Jonjo Highton murder: Six men jailed for life over stab death

Jonjo Highton died after receiving a wound to the neck

Six men have been jailed for life over the murder of an 18-year-old in a "mass attack" in Lancashire.

Jonjo Highton was stabbed in the neck in a confrontation with a group of men on St Stephen's Road in Preston, last August.

Three other men convicted of assisting an offender were given sentences from seven to four years by a judge at Preston Crown.

Mr Highton's killers will serve minimum terms ranging from 29 to 20 years.

(From top left): Arron Graham, Owen Whitesmith, Craig Walton, (and from bottom left) Stephen Walton, Joshua Bore and Zaahid Patel will serve minimum jail terms from 29 to 20 years

Arron Graham, 34, of Ripon Street, Preston was told he will serve a minimum 29 years before he is eligible for parole; Owen Whitesmith, 19 of Glebe Close, Fulwood 27 years; Craig Walton, 26, of Watling Street Road, Fulwood and Stephen Walton, 24, of no fixed address received a 26-year tariff each; Joshua Bore, 19, of Morris Road, Ribbleton 21 years and Zaahid Patel, 20, of Park Avenue, Preston, 20 years.

The three men found guilty of assisting an offender were Liam Tunstall 26, of Mark Close, Penwortham, John Wilding, 36, of Everton Street, Darwen and Stuart Eastham, 33, of Gisburn Road, Ribbleton. They were given sentences of seven, four and three years respectively.

The jury was discharged from giving a verdict on Mohammed Dal and Minhaj Musa, also accused of his murder.