2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Sophie Doughty)
Armed, dangerous and intent on violence, killer Joe Welsh was determined to hurt someone and tragic Reece Allen became his innocent victim. Welsh had a horrific record of violence before he stabbed his former friend to death during a brutal knife attack. Welsh was jailed for life after being convicted of killing 24-year-old Reece, in North Shields .
And today as we continue to raise awareness of the devastating impact knife crime has on families across the North East, we take a look back at Welsh's horrific life of violence. Popular Reece died in hospital during the early hours of January 25, 2016, hours after being found stabbed in the street. The 24-year-old had been knifed four times.
Det Insp Dave English, who led the investigation for Northumbria Police , spoke to the Chronicle after Welsh's conviction and explained how police were forced to follow a trail of blood, which led them to the killer, after arriving at the crime scene. “There were a number of calls to police in the early hours of January 25 to West Avenue in North Shields,” he said. “When police arrived they found Mr Allen had four stab wounds, to his torso and to his neck.
Reece had staggered away from the scene of the assault. “Police started to knock on doors and found a trail of blood. They have followed the trail of blood and realised the altercation was outside Welsh’s home on West Avenue.
” When officers arrived at the house the killer, who had a broken jaw, was arrested – initially on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as Reece was still fighting for life in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. The suspect tried to claim he had lashed out in self-defence. But as detectives began to speak to witnesses a very different picture began to emerge.
And it became clear that Welsh, who had been out on a drink and drugs binge that day, had been intent on violence, and lured Reece to his girlfriend's house by smashing a window at the victim's mum's home. Welsh was lying in wait and stabbed him repeatedly when he turned up. Reece’s mum was among those to find him slumped in the street afterwards, fatally injured.
Det Insp English said: "Joe Welsh got it into his head that he would seriously injure someone. I genuinely believe if it wasn’t Reece it would have been someone else. He’s clearly a very very dangerous individual.
” As Welsh was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years at Newcastle Crown Court , Mr Justice Globe outlined his catalogue of previous convictions for violence, including: Possessing a kitchen knife in public in 2007; Battery in 2009; Attacking a man with a broken glass in 2014; Pushing a woman to the floor and continuing to stamp on her even after he was told she was pregnant. Welsh was also one of 16 people involved in an infamous mass street fight in 2011 in Howdon. The streets of Wallsend ran red with blood as two rival factions, armed with swords, hammers and axes, came face-to-face.
And Welsh played a pivotal role in the brawl, which would later become known as the ‘Howdon gang fight’ and almost cost one man his life. The carnage, in April 2011, unfolded after gangs connected to two arch-enemies goaded each other on Facebook and roped in pals by text message before amassing a chilling arsenal of weapons in the days before their fight. And when they finally came together on Churchill Street in Howdon , their hatred erupted into terrifying violence which left one man close to death after he was stabbed with a machete and a sword.
The following year, 16 gang members, including Welsh, were jailed for a total of 30 years for their roles in the violence. The court heard Welsh had been recruited by one of the sides during the planning stages, thanks to his hardman reputation and history of violence. In jailing the gangs at Newcastle Crown Court , Judge Paul Sloan said: “This was a planned, premeditated confrontation between around 16 young males who had formed themselves into two groups.
“Members of each group armed themselves with some form of potentially lethal weapon. It is a wonder nobody was killed given the weapons used.” After Welsh was jailed for Reece's murder a close pal the victim said his killer would never have been able to show his face in North Shields if he had been cleared of murder.
Lee Miller, then 27, said: “It’s such a relief he has been found guilty. I’m really glad. If he had got off, he wouldn’t have been able to show his face around here.
” Lee and Reece had known each other since they were children, having grown up on the same street in North Shields. Welsh also spent his childhood in the same area, but Lee says the murderer was trouble – even from an early age. “I met him when I was younger, he lived near me,” said Lee.
“He was horrible when he was younger. He was always cheeky. I have never liked him, he’s always been violent.
” The Chronicle launched its Stop Knives Taking lives campaign after three young people lost their lives to knife violence in a matter of months. Through telling the stories of those who have ruined lives by carrying knives we hope to raise awareness of the devastation using weapons can cause. ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities.
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