Watch as armed gang arrive at home of Bishop Auckland man

Michael Richardson rounded up friends and accomplices in a bid to hunt down a man they believed had burgled his home.

Within minutes, Lee Clarkson was bleeding to death outside his Bishop Auckland home after he was kicked, stamped on, beaten with a baseball bat before a teenager stabbed him three times in the abdomen.

The self-confessed drug dealer had offered illicit prescription medication to members of the gang as reward for taking him to the address of the man he believed was responsible.

CCTV footage captured the moment when his Land Rover pulled up near Mr Clarkson’s home on West Lane before they force their way into his home.

Lee Clarkson (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 42-year-old bravely ran upstairs to warn his friend, who managed to flee by jumping out of an upstairs window, before he was fatally attacked in December last year.

Detective Superintendent Andy Reynolds, senior investigating officer with Durham Constabulary, said: “We believe this was a case of mistaken identity. Lee Clarkson wasn’t the target that night – he was an innocent party in this incident.

“This was a brutal attack on an innocent man in his own home.

“The group were intent on seeking retribution that night, they armed themselves with weapons and forced their way into Lee Clarkson’s home.

The armed gang were caught on CCTV arriving near Lee Clarkson's home (Image: Crown Prosecution Service)

“Since the devastating attack they have continued to deny or attempt to downplay their involvement.

“I am delighted the jury have seen through these lies and hope Lee’s family can take some consolation in the justice that has been administered today.

“I would like to thank the community for their help and support that night and subsequently throughout the investigation.

“My investigation team worked around the clock in the hours that followed this incident to bring those responsible to justice and I am grateful for their dedication and hard work.

“My thoughts go out to Mr Clarkson’s family.”

Michael Richardson and a teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of the brutal murder.

Michael Richardson, left, has been convicted of the murder of Lee Clarkson. Karl Jones, centre, was convicted of manslaughter while Craig Dent, right, pleaded guilty to the same charge (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Co-accused Karl Jones was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter while Craig Dent, who had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was found not guilty of murder.

A fifth defendant, Helen Jones was cleared of all charges.

Karl Jones caught on CCTV retrieving a pair of gloves (Image: Crown Prosecution Service)

Speaking after the trial, the murder victim's family said: “The fact Lee was murdered was bad enough, but these people could have taken responsibility from the day they were arrested, which would have prevented us having to listen to the final moments of Lee’s life at the trial.

"This has been unbearable at times we are broken hearted, and no words can explain the pain and torture that we have gone through.”

Police at the scene of Lee Clarkson's murder in Bishop Auckland. (Image: Newsquest)

During the trial, the teenager admitted delivering the fatal stab wounds to Mr Clarkson when the victim was dragged outside his home.

The 17-year-old maintained that he never meant to kill Mr Clarkson or cause him very serious harm when he stabbed.

Simon Kealey KC, representing the teenager, asked the teenager what happened when the group turned up at Mr Clarkson’s home and a man jumped out of the window.

He replied: “I looked out of the window and people were kicking him, hitting him with a baseball bat, and punching him.

“I looked out for about 30 seconds and they were still doing it when I got downstairs.”

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Mr Kealey asked what the defendant did when Michael Richardson encouraged him to use the knife he had stuck in his waistband.

The teenager said: “I bent over him and stabbed him twice while he was laid on the ground.”

Michael Richardson, 52, of Boddy Street, Bishop Auckland; Karl Jones, 45, of General Bucher Court, Bishop Auckland; Craig Dent, 42, of Gray Street, Eldon Lane; and the teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, were all remanded in custody.

Mr Justice Jacobs will sentence them all on October 11.