'Cowards' jailed for gang machete attack killing

Four "cowards" who killed one man and seriously injured another in a "brutal" machete and pellet gun attack have been jailed for life.

The members of a drug gang attacked Anthony Dickons, 44, and another man as the victims were trapped in a car in Middlesbrough in November, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Dickons died several days later in hospital after suffering catastrophic blood loss, with his sister telling the killers everyone now knew what "monsters" they were.

The gang's leader Morgan Caldwell, 26, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years after being found guilty of murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Caldwell, two other men and a 17-year-old boy, all from Middlesbrough, "planned and executed a violent armed attack" on the man Dickons was with more than £20,000 of stolen cocaine cash, prosecutor John Elvidge KC said.

They laid in wait for the pair on 7 November 2025, attacking when the victims were parking up in North Ormesby, the court heard.

As Dickons reversed his BMW into a bay behind Orme Court, the gang rammed their car with a Chevrolet before the four men, who were wearing gloves and face coverings, launched an attack using machetes and a BB gun, the court heard.

The attack lasted two minutes with the victims unable to defend themselves or escape, the court heard.

Both were struck multiple times with the machetes and suffered injuries including deep stab wounds and broken bones, the court heard.

Dickons suffered catastrophic blood loss and died a week later in hospital, Elvidge said.

The killers fled from the scene and burned the car, with Caldwell and Daniel Simpson, 32, running away to Northern Ireland via Scotland, the court heard.

Dickons' sister told the court her brother was "kind-hearted" and "fun-spirited", always with a smile on his face and "up for a laugh".

"He was the light of our lives," she said, a beloved son, brother and father who was eagerly looking forward to the impending birth of his first granddaughter.

"You have stolen this from him, you denied him the chance to watch his own children grow and denied all his family of the continued life he had to give," she told the killers.

She said the family's hearts were "broken" and hearing how he spent his last moments "in pain and fear" was "almost impossible to bear".

She said the attack was "never intended for" her brother, who the gang made sure was unable to defend himself or escape, and asked: "Why did you attack him so viciously with such force, anger and brutality?"

"You all thought you were superior," Dickons' sister said. "When in fact what you really are are cowards."

She said the world could now see them for the "monsters" they really were.

During the trial they sat in the dock "grinning" while the family endured the "torture" of hearing the details of her brother's death, she said.

"I hope and pray each and every one of you get exactly what you deserved," she said. "I hope you all suffer."

Judge Jonathan Carroll said the gang acted out of "revenge" but Dickons "may well have had absolutely nothing to do with" with the original theft which provoked the attack.

Dominic Hall, 25, was found guilty of murder and intentional wounding offence along with the teenager, Kole James, who is now aged 18, while Simpson, 32, was found guilty of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm.

Hall was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years, James detained with a minimum of 26 years and Simpson imprisoned for 14 years.

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