Crystal-meth maker Stuart Gyger marries youth worker

Dec 13 2009 Sunday Sun

“It was a tin-pot thing going on in my kitchen and the chemicals they were talking about were tiny amounts in little bottles.

“It wasn’t worth the trouble but the police made an example of me as it was a new drug.

“I have learnt my lesson and Joanne is paying the price.

“My incident happened in 2006 and I met Joanne after that.

“We’ve had to postpone the wedding once already. We were going to get married at North Shields Register but we decided to change the venue at the last minute because we didn’t want any unnecessary attention. It has cost us £7,000 for our privacy.”

Joanne is based at North Tyneside’s £4m Youth Village, on Hudson Street, North Shields - a pioneering scheme that helps to lead youngsters away from a life of crime.

The first phase of the village won praise from ex-Northumbria and Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens after he opened it in 2006, and the second phase was launched in April 2008 and attended by Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Mike Craik.

Joanne said: “My employers say that I am not allowed to comment. Our private lives are private and Stuart and I want to keep it that way. I am a professional and I’m proud of my job. I can’t see why this should make any difference.”

Gyger is still on licence and has to abide by conditions while on the outside.

A spokesman for North Tyneside Council said: “ We are not in a position to comment on the personal choices and circumstances of individual members of staff.

“We expect all our staff to be role models and to uphold the law.”