Men found guilty of murder after police manhunt following machete attack
Three men have been found guilty of murder after a man died in a ‘vicious’ machete attack while sat in his car.
Anthony Dickons, 44, was sat inside a vehicle surrounded by Morgan Caldwell, Dominic Hall, Daniel Simpson and another man who can’t be named, who were armed with knives and a pellet gun.
While Anthony, from The Greenway in Middlesbrough, was trapped inside, he was struck with the machete, causing a significant wound to his leg.
He was taken to hospital where he died nine days later.
During the trial, the court heard how the gang waited in a Chevrolet car until Anthony and his friend arrived in a VW Passat at Orme Court on Thursday November 6, 2025.
As the pair reversed their vehicle into a parking space, it was quickly rammed by the Chevrolet, and the group swiftly exited the vehicle.
Footage played to the jury, showed the men surround the car and smash its windows before beginning their attack on the men trapped inside.
Hall could be seen repeatedly stabbing through the driver’s window along with the teenage boy hitting the windscreen. Caldwell was captured pushing the machete through the passenger window where Anthony was sat while Simpson stood next to him watching the attack take place.
it is believed Anthony’s friend was shot with a BB gun.
Shouting of ‘where is my gear?’ could be heard on the footage as the vehicle was damaged.
The attack is believed to have happened after a bag that was meant to contain money for a drugs purchase had been filled with toilet paper. The teenager told the court that the bag should have contained ‘around £20,000.
Police and emergency services arrived at the scene to find Anthony lying in the back of the vehicle holding his stomach and a deep cut to his thigh. He was taken to James Cook University Hospital and despite the treatment he received, Anthony died on Saturday 15 November from brain injuries.
His friend, who survived the attack, was seen on footage getting out of the vehicle with numerous injuries to his shoulder, face and arm that required treatment.
Upon hearing police were on the way, the men fled to Potto in the Chevrolet that was later found set a light in a wooded area.
A murder investigation began by detectives from Cleveland Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET).
After the men were identified a manhunt began to locate and arrest them.
Hall and the 17-year-old were arrested first following by Caldwell and Simpson on Tuesday November 11.
The pair had travelled to Scotland before boarding a ferry to Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Following a three-week trial, on Wednesday May 13 a jury at Teesside Crown Court found Caldwell, Hall and another man guilty of Anthony’s murder.
Simpson was found guilty of manslaughter.
They were also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to Anthony’s friend, a 44-year-old man from North Ormesby, who was in the vehicle at the time.
All four have been remanded in custody and will return to Teesside Crown Court for sentence on Monday July 20.
Following the guilty verdicts, Anthony’s children said: “We would like to thank the jury for returning the verdicts and the police and CPS for their hard work throughout the investigation.
“Although this brings closure to this chapter of our lives, it doesn't bring our dad back to us. His loss has caused a wound that will never truly heal. He was the kind of man who walked into a room and made it brighter. We miss his smile, we miss his laugh, we miss his face. He was our beloved dad, and he was also a treasured son, brother, recently a granddad and friend to many.
“No words will ever convey our loss and how much Anthony (Our Dad) means, he will miss walking us down the aisle, meeting future grandchildren. However, we will continue to remember the exceptionally good times and the love he brought to us.”