Family hope to save lives after knife murder 'hell'

Raymond Beeson wants to educate others about knife crime

The family of a murdered man are working to raise awareness of knife crime so others do not have to live a "nightmare" like theirs.

Tom Gaughan, 32, died after he was stabbed in the head during a night out in Cleethorpes in July last year.

His killer Connor Hulse, 22, of Chester Walk, Grimsby, was jailed for life on Tuesday and told he must serve a minimum of 23 years.

Mr Gaughan's family, who described their ordeal as "absolute hell", have raised £4,000 to purchase specialist kits, designed to save the lives of stab victims.

They plan to install the kits in public spaces around North East Lincolnshire.

Mr Gaughan's grandfather Raymond Beeson, 74, described knife crime as an "epidemic".

"We're hoping to go to schools and talk about carrying knives, the dangers and the consequences. After everything we've gone through it might have an impact," he said.

"If it stops one person from carrying a knife, then that's what we want to do. We want to bring knife crime into the public eye and it's time we think about how we stamp it out."

"Loving father" Tom Gaughan with his daughter Alesha, 17

Mr Beeson said he and his wife Carole had raised Mr Gaughan from the age of six and he was "like a son" to them.

He described the night of the attack – and the 26 days Mr Gaughan spent in intensive care at Hull Royal Infirmary – as "absolute hell".

"He rang his nanna on the night of his death to say he was finishing a pint and going home; 20 minutes later his life was ended. Watching him slowly pass away was horrific," he said.

"Tom absolutely loved life. He loved his kids and doted on his children. There's a lot of silly little things we'll miss, but we will never forget him."

Mr Gaughan's former partner Zoe said the life of their daughter, Kendall, 9, had been turned "upside down"

Statements read out during a sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court described the "heartbreak and devastation" faced by Mr Gaughan's family and the impact his death had had on his six children.

Zoe Jones, his former partner and mother of two of his daughters, said: "There will always be someone missing in all our lives. We have forgotten how to feel happy.

"Tom didn't deserve this. His family didn't deserve this and, mostly, his children didn't deserve this. How can he go out for a drink and never come home?

"We all live in a nightmare day in and day out. The snowball effect on families and friends from knife crime is absolutely shocking."

'Life sentence'

Daniel Champion, of Wellington Street, Grimsby, and Jack Kitchen, of Tiverton Street, Cleethorpes, were also involved in the fight and were sentenced to 21 months and 20 months in prison respectively.

Gabrielle Hough, 19, of Ridgeway Lodge, Louth, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and is due to be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on 1 October.

Mr Beeson concluded: "People always say they carry knives only for protection, but if you use it then you could end up with a lifelong sentence, you'll be labelled a killer.

"Your family, your friends will also have a life sentence because they will never forget.

"I hope nobody ever goes through what we have."

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