A Gateshead man has been sentenced after carrying out two violent assaults that involved biting the ears of strangers, a court has heard. The later of the attacks left one victim permanently disfigured.
Incidents in Lobley Hill and at a social club
Court proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court established that the defendant, identified as Craig Hewitt, carried out an assault at a BP garage in Lobley Hill shortly after midnight on 13 September 2022. The victim, a delivery driver, had entered the shop and later encountered Hewitt at the petrol pumps.
According to the prosecution, a verbal exchange took place and Hewitt then approached the man. The court heard the defendant bit the man's finger and also bit his ear for several seconds during that incident.
"Leave the kids alone"
The court was told that Hewitt made the remark "Leave the kids alone" during the encounter; a judge later said the comment was "insulting, unnecessary and alarming." The judge also found there was insufficient evidence to uphold an allegation that the petrol-station violence was racially aggravated, and that element of the charge was dismissed.
Second attack at a social club while on bail
While on court bail for the Lobley Hill incident, Hewitt carried out a further attack at a social club during a game of pool. The later assault was described to the court as more serious and resulted in a victim being left disfigured for life.
The defendant, a former soldier aged 49 and living in Belgrave Court, Felling, was convicted of wounding two men with intent. Recorder Rebecca Brown acknowledged elements of retaliation in the earlier incident but concluded the actions giving rise to the injuries had occurred before any defensive behaviour by the victims.
Sentence and local impact
Hewitt has been sentenced to a custodial term. The case highlights concerns about violent incidents in public spaces and the risks of repeat offending while on bail.
- Defendant: Craig Hewitt, 49, of Belgrave Court, Felling
- Locations: BP garage, Lobley Hill; unnamed social club
- Date of first incident: 13 September 2022
- Offence: Wounding two men with intent (ear-biting assaults)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Victims | Two men; one left disfigured |
| Court | Newcastle Crown Court |
| Judge | Recorder Rebecca Brown (involved in findings) |
The events describe a rare and particularly violent type of assault. For residents concerned about public safety, the local police and courts remain the appropriate bodies to report violent incidents and to seek information about protective measures. The Crown Court will continue to issue sentencing details and records in line with legal reporting standards.
InfoRadar will follow any further developments arising from the case and report official updates as they become available.
