 8th October, all three men pleaded guilty to GBH with intent and they were remanded in custody until today’s sentencing at Teesside Crown Court.
They will each serve 10 years and 9 months in custody, and three years on extended licence.
Senior​ Investigation Officer HMET Inspector Chris Pringle said: “This incident began over what appeared to be a trivial disagreement but it escalated into extreme violence which led to a young man being seriously injured.
“Understandably it also led to the local community experiencing significant concern about what had happened on their doorstep.
"Nevertheless many residents were brave enough to pass information and footage to the enquiry team and I’d like to express my thanks to them for their help and support; it really was essential in helping us progress our enquiries.
“Cleveland Police deployed significant resources to the enquiry including detectives, intelligence officers, the Matrix team, drone operators and forensics experts as well as our neighbourhood police teams who dedicated many weeks to community engagement and reassurance work.
“I’d also like to thank our emergency service partners and colleagues at Redcar & Cleveland Council for their support from the outset.
“We will not tolerate violence in our communities and will use every tool at our disposal to tackle and bring to justice those who believe they’re above the law.”
Martin Timms:
Richard Finn:
Christopher Teasdale: