Family reunited... behind bars

Violence runs in the family for a thug who was jailed this week for torturing two men in Limeside.

Adam Matthews was the third family member convicted of serious violence.

The Chronicle reported on Wednesday how Matthews (22), of Birch Avenue, Limeside, was jailed for six years after he admitted robbing Stephen Phillips and his friend.

Matthews bit Mr Phillips, punched him in the face and kicked his dog — threatening to kill it.

He watched the other man hit him with a beer bottle, burn him, spray air freshener into both men’s faces, and try to force one man’s head into a deep fat fryer.

Adam’s brother Warren, and their father Brian, are already serving life for the cold-blooded execution of drug dealer Andrew Green, who was shot in Coal Pit Lane, Hathershaw, before his body was dumped in a landfill site at Whitfield Dairy Farm, Shaw, in May, 2004.

Warren Matthews also has a string of previous convictions including a four-year sentence for manslaughter imposed in 2000.

He punched Daniel Gillett (17) from Hollins who fell over and struck his head on the pavement. As Daniel lay in a spasm, Matthews used his teeth to prize open his fist and steal his watch.

The teenager died despite three operations.