Two brothers who carried out what police described as, “a shocking crime spree”, within hours of the same day, have both been jailed.
The McCabe siblings’ spate of offending included stealing alcohol from a petrol station, smashing hostel and car windows and the attempted theft of a driving instructor’s vehicle, all on Monday, April 4, last year.
Officers from across the Northumbria Police area worked together to secure convictions following Stephen and John Robert McCabe’s day of offending, which began when they kicked through the glass doors of a petrol filling station in Gateshead, in the early hours that day.
The pair then threatened the kiosk shop assistant, who was forced to hide in a back office, while they stole alcohol and vapes.
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Having visited their sister’s home to take part in a drinking session, Stephen McCabe attacked another man and bit part of the victim’s ear off.
On the afternoon of the same day, both brothers then travelled to Sunderland, where they shouted abuse at people outside a city-centre hostel.
After being asked to leave the complex, they smashed windows of the building.
It was then that the brazen pair approached a driving instructor’s car while he was taking a pupil for a lesson.
The thuggish pair threatened the instructor and his female pupil, telling them both to get out of the car.
John McCabe, who had a knife in his hand, threatened to stab the driving pupil unless she got out of the vehicle.
The victims were then able to flee from the scene, with the brothers throwing glass beer bottles at the car windscreen, smashing it in the process.
Police arrested the brothers a short time later, although three of the officers were assaulted by the offenders as they did so.
Stephen McCabe, 36, of High Street East, in Sunderland, admitted burglary, unlawful wounding, two charges of criminal damage, attempted robbery and assaulting emergency workers.
He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (April 21).
John McCabe, 35, of Barford Court, Gateshead, admitted one count burglary, two charges of criminal damage, plus attempted robbery, possessing a bladed article and assault on emergency workers.
He received a sentence totalling four years and four months in prison.
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Following the sentencing hearing, Detective Constable Ashleigh Wilson, of the Northumbria force, said: “This was a shocking case with multiple victims who were put through terrifying ordeals.
“The behaviour of both men was completely unacceptable and following our investigation they were rightly put before the courts and jailed.
“No-one in our communities should have to tolerate this type of criminality and the prison sentences handed out to both Stephen and John McCabe reflect the seriousness of their offending.
“Credit goes to our officers who were able to quickly trace the whereabouts of the pair, subdue them and get them into custody.
“We would also like to thank the victims and witnesses who have supported our investigation with valuable information.
“They have been a huge help in bringing both men to justice.”
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She urged anyone who sees any suspicious activity in the community, or with any information about local crime, to report it using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page on the force website.
Alternatively, criminal or suspicious activity can be reported by calling 101 and asking for Northumbria Police.
In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, people are always urged to ring 999.