Four people jailed for killing a man outside his own home in a tragic case of mistaken identity

Lee Clarkson was stabbed multiple times after being dragged into his front garden on West Lane, in Bishop Auckland, on the evening of Wednesday, November 29 last year.

 

The 41-year-old sadly died a short time later from his injuries.

 

An investigation, led by Durham Constabulary’s Major Crime Team, resulted in five people being arrested and charged with murder.

 

Craig Dent, 43, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted manslaughter.

 

However, following a seven-week trial in June, a jury found the 17-year-old boy, together with Michael Richardson, 52, guilty of murder.

 

Karl Jones, 45, was convicted of manslaughter, having been cleared of murder. Dent was also cleared of murder.

 

Helen Jones, 43, of Bishop Auckland, was found not guilty of all charges.

At Teesside Crown Court today (Friday, October 11) Richardson was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 23 years.

 

The 17-year-old boy was handed a minimum jail term of 15 years.

 

Karl Jones was jailed for 14 years, and Dent was sentenced to nine years and six months.

 

The police investigation found the group had not intended to attack Mr Clarkson that evening – the man they had set out to find was Mr Clarkson’s lodger, who Richardson believed was responsible for two alleged burglaries on his house and shed.

 

On the night in question, they armed themselves with a knife, a baseball bat and a machete and headed to the address.

 

Richardson made several calls to Dent and the teenager earlier in the day, including just a few minutes before the incident, although in a police interview he claimed these were likely to be about his ferret and polecat breeding.

 

The three men, all of Bishop Auckland, and the teenage boy smashed the windows and back door of the address in West Lane.

 

Mr Clarkson heard what was going on and rushed upstairs to warn his friend, who subsequently jumped out the window and ran off.

 

As the group stormed in, they grabbed Mr Clarkson and dragged him out of the house into the front garden. It was at this point, he was stabbed, kicked, and punched.

 

The teenager admitted stabbing Mr Clarkson twice but claimed he did not mean to cause him serious injury. Dent also admitted hitting him with a baseball bat but said he couldn’t remember what happened as he had taken drugs.

 

The group fled the scene back to a red Land Rover Freelander, which was parked nearby, leaving Mr Clarkson dying.

 

Neighbours of Mr Clarkson called the emergency services and rushed to help him, but sadly his injuries were too severe.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Blakelock, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer of Durham Constabulary, said: “This was a vicious attack on an innocent man in his own home.

 

“These people are callous individuals who have never shown any remorse for their actions.

 

“After leaving Lee dying in his own garden, the group carried on as if nothing had just happened. I think they believed they would never be caught.

 

“It must have been incredibly difficult for Lee’s family to relive the events of that night, but they sat through the trial every day with tremendous dignity and courage.

 

“Nothing can change what happened that day, but I hope Lee’s family can take some comfort knowing they are now behind bars for a significant number of years.

 

“The professionalism and tenacity of the investigation team, together with the invaluable support of Lee’s family and the community, ensured we were able to bring those responsible to justice.

 

“My thoughts remain with Lee’s family.”