Jordan Hogg: Four men guilty of murdering man in dispute over stolen bike

Jordan Hogg was stabbed in the neck and died in the early hours of February 28 this year after a gang of men forced their way into his home armed with knives and machetes.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also armed with a machete as he kept watch in an alleyway outside the 28-year-old’s flat.

Oliver Connelly, Sidney Bashford and Ryan Moore forced their way into the flat in Fonteyn Court in Hemlington, while the teen kept watch and Michael Charville waited nearby as a getaway driver.

Mr Hogg tried to get help from neighbours as the gang made their escape and collapsed as one of them opened this door, before paramedics tried to save his life.

The four men and teenage boy were found guilty of murder on Tuesday (Dec 16) following a six-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court. They will be sentenced on January 23.

An 18-year-old man was found not guilty of murder following the trial.

Police said the ‘innocent and defenceless’ Mr Hogg was attacked inside his home by the gang who had ‘intent to cause serious harm and violence’.

The court heard how a dispute had taken place on February 27 between the four men, the teenage boy and another man who was known to Mr Hogg.

The dispute centred around a the robbery of Bashford’s expensive electric bike, which happened outside the home of Mr Hogg.

The gang hunted down the man, who was on a motorbike, until he drove down an alleyway which runs alongside the home of Mr Hogg.

What followed was the van stopping and everyone, except for Charville, chasing him on foot until they approached the scene of the robbery and Jordan’s home.

The actions outside of his home were captured on CCTV footage and played to the court.

When police arrived at the scene later that night, officers quickly realised Mr Hogg had been stabbed in the neck and a murder investigation was launched.

A manhunt led to the 17-year-old was arrested at his home in Middlesbrough on March 1, while Moore was arrested on March 17.

Bashford had fled the country, via Ireland, and was detained in France and extradited back to the UK on March 27 where he was arrested at Heathrow Airport. The following day both Connelley and Charville were arrested together at a property on Oak Hill in Middlesbrough.

Senior investigating officer DCI Chris Pringle said: “There’s no doubt that these men and the boy had one thing on their minds that night and that was the intent to cause serious harm and violence as they armed themselves with large knives in a bid to hunt down the man that they suspected of robbing their bike.

“However, it sadly led to an innocent and defenceless man being attacked inside his home.

“Despite Jordan crying out to neighbours nearby who desperately tried to help save him along with paramedics and police officers, his injuries were just too severe, and tragically he died a short time later.

“I am pleased we have been able to provide justice for both Jordan and his family, and our thoughts remain with them as they continue to process their loss.

“Unfortunately, this is the severity of what can happen when carrying a knife. The significant and devastating consequences is someone losing their life, their family losing a loved one and the offender facing many years behind bars.”