Connor Brown killer must wait to hear outcome of appeal over 'unduly lenient sentence'

Ally Gordon was found guilty of manslaughter for his role in the death of the Sunderland 18-year-old who was killed while enjoying a night out in Sunderland city centre.

Co-accused Leighton Barrass was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison, serving a minimum of 20 years, after the court heard the 20-year-old killer stabbed the teenager five times.

While Gordon, also 20, was handed a three-and-a-half year sentence on December 12.

Two months on and the sentence has been referred to London’s Court of Appeal by the Attorney General under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act – meaning it is believed the sentence may be ‘unduly lenient’.

The case was heard on Wednesday, February 12 but the Court of Appeal has now confirmed a ‘judgement has been reserved’.

A decision regarding the sentence could be made as early as Thursday, February 13.

The Court of Appeal has the ability to quash any sentence passed on Gordon in the proceeding and in place of it pass such sentence as they think appropriate for the case.

There were gasps from the public gallery when Mr Justice Lavender handed Gordon, of Polmuir Road, a three-and-a-half years prison sentence the day after he was found guilty of manslaughter for the role he played in beloved Connor’s death.

During the three-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, jurors heard Connor was stabbed five times after stepping forward and punching Barrass who had returned to the back lane brandishing a knife and threatening innocent people following an earlier altercation with Connor’s friend.

The prosecution said Gordon was Barrass’s ‘faithful sidekick’ and say he encouraged and assisted the 20-year-old to commit murder.

CCTV footage in the back alley off Park Lane showed Gordon kicking Connor as he fell to the ground during the attack.

Following deliberations which lasted around four hours, 12 jurors unanimously found Barrass guilty of murder and Gordon guilty of manslaughter and of possessing a bladed weapon.