George Ness repeatedly battered John Smyth, 63, with a wooden plank in a backyard in Wallsend, then searched his dying victim ...

John Smyth, 63, was repeatedly struck with a wooden plank after trying to stop George Ness, 41, smashing his way into a woman's home in Wallsend, Newcastle Crown Court has heard.

George Ness had been abusing crack cocaine when he arrived at a Bridie Nye's flat in Wallsend looking for drugs or money and turned violent. When 63-year-old John Smyth, who was visiting Bridie ...

George Ness, of North Shields, has been jailed for life and told he will serve a minimum of 22 years behind bars for murdering John Smyth. nechronicle Load mobile navigation. News.