Four people convicted of murdering a man in the Bishop Auckland stabbing

Four people, including a 17-year-old boy, have been convicted of killing a man in a stabbing attack.

Lee Clarkson was murdered outside his home on West Lane in Bishop Auckland on November 29.

Michael Richardson, 53, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Friday to life imprisonment with a minimum of 23 years for the 41-year-old’s murder, while the youth, who cannot be identified, will serve 15 years in prison, also for murder.

Karl Jones, 45, was sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter after being acquitted of murder, and Craig Dent, 42, will serve nine years and six months for manslaughter after pleading guilty before trial.

Durham police said the men did not intend to attack Mr Clarkson that evening, but instead wanted to target his tenant, who Richardson said was responsible for two alleged burglaries at his home and shed.

Armed with a knife, a baseball bat and a machete, the group smashed the windows and back door of Mr Clarkson’s home.

When he heard this, Mr. Clarkson ran upstairs to warn his tenant, who then jumped out the window and ran, police said.

The men dragged Mr Clarkson to the front garden, where he was stabbed, kicked and punched.

They then fled in a red Land Rover, leaving their victim dying.

In a statement after the trial, Clarkson’s family said: “This has been unbearable at times, we are heartbroken, and no words can explain the pain and torture we have endured.”