John Hutchinson: Four men jailed for drugs gang revenge killing

John Hutchinson suffered a suspected cardiac arrest in the hours after the attack

A gang who killed a man in a "revenge attack" after he stole drugs from them have been jailed.

Lancashire Police said John Hutchinson was attacked with a hammer, a bar and a pole at a Blackpool flat in April 2023.

Lee Clarke, David Bond, Darren McCabe and Daniel Cunningham were found guilty of killing the 44-year-old.

Clarke and Bond were jailed for life for murder, while McCabe and Cunningham were sentenced to 16 and 18 years for manslaughter at Preston Crown Court.

After a trial at Preston Crown Court, Lee Clarke, 33, and David Bond, 34 were given a minimum prison term of 27 years and 24 years respectively.

Clarke, of Greenall Court, Prescot, Merseyside was also given a nine-year concurrent sentence for drug offences.

Bond, of Oaklands Avenue, Liverpool was also jailed for six months concurrent for drug offences.

Cunningham, of Tarnbrook Drive, Blackpool was further sentenced to six years concurrent and two years consecutive for drug offences.

The court heard the gang used a hammer, metal bar and a wooden pole in that attack in Scorton Avenue, police said.

Daniel Cunningham, David Bond, Lee Clarke and Darren McCabe were all convicted at Preston Crown Court

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 due to a suspected cardiac arrest.

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.

Police said the assault on Mr Hutchinson was a revenge attack after he and another man had stolen a large quantity of drugs from the home address of a man called Daniel Cunningham earlier that day.

Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police, said: "First and foremost my thoughts today are with John Hutchinson's family and friends who lost a loved one in brutal circumstances.

"I welcome these sentences and I hope that they provide some sense that justice has been served."

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