By Damien Gayle
Last updated at 9:09 PM on 7th February 2012
Encouragement: Lucy Owen, 21, was given a suspended sentence for her role in organising the mass brawl
A shot man's girlfriend encouraged his friends to spark a bloody mass fight between two rival gangs wielding an arsenal of brutal weapons.
Gang members were left with an array of injuries after fighting with swords, machetes, axes, hammers and even cars during the clash in Wallsend, North Tyneside.
One of those involved, 23-year-old Mark Amis, is only alive today thanks to surgeons who saved his life after a stab wound narrowly missed his vital organs.
At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Paul Sloan yesterday jailed the gang-members, connected to arch-enemies Dean Elliott and Dale Fuller, for a total of 30 years.
Tensions had been rising between Blackpool-based Elliott's crew from North Shields' Meadow Well estate and Fuller's Howdon, Wallsend, gang for some time.
The feud escalated when Elliott's friend Paul Borg was gunned down outside his home in August 2010.
Borg, 26, agreed to give evidence against those behind the shooting - forcing them to plead guilty at the start of their trial in April last year.
Fuller went on Facebook and labelled him 'a grass'.
His online taunts enraged Elliott and over the coming days, egged on by Borg's then girlfriend Lucy Owen, the 22-year-old began planning retribution.
Dean Elliott, 22, right, from Blackpool, who was the main instigator of the fight and friend of shot Paul Borg, jailed for 32 months. His arch-rival, Wallsend gang leader Dale Fuller, 24, left, was jailed for 31 months
In text conversations with Owen and others, Elliott talked of two hit-lists - the 'haircut list' made-up of people he wanted to hurt and the 'deep-sleep list'.
In one message he said: 'I'm going to put him to sleep,' and in another he wrote: 'I'm ready to melt his face with acid.'
In the days leading up to the fight, Elliott recruited gang members, some with a known history of violence.
For her part, Owen, 21, not only found out which pubs Fuller and his friends might be at that Saturday, she also agreed to be Elliott's alibi.
In the days leading up to the battle, she texted him saying 'Get Dale telt. Hope he dies.'
In another message she said: 'You know how to do it. I will say I was with you at all times.'
Paul Borg, left, 26, was jailed for 28 months. Michael McNamara, right, 23, was jailed for 20 months
After stalking each other from pub to pub, the rival gangs finally met at a cut near the Rosehill Tavern, Churchill Street, Wallsend, shortly before 10.30pm on April 15 last year.
For several minutes, the gangs fought a savage battle with knives and swords, driving cars down the residential street at each other, panicking locals and leaving many injured.
The most seriously hurt, Amis, suffered serious stab wounds, with the blade of the weapon he was attacked with only narrowly missing his vital organs.
The court heard he is only alive today thanks to the skill of the surgeons that battled to save his life.
Craig Kennedy, 31, left, was jailed for 24 months. Jordan Hammond, 19, right, was jailed for 20 months
Brian Hurst, prosecuting, said: 'The fight was organised and premeditated. They were ready to fight and willing to use weapons.
'The text messages indicate the collection of weapons began in the days before the fight.
'And on the night, by the time the fight crystallised every person that was present was carrying some form of weapon.
'The fight was a serious one and was of such gravity that a number of defendants were wounded with knives and other weapons.
'Mark Amis was fortunate not to be fatally injured.'
Mark Dalziel, 22, left, was jailed for 22 months. Joe Welsh, 20, right, was jailed for 20 months
Police later found weapons and balaclavas discarded in nearby gardens. The haul included three swords, two machetes, four knives and a hammer.
One of the blades had been modified to a point as sharp as a Stanley knife.
Sixteen men, including Elliott, Borg, Fuller, Amis and Owen, were convicted of conspiracy to cause violent disorder.
They were all jailed on yesterday, while Owen was given a suspended sentence.
Scott Fuller, 21, left, brother of gang leader Dale Fuller, was jailed for 27 months. Geno Davidon, 21, right, was jailed for 22 months
Det Chief Insp Max Black of Northumbria Police led the investigation.
He said: 'The sentences issued by the court show clearly that this type of violent behaviour will not be tolerated and will attract a prison sentence.
'Fortunately these events happen very rarely, but violent disorder on this scale - when a man was stabbed - could easily have led to a fatality.
'These criminals may have thought that there was safety in numbers and that they would not be caught, but they were wrong.
'The fight took place in a residential street where law-abiding people were shocked and frightened.
'People who think about this kind of violence should know we are determined to stamp out violent behaviour and we will use all our resources to bring criminals to justice.'
What a feral looking bunch, it would be interesting to hear about their family upbringing!
- Lynda, Dorset, 08/2/2012 00:50
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