A man has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder after deliberately driving a van at two men as they left a local pub in Cramlington. The incident, which occurred on April 1st, resulted in the tragic death of ambulance service worker Sheldon Flanighan and left his friend Wayne Common with long-term injuries.
Sheldon and Wayne had been socialising at the Bay Horse pub when they noticed a disturbance involving the convict, Toby Kelly, and his associate Shannon Wooden. Concerned for Wooden’s safety, the two men offered their assistance. However, when Kelly, Wooden, and another man, David Fairclough, were ejected from the pub, they all got into Kelly’s van. As Sheldon and Wayne were leaving the premises, Kelly drove his vehicle into them, causing catastrophic injuries, before fleeing the scene.
Despite the efforts of paramedics and officers, Sheldon, a 55-year-old father-of-two, tragically lost his life at the scene. Wayne sustained serious injuries and required hospitalisation, leaving him with long-term consequences.
Following the incident, a thorough investigation was launched by the Major Investigation Team (MIT), with specialist officers providing support to both families involved. Kelly, 38, of Wansbeck Avenue in Blyth, was later arrested and charged with Sheldon’s murder, as well as the attempted murder of Wayne.
Wooden and Fairclough were also initially arrested and charged, but the case against them was subsequently dropped, and no further action was taken.
After an almost five-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, a jury found Kelly guilty of both murder and attempted murder. He has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced next week.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said “The past year has been incredibly difficult for the loved ones of Wayne and Sheldon as they continue to grieve. The actions of Toby Kelly were despicable, causing unnecessary loss of life and severe injuries. This senseless act of violence has caused immense pain, and it is our hope that today’s verdict brings some closure to the affected families and the wider community.
“It is our expectation that the severity of Kelly’s offences will be recognised by the courts, as his violence, anger, and disregard for life make him unsuitable to live among our communities.
“We extend our gratitude to the families and loved ones of Sheldon and Wayne for their cooperation and support throughout this challenging investigation, as well as to the officers who worked diligently to ensure that Toby Kelly was brought to justice for his reprehensible actions”.
