New £20k reward offered to locate murder suspect

Police want to speak to Thomas Dures, 20, who has links to Aughton and Liverpool

Police are offering a new £20,000 reward to locate a suspect in connection with a man's murder.

Matthew Daulby, 19, from Liverpool, was stabbed to death in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 29 July 2023.

Henry Houghton, 19, of Scarisbrick, was jailed for at least 20 years for his murder following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

The Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner’s office has matched a £10,000 reward previously offered by Crimestoppers for “information leading to the arrest of Thomas Dures” who is aged 20 and has links to Aughton and Liverpool.

Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police, said Mr Dures was about to celebrate his 21st birthday and added "it is high time he does the right thing and hands himself in".

“We know that people are assisting him in evading arrest," he said.

"I want to make it clear to those people that we will ensure they are arrested and put before the courts.”

Mr Daulby's parents say he was "a vibrant, loving and funny teenager" with "a huge zest for life".

Matthew Daulby died in hospital after he was stabbed to death

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said: "We know that sometimes it’s difficult for people to go to the police about what they know - and that can be for a range of reasons including fear of intimidation or loyalties.

"Matthew's family, together with the wider community, deserve to know what happened."

The reward was only available to those who pass on information exclusively to the charity Crimestoppers, police said.

Anyone who has any information in regards to the location of Mr Dures is being urged to contact the force or Crimestoppers.