John Hutchinson: Four men convicted of drugs gang revenge killing

John Hutchinson was attacked on 10 April

Four men have been convicted of the "brutal" revenge killing of a man who stole a large quantity of drugs.

John Hutchinson, 44, was attacked by the gang who burst into a flat in Blackpool armed with weapons on 10 April, police said.

He suffered internal bleeding and later had a fatal cardiac arrest.

Two men were found guilty of his murder at a trial in Preston Crown Court while another two men were convicted of manslaughter.

The court heard they used a hammer, metal bar and a wooden pole in that attack in Scorton Avenue.

Daniel Cunningham, David Bond, Lee Clarke and Darren McCabe will be sentenced at a later date

The men fled the scene before police attended and spoke to Mr Hutchinson.

Two hours later, officers were called back by paramedics who were treating him after he collapsed. He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Post-mortem tests found he suffered a ruptured spleen from a hammer blow that also fractured a rib.

Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police, said: "The drug dealing world is a brutal one and being part of that world has ultimately cost John Hutchinson his life in what was a classic case of retribution.

"My thoughts remain with Mr Hutchinson's loved ones and I hope that these guilty verdicts provide some sense that justice has been done."

Lee Clarke, from Greenall Court, Prescot, and David Bond, from Oaklands Avenue, Liverpool - both aged 33 - were found guilty of murder by a jury.

Daniel Cunningham, 34, from Tarnbrook Drive, and Darren McCabe, 47, from Warwick Road - both in Blackpool - were found guilty of manslaughter

They will be sentenced at a later date.

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