Killers locked up following death of Bishop Auckland dad

Michael Richardson rounded up a posse to track down the man he suspected of burgling his County Durham home.

The gang, armed with a knife and a baseball bat, managed to find the man they were looking for but he managed to escape their grasp.

Undeterred the 53-year-old and his accomplices, Karl Jones, Craig Dent and a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, turned their attention towards Lee Clarkson.

Lee Clarkson (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

He was kicked, punched and stamped on before a teenager fatally stabbed him in the abdomen when they dragged him out of his Bishop Auckland home in November last year.

The 42-year-old tried to drag himself back to the safety of his home but bled to death in the street despite paramedics battling to save his life.

The ringleader Richardson and the teenager were convicted of murder while the other two defendants were cleared of murder but were convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Police outside the house on West Lane, Bishop Auckland, where Lee Clarkson was killed. (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

Today, the judge Mr Justice Jacobs described the violent revenge attack as horrific and brutal as he jailed the gang for the fatal attack on the father-of-three outside his home on West Lane.

He said: “No words of mine can convey the tragedy of the events of November 29 for Lee Clarkson’s family.

“They have listened with dignity to the horrific events of the night and the brutal attack on Mr Clarkson. Two members of the family came to the scene and were with him when he died despite their efforts to try to help him.

“Such were the injuries that there was no chance of him surviving the attack.”

The judge had heard how Mr Clarkson’s death had left a huge void in their family and it will have a devastating impact on them all.

Michelle Humble’s victim impact statement said: “We as a family have sat through the trial and listened to the lies and pathetic excuses from them individuals who took my innocent brother’s life for no reason at all.

“That is the hardest part of all, to try to comprehend the fact that he has been taken from us in such a tragic, violent and completely unnecessary way.

“Lee’s death has left a void that can never be filled.”

Mr Justice Jacobs said the group’s leader Richardson was heard shouting and screaming while looking for the man he believed was responsible for the burglary on his home in Tindale Crescent.

He said: “A witness described the group of four people stamping on Mr Clarkson, hitting him, kicking him, going crazy on him.

“He said their behaviour was ruthless and Lee was screaming in agony, he could see one metal bat being used and there was no stop kicking and stamping.”

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)

Richardson, of Boddy Street, Bishop Auckland, was sentenced to life in custody and told he must serve a minimum term of 23 years in custody.

Christopher Tehrani KC, representing Richardson, said his client intended to recover his stolen property but he was not planning to kill or cause anyone grievous bodily harm.

The barrister told the judge that his wife had died after he was convicted of the murder leaving their children effectively without a parent.

The teenager was told he will serve 15 years in custody. Firstly, in a young offenders' institute before being transferred to an adult prison.

Simon Kealey KC, representing the teenager, told the judge that his client had a very difficult and unstable background from a very early age. "From an early age he showed signs of troubling behaviour," he said.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Jones, of General Bucher Court, Bishop Auckland, was sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter and told he must serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.

James Bourne-Arton KC, representing the 45-year-old, said his client didn't take part in the early stages of the planning and it was by chance he was with co-accused Craig Dent when he got involved.

Dent, of Gray Street, Eldon, was sentenced to nine years and six months for manslaughter after he pleaded guilty to the offence before the trial got underway.

John Elvidge KC, representing the 43-year-old, said his client had entered a guilty plea to manslaughter ahead of the trial and that should be taken into account when he is sentenced.