A night of violence saw an armed gang terrorise a family leaving a man fearing for his life while his partner’s three young children hid under a table in fear when they attacked their home.
The incident on October 30, 2024, sparked by a dispute earlier that day, culminated in a brutal assault and property damage, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The perpetrators—Shannon Harbron, Aaron Pearson, Zoe Swainston, and Jacob Mercer—arrived at the home following an argument between Harbron and the homeowner. The court heard that Harbron had stormed off earlier, vowing, “I’ll be back, I’ll be back,” before returning with her accomplices.
Armed with weapons including baseball bats and a golf club, the gang began smashing windows and attacking the homeowner’s partner, who was trapped outside during the onslaught.
Prosecutor Joe Hedworth revealed that Harbron had been involved in a prior altercation on the same street earlier in the day, shouting at a group of males before being told to leave due to the presence of children. Approximately 30 minutes later, she returned in her vehicle, a red Astra, accompanied by the others. Witnesses saw a man swinging a weapon out of the car’s window as they approached the property.
Chaos ensued as the defendants charged toward the house. The victim, who was standing outside, was beaten repeatedly by two of the male attackers, sustaining severe injuries, including a head wound that required 14 staples. Inside the house, the terrified children hid under the kitchen table while the victim’s partner threw plates from an upstairs window in a desperate attempt to deter the gang. Meanwhile, Swainston attacked the property with a golf club, and Harbron hurled children’s toys at the house, screaming throughout the ordeal.
Aaron Pearson, Shannon Harbron, Jacob Mercer and Zoe Swainston
(Image: Cleveland Police)
Video footage captured on a Ring doorbell showed Pearson striking the victim with a pole, Harbron pushing the man, and Mercer using another weapon in the assault. Swainston was seen swinging a golf club at the property’s windows and door.
Eventually, the victim managed to get inside, but he collapsed from his injuries as the attackers fled the scene. The man was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for head injuries, a suspected broken nose, and swelling to his shoulder, arm, and hand. In a victim impact statement, he described how the attack left him with PTSD, flashbacks, and severe anxiety, forcing him to take antidepressants and avoid social interactions, reports TeesideLive.
Later that evening, police stopped the red Astra and found a black metal pole, a wooden bat, and a piece of wood inside the vehicle. Harbron, who had an injury on her forehead, refused to provide a sample for analysis. Pearson attempted to resist arrest but was eventually detained.
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In court, the attack was described as an act of “revenge.” All four defendants pleaded guilty to various charges:
- Aaron Pearson, 33, of Belle Vue Court, Norton, was sentenced to three years and one month for possession of an offensive weapon, assault by beating, and grievous bodily harm.
- Zoe Swainston, 32, of Teesdale Terrace, Thornaby, received 13 months for affray, possession of an offensive weapon, and criminal damage.
- Shannon Harbron, 29, of Rudyard Avenue, Stockton, was sentenced to 17 months for failing to provide a specimen, criminal damage, and affray.
- Jacob Mercer, 24, of Hartside Gardens, Hartlepool, was jailed for three years for possession of an offensive weapon, grievous bodily harm, and criminal damage.
The court heard mitigation for each defendant, citing mental health struggles, remorse, and attempts to reform. However, the udge condemned the violent, premeditated attack, emphasising its traumatic impact on the victims and the young children present.
Pearson, 33, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison. Swainston, 32, was caged for 13 months and Harbron, 29, was handed a 17-month prison sentence. Mercer, 24, was jailed for three years.
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