Josh Hyde Jailed Over Masked Hammer Robbery In High Hesleden 2026

Key Points

• Josh Hyde, aged 23, wielding a hammer and wearing a mask, attacked the driver of the Ford Mondeo in High Hesleden area near Blackhall Colliery.
• Jordan Fluen, co-accused aged 24, who was riding with him as a passenger, ran into a nearby field when the car broke down after some time, before being picked up some minutes later.
• The car that was stolen then went on to cause a very serious accident on a slip road of A19 in Peterlee, where the front end of the car got severely damaged minutes after the robbery.
• After the accident, 999 was dialed from the phone of Hyde reporting about an accident and possibly a broken ankle, although later it was reported to the emergency service that the two intended to get private transport to the hospital.
• Both Hyde and Fluen were apprehended by the police in University Hospital of North Durham, where the victim’s mobile phone containing Hyde’s fingerprints was found in a nearby hedge.
• Newcastle Crown Court sentenced Hyde to five and a half years in prison for robbery and Fluen to 10 months for handling stolen goods.

High Hesleden (Newcastle Times) September 29, 2026 – Two men have been handed custodial sentences at Newcastle Crown Court after a masked robbery armed with a hammer culminated in a serious road collision on an A19 slip road in County Durham. Josh Hyde, who initiated the violent carjacking of a Ford Mondeo belonging to a stranded student, received a four-and-a-half-year prison term for robbery. His co-accused, Jordan Fluen, was jailed for ten months for handling stolen goods after acting as a passenger during the getaway.

What Happened During the High Hesleden Masked Car Robbery?

As reported by Bruce Unwin, Crime and Court Reporter for The Northern Echo, a masked attacker armed with a hammer targeted a driver in High Hesleden, near Blackhall Colliery, on the evening of Monday, March 2.

According to prosecution accounts presented in court by Jonathan Gittins, the violent encounter took place at approximately 9:30 pm. Hyde, aged 23 and wearing a mask, approached the vehicle’s owner while wielding a hammer, forcibly taking control of the Ford Mondeo.

Mr Gittins stated that upon entering the driver’s seat, Hyde initially stalled the vehicle. This sudden disruption caused Fluen, 24, who was seated in the front passenger side, to exit the car and flee on foot into a neighbouring field. Hyde subsequently managed to restart the engine and drove a short distance to retrieve Fluen before departing the area.

The victim, an isolated student who was lost in the location at the time of the incident, told police that both assailants were complete strangers to him. Describing the trauma of the violent encounter, the victim explained that he had never experienced anything like it before, adding that the event left him unable to contemplate driving again or acquiring a replacement vehicle.

How Did Police Locate the Crashed Ford Mondeo on the A19?

As reported by Bruce Unwin of The Northern Echo, emergency services received a 999 emergency call originating directly from Hyde’s mobile phone shortly after the robbery occurred.

During the call, an operator was informed that the stolen Ford Mondeo had crashed and an ambulance was required, as it was feared one of the occupants had sustained a broken ankle in the impact. However, a subsequent message relayed to the police call handling team stated that the individuals no longer required emergency transport and would instead arrange a lift to the hospital from a friend.

Durham Constabulary officers deployed to the area discovered the abandoned Ford Mondeo at 9:40 pm on an A19 slip road near Peterlee. The vehicle had sustained extensive front-end damage.

During the primary investigation at the crime scene in High Hesleden, the victim recovered his own mobile phone from a nearby hedge. Forensic examination of the device subsequently identified fingerprints belonging to Hyde.

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Where Were Josh Hyde and Jordan Fluen Arrested by Police?

As reported by Bruce Unwin of The Northern Echo, police officers tracked the suspects to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, shortly after discovering the crashed vehicle.

Upon arrival at the medical facility, officers located Hyde actively shouting in the emergency ward that he had been involved in a car accident. Meanwhile, Fluen was receiving medical attention from hospital staff for injuries sustained during the crash.

Prosecution counsel Jonathan Gittins noted that while officers were present at the hospital, an individual was overheard shouting:

“Get Josh (Hyde) to keep his mouth shut.”

Both individuals were subsequently taken into custody by Durham Constabulary officers in connection with the carjacking and crash.

What Sentences Were Issued at Newcastle Crown Court?

As reported by Bruce Unwin of The Northern Echo, proceedings against both defendants concluded at Newcastle Crown Court following formal admissions of guilt.

Josh Hyde, 23, formerly of Peterlee and now of no fixed abode, formally entered a guilty plea to the charge of robbery on August 17, at the commencement of his scheduled trial. Appearing before the court the following day, August 18, Hyde was sentenced to 54 months (four and a half years) in prison.

His co-defendant, Jordan Fluen, 24, of Throston Grange Lane, Hartlepool, admitted to a single count of handling stolen goods regarding his role in the passenger seat of the Mondeo. Appearing for sentencing on Tuesday, September 28, the court heard details regarding Fluen’s current custodial status.

Defence advocate Chris Morrison, representing Fluen, informed the court that his client was already serving a separate 24-week sentence for breaching a community order. Mr Morrison stated that Fluen had been utilizing his time constructively while in custody, working within the prison servery, and added:

“He’s putting his head down and doing what’s required of him.”

In issuing the sentence, Judge Tom Moran addressed the severity of the primary offence, noting that it was a serious and deeply frightening robbery for the victim to have his vehicle forcibly taken by a masked figure carrying a weapon. However, Judge Moran acknowledged that Fluen was solely answering for the charge of handling stolen goods rather than the physical robbery itself.

Judge Moran handed Fluen a ten-month custodial sentence. The judge ordered that this ten-month term must run consecutively, beginning only after Fluen’s existing 24-week sentence for the community order breach has expired.

Background of the Development

The conviction and sentencing of Josh Hyde and Jordan Fluen mark the resolution of a Durham Constabulary investigation into violent opportunistic crime across County Durham. High Hesleden, a rural settlement situated between Seaham and Hartlepool near Blackhall Colliery, relies heavily on key arterial connections such as the A19 for regional travel.

The rapid sequence of events—spanning from the initial robbery at 9:30 pm to the emergency call, the discovery of the severely damaged vehicle at 9:40 pm, and the arrests at University Hospital of North Durham—highlighted the role of emergency call tracing, forensic fingerprint analysis, and swift inter-agency communication between healthcare staff and law enforcement officers in securing convictions.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Communities and Motorists

The sentencing of two individuals involved in a violent, armed carjacking is likely to impact public perception of road safety and rural crime across eastern County Durham and the surrounding Teesside areas.

For local residents and motorists travelling through rural villages near the A19 corridor, the successful prosecution and imprisonment of violent offenders offer reassurance regarding police response times and judicial outcomes. However, the traumatic nature of the incident—where a lost motorist was targeted at night—may heighten vigilance among drivers navigating unfamiliar, secluded roads in the region.

From a policing and judicial perspective, the custodial sentences handed down by Newcastle Crown Court establish a clear precedent regarding vehicular theft involving weapons and masked perpetrators. The case demonstrates that co-passengers who knowingly remain involved in stolen vehicles face severe legal consequences, as reflected in the consecutive prison sentence imposed on Fluen for handling stolen goods.