Man who murdered father-of-six jailed for life

Connor Hulse got into a violent altercation with Tom Gaughan in Cleethorpes

A man who murdered a father-of-six during a street fight has been jailed for life.

Connor Hulse, 22, stabbed 32-year-old Tom Gaughan in the head at the junction of High Street and Grant Street, Cleethorpes, on 21 July last year.

Mr Gaughan was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary but died 25 days later.

Hulse, of Chester Walk, Grimsby, was found guilty of murder in June and was told at Hull Crown Court he must serve a minimum of 23 years.

Hulse was also convicted of assaulting an emergency worker after admitting he spat at a police officer during his arrest.

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 will be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on 1 October.

Tom Gaughan's family told the court his murder had left them living a "nightmare"

The court heard Hulse, Champion and Hough had been drinking together and were involved in anti-social behaviour in the hours leading up to the attack.

After being told to leave a bar, the group crossed paths with Mr Gaughan and Kitchen who had also been drinking.

CCTV footage, broadcast in the court, showed a fight between the groups and the moment Hulse stabbed Mr Gaughan through his skull causing "catastrophic" brain injuries.

Judge John Thackray KC described the incident as "truly shocking and horrifying" and said Mr Gaughan "did not deserve to die such a violent and terrifying death".

Despite being told he faced a life sentence, Hulse, who has previous convictions for assault, possession of heroin and imitation firearms offences, joked with his supporters in the public gallery and smiled as he was sent down.

'Our soulmate'

Statements from Mr Gaughan’s family were read out in court describing him as a "warm, loving man".

The mother of two of Mr Gaughan's children, Zoe Jones, said his death had been "painfully suffocating" and added her family "lived in a nightmare day in and day out".

Ray Beeson, Mr Gaughan's grandfather, told the court: "Our lives are now empty without Tom. He was a son to us and our soulmate.

"There are so many memories and there should have been many more to come. We will miss and love you for the rest of our lives."

Follow BBC Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]