This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/02/lee-irving-murder-james-wheatley-jailed-life-newcastle
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Brutal bully' who killed disabled man is jailed for life 'Brutal bully' who killed disabled man is jailed for life | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A “brutal bully” who battered a disabled man to death before getting a vulnerable accomplice to dump the body by a footpath has been sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison. | A “brutal bully” who battered a disabled man to death before getting a vulnerable accomplice to dump the body by a footpath has been sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison. |
| Lee Irving’s profound learning difficulties made him a target when he came under the influence of James Wheatley, 29, and his chaotic household in Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne. | Lee Irving’s profound learning difficulties made him a target when he came under the influence of James Wheatley, 29, and his chaotic household in Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne. |
| The 24-year-old thought he was with friends, but Wheatley repeatedly beat him over a number of days, stamping on his ribs so badly that experts likened Irving’s injuries to those of someone in a car crash. | The 24-year-old thought he was with friends, but Wheatley repeatedly beat him over a number of days, stamping on his ribs so badly that experts likened Irving’s injuries to those of someone in a car crash. |
| Wheatley’s mother, Julie Mills, 52, his then girlfriend Nicole Lawrence, 22, and his accomplice Barry Imray, 35, who also has learning difficulties, did nothing to protect Irving. | Wheatley’s mother, Julie Mills, 52, his then girlfriend Nicole Lawrence, 22, and his accomplice Barry Imray, 35, who also has learning difficulties, did nothing to protect Irving. |
| When police called at the house on another matter, they were kept away from Irving. | When police called at the house on another matter, they were kept away from Irving. |
| Mills gave him prescription drugs including morphine to sedate him, and Lawrence suggested taking Irving to Durham and dumping him there once his condition improved. | Mills gave him prescription drugs including morphine to sedate him, and Lawrence suggested taking Irving to Durham and dumping him there once his condition improved. |
| But he died in June 2015 and Wheatley told Imray to wheel the body in a pushchair and discard it. | But he died in June 2015 and Wheatley told Imray to wheel the body in a pushchair and discard it. |
| Imray took the body 800 metres (2,625ft) before leaving it on a footpath beside the A1. He made a weak attempt to claim that he had only just found the body. | Imray took the body 800 metres (2,625ft) before leaving it on a footpath beside the A1. He made a weak attempt to claim that he had only just found the body. |
| Mr Justice Soole sentenced Wheatley to life with a minimum term of 23 years for murder. He said: “You are a vicious and brutal bully, prone to sudden and explosive acts of sustained violence.” | Mr Justice Soole sentenced Wheatley to life with a minimum term of 23 years for murder. He said: “You are a vicious and brutal bully, prone to sudden and explosive acts of sustained violence.” |
| One aggravating factor was the vulnerability of the victim. The judge told Newcastle crown court: “He was both unable and unwilling to resist and you knew it. There is a special revulsion for the assault and abuse of the vulnerable.” | One aggravating factor was the vulnerability of the victim. The judge told Newcastle crown court: “He was both unable and unwilling to resist and you knew it. There is a special revulsion for the assault and abuse of the vulnerable.” |
| During a two-month trial, the jury heard that Wheatley intended to get cash from Irving’s account and “hammer loads” on his card. | During a two-month trial, the jury heard that Wheatley intended to get cash from Irving’s account and “hammer loads” on his card. |
| The judge sentenced Mills to eight years in prison for causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Lawrence was convicted of the same offences and given four years. | The judge sentenced Mills to eight years in prison for causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Lawrence was convicted of the same offences and given four years. |
| Imray had previously admitted perverting the course of justice and was convicted of causing or allowing Irving’s death. He was sentenced to three years in prison. | Imray had previously admitted perverting the course of justice and was convicted of causing or allowing Irving’s death. He was sentenced to three years in prison. |