John Masters is living in fear after turning supergrass against an underworld figure.

John Masters is living in fear after turning supergrass against an underworld figure.

He struck an agreement with Northumbria Police to help a gangland investigation. But while being held in a safe house, Masters let slip he had also pistol-whipped a man in Heaton, Newcastle, in 2003.

Kingsley Hyland, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “On September 14 this year during a conversation with his protection officer, Masters – who is a protected witness – disclosed he was previously involved in an assault in Heaton.

“He said he pistol whipped a man asleep on a settee . . . and said he failed to disclose this earlier.”

Christopher Knox, defending, said: “This case would not have come to light were it not for the fact he was trying to comply with his co-operation agreement.

“He is in mortal fear over his situation.


“He regards himself as being monumentally at risk, it fills him with absolute terror.

“None of these risks are fanciful at all, he is very much at risk.”

A judge said he would usually have been looking at a nine-year term for the attack.

But the agreement he has with the Serious Organised Crime Agency entitled him to a two thirds discount, allowing the judge to suspend the prison sentence for one year for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge David Hodson told Masters: “These are exceptional circumstances.

“You have entered an agreement with the Serious Organised Crime Agency and for the assistance you are giving and will give there will be a discount of two thirds.”

Masters, 49, of no fixed address, had attacked John Scott, 26, while he slept on a settee at a house on Weldon Crescent, Heaton in May 2003.

He said he had been asked to frighten Mr Scott over claims he had bullied a teenager.

Masters took an imitation firearm to intimidate the victim and said he intended to have a fight with him to ‘straighten things out’.

However when he saw Mr Scott he realised he might not fare too well in a fight and so decided to hit him with the gun.

Using the imitation firearm he struck Mr Scott across the head as he slept.

The victim suffered fractures to his skull and cuts to his face and scalp.

The injuries were classed as life threatening.

The court heard the alarm engineer suffered memory loss and sleeping problems after the attack and has never returned to work.

After the attack Masters threw the gun in the Tyne and paid the householder for the damage caused by blood from Mr Scott’s wounds.

Police had closed the case in 2004 after drawing a blank but it was re-opened after Masters’ confession.



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