Men given life for 'brutal and cold-blooded murder'

Jack Towell, described as the "prime mover", was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years

Four men have been jailed for life for the "brutal and cold-blooded murder" of a 21-year-old who was lured to his death and had his body dumped in a stream.

Owen Fairclough, from Long Eaton in Derbyshire, was found by a country path near Risley Lane in Breaston, on 23 June 2023.

"Prime mover" Jack Towell, 22, of Castle Boulevard in Nottingham, "hired muscle" David Oswald, 31, of Granville Square in Birmingham, and two other men who cannot be named for legal reasons were sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Monday.

A jury was told Mr Fairclough's throat was cut and he had two stab wounds to his chest.

'Criminal lifestyle'

The court heard Towell and the victim had been "very good friends" and were aware of "each other's criminal activity".

Towell "became convinced" Mr Fairclough was going to inform on him to the police and implicate others in their criminal activity - namely drug dealing.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gregory Dickinson KC said: "The answer to your problems was to murder Owen... the main motivation was to preserve your criminal lifestyle."

He said the four men planned the attack together.

Members of Mr Fairclough's family paid tribute to him in court

Mr Fairclough had been lured to the area after arranging to meet Towell at the Navigation Inn, in Risley Lane, to collect some money he was owed - thought to be £1,000.

When he arrived, he called Towell, who then directed him to the secluded area where he and two other men – David Oswald and another man – were waiting.

Mr Fairclough’s body was found by a group of teenagers two days later.

The court heard Towell had "deceived and lied" to Mr Fairclough's family, denying knowledge of his whereabouts and telling them he would offer a reward for whoever found him.

Judge Dickinson KC added the men went drinking and took drugs following the murder.

David Oswald was described in court as "hired muscle" and was recruited by Man A to assist in the attack

Mr Fairclough's sister Catherine said she has experienced a "rollercoaster of emotional grief and heartache" since his death.

She said: “He was my first best friend in the world. I feel so alone because no one can replace him.

“Our family has been torn into 1,000 pieces."

Andrew Fairclough, Owen's father, had his statement read out by prosecutor Peter Joyce KC.

“Losing Owen is like losing a part of my soul… [Owen’s murder] is completely senseless… we all have a whole life sentence. We will never be able to able to get over it."

All four men were sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Monday

Towell, who pleaded guilty during the trial, will serve 30 years before being eligible for parole.

Oswald, who was found guilty by all members of the jury, will serve a minimum of 26 years.

Man A, 23, from the Long Eaton area, was also found guilty through a unanimous verdict and will serve 29 years before being eligible for parole.

Man B, 28, from Nottinghamshire, was found guilty by 10 of the 12 jurors in a majority verdict and will serve a minimum term of 25 years behind bars.