What should have been an ordinary night out ended in the most horrific way for 18-year-old Jack Woodley.
After leaving a funfair in Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, in October 2021, Jack had no idea he was being followed.
Moments later, he was ambushed and murdered by a group of ten teenage boys he didn’t even know.
Now, after years of legal restrictions, the public is finally allowed to know who these young killers are.
The Chilling Attack and Jack’s Final Moments
The gang, aged just 14 to 17 at the time, had no personal connection to Jack.
Yet they surrounded him, isolated him, and hunted him down an alleyway like a pack of predators.
Witnesses said it looked like “zombies attacking an animal.”
They punched, kicked, stamped on him, and one of them stabbed him in the back with a 25cm Rambo-style knife.
It was described as a frenzied and sadistic attack carried out “solely for the excitement and pleasure of inflicting serious injury on an entirely innocent and randomly selected stranger.” Jack was rushed to hospital, but the injuries were too severe.
He passed away the next day.
The Trial, Sentences, and Joint Guilt
Following a lengthy trial at Newcastle Crown Court, all ten teenagers were convicted of Jack’s murder.
Though only one of them delivered the fatal stab wound, all were found guilty under the legal principle of joint enterprise, meaning they were equally responsible for the killing because they acted as a group with the shared intent to cause serious harm.
Prosecutor Mark McKone explained, “Some used more serious violence than others.
But this was classic joint enterprise, where a group acted together for the common purpose of causing really serious injury to Jack.”
Each of the ten received life sentences with minimum terms ranging from eight to 17 years.
Together, they were sentenced to a total of 124 years in detention.
The Moment Identities Were Revealed
Until recently, reporting restrictions prevented the boys’ identities from being made public due to their ages.
But with the youngest—Lewis Rose—turning 18 just yesterday, the restrictions have now lifted.
Alongside him, the names of Tyler Brewis and Rhys Wear, who are also 18, have been revealed.
The other attackers—Grant Wheatley, Clayton Owen, Sonny Smith, Joe Lathan, Leighton Mayo, Blaine Sewell, and Calum Maddison—were previously identified in 2023 after a legal challenge by The Northern Echo.
It was Maddison, then just 15 years old, who delivered the fatal stab wound.
Terrified Witnesses and Harrowing Court Testimony
In court, the details of what happened that night shocked everyone.
One witness described the teens as a “herd of lions” pouncing on Jack.
Another recalled how Jack curled into a ball on the ground, trying to protect himself, terrified.
“There were so many punches raining down on him,” the witness said.
“They were brutal. Everyone in the group was just kicking the life out of Jack, stamping on his head.
I remember the terrified look on Jack’s face as he was being kicked, punched and stamped on.”
Jack’s Mother Shares Her Pain
After the verdicts, Jack’s mother, Zoey McGill, gave an emotional tribute.
“Jack was my reason to live and succeed in life.
From the moment he was born, he brought light and love to us all,” she said.
“The devastation of losing Jack is immense and far-reaching.
The trauma of reliving this whole incident over a long trial has had a devastating effect on us all. We cannot see a way of recovering from this.”
She added, “No parent, loved one or friend should suffer someone going to a fair and losing them forever.
We will never be able to share treasured family moments with our cheeky chappy blue-eyed boy ever again.”
Appeals Dismissed by Top Judges
Every member of the gang tried to challenge their convictions at the Court of Appeal in London.
But their appeals were rejected by top judges, who upheld the original murder verdicts.
Despite their efforts, the court was clear: their involvement in the group attack and the brutal nature of the violence left no room for doubt about their guilt.
What Comes Next?
The public naming of all ten attackers may bring a small measure of closure to Jack’s family, but their grief is still overwhelming.
For them, this is not just a tragic case—it’s a lifetime of pain.
As communities reflect on the horrific details, the case also raises urgent questions about youth violence, group mentality, and how easily a night out can descend into a nightmare.