Two brothers have been sentenced to three years in prison for a targeted assault in Newcastle that left their victims with severe, lasting injuries. Filip Badzo, 19, and Josef Badzo, 24, both of Colston Street, Newcastle, were found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court in March after denying their involvement.
Details of the Attack
At around 3:40 am on March 24, 2024, police were alerted by the ambulance service to a disturbance outside a property in Fenham. Officers arrived at Deanham Gardens to find two male victims, aged in their 20s and 40s, with serious injuries. The attackers had already fled, prompting the city's Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) to launch an investigation.
Investigations revealed that a group had arrived at the residential property in two vehicles: a Mercedes Sprinter van and a Nissan Juke. Three men, including the Badzo brothers, became involved in an altercation with two occupants outside the home. CCTV footage showed the offenders using bodily force, bricks, and a baseball bat during the street fight.
Investigation and Trial
Despite denying being in the area, detectives placed the brothers' phones and vehicles at the scene through forensic evidence. Both were charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm and one count of violent disorder. A third man, charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and violent disorder, will be sentenced at a later date.
During the trial, it was heard that the victim in his 20s continues to suffer lasting effects, including speech impairment and headaches. The other victim, in his 40s, sustained a ruptured spleen and can no longer work full-time.
Police Statement
Detective Constable Sophie Snowdon of Northumbria Police said: "This was a shocking incident which saw a group launch a violent attack on two other men, after turning up at their Newcastle home set on causing disorder. They sparked a great deal of alarm in the wider community in the early hours of that morning... leaving two of the occupants with life-changing injuries to this day."
She added: "As a Force, we completely recognise the impact of such offending in our communities – and we’ll do all we can to secure justice against violent perpetrators. Nobody wants this type of criminality on their doorstep, and I’m pleased to see both Filip and Josef Badzo are now rightly behind bars."
Sentencing
Filip and Josef Badzo were remanded and sentenced on Tuesday at Newcastle Crown Court to three years each. Det Con Snowdon concluded: "I hope this case demonstrates our commitment to investigating such crimes – no matter how long it takes – and we’ll use every tactic at our disposal."
