Crawley: Pair guilty of murdering Harrison Tomkins in bed

Kaydon Prior and Jason Curtis

Two men have been convicted of murder after fatally stabbing a 25-year-old lifeguard in bed in Crawley.

Kaydon Prior stabbed Harrison Tomkins, 25, in the chest, legs and back with a hunting knife in a "brutal and frenzied" attack on August 13 2023.

His friend Jason Curtis, 22, encouraged and assisted Prior in the murder.

Prior, 23, of Hazelwick Avenue, Three Bridges, and Curtis, of Lairdale Close, in Lambeth, south London, both denied murder and manslaughter.

But the pair were found guilty of murder on Friday following a four-week trial at Chichester Crown Court.

After the verdict, Mr Tomkins' family said he was "the greatest" and an "innocent" party in a statement via police.

Sussex Police said Harrison Tomkins had been the victim of an "horrendous attack"

Prior and Curtis were also found guilty of being in possession of an offensive weapon. Prior was also found guilty of common assault.

The court heard Prior and Curtis had been out in London celebrating Curtis' birthday, but when they returned to Crawley they discovered that Prior's ex-girlfriend was with Mr Tomkins.

The pair burst into the woman's flat in Arthur Road and Mr Tomkins was stabbed multiple times in her bed, the court heard.

Prosecutor Alan Gardner KC told the trial: "Harrison Tomkins had no chance. The sudden onslaught was completely unexpected.

"He may well have been asleep when the defendant burst into the bedroom."

'Horrendous and unprovoked'

Following the case, Mr Tomkins' family said they were pleased with the result and "feel justice has been served", although going through the trial had been "as traumatic as the day we were told Harrison had been killed".

They said: "Harrison was innocent in all of this, taken by surprise and killed as he laid in bed, with no time to defend himself.

"Harrison, our first born son and brother to his two adoring sisters was just the greatest, he saw the best in everyone he met. He was a lover of life."

Det Ch Insp Emma Vickers paid tribute to Mr Tomkins' "incredible" family.

She said: "This was a horrendous and unprovoked attack on a young man who had simply been on a night out enjoying himself."

Prior and Curtis are due to be sentenced on 23 April.

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