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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Burglar jailed for student murder | Burglar jailed for student murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 31-year-old man has been jailed for life for stabbing a student to death while burgling his house in Leeds. | |
| Leeds Crown Court heard how heroin addict Gareth Brear stabbed 20-year-old Joe Cook, from Newcastle, 15 times with a kitchen knife on 30 August 2009. | |
| The court was told Brear then ransacked the shared house on Ebberston Terrace in Hyde Park before taking a BMX bike he went on to sell for £10. | |
| He was jailed for a minimum of 26 years after pleading guilty to murder. | |
| The court heard how Brear, high on drink and drugs, entered the student house through a basement window. | |
| Joe was not in the wrong place at the wrong time Parents Lesley and Nick | Joe was not in the wrong place at the wrong time Parents Lesley and Nick |
| Graham Hyland QC, prosecuting, said Mr Cook, who was alone in the six-bedroom house, sent a friend a text message saying: "There's someone in the house." | Graham Hyland QC, prosecuting, said Mr Cook, who was alone in the six-bedroom house, sent a friend a text message saying: "There's someone in the house." |
| Mr Hyland said a confrontation took place: "When I say confrontation, I mean that the defendant confronted the defenceless Mr Cook." | Mr Hyland said a confrontation took place: "When I say confrontation, I mean that the defendant confronted the defenceless Mr Cook." |
| Mr Cook's body was found the following day on the bed in his first-floor bedroom. | Mr Cook's body was found the following day on the bed in his first-floor bedroom. |
| Almost a month after the murder Brear, from Leeds, was arrested when staff at a homeless project in the city became suspicious when he repeatedly mentioned the murder to a support worker. | Almost a month after the murder Brear, from Leeds, was arrested when staff at a homeless project in the city became suspicious when he repeatedly mentioned the murder to a support worker. |
| Joe Cook was described as "universally liked and loved" | Joe Cook was described as "universally liked and loved" |
| A statement from the victim's parents, Lesley and Nick, was read out in court. | A statement from the victim's parents, Lesley and Nick, was read out in court. |
| "Joe was not in the wrong place at the wrong time," it read. | "Joe was not in the wrong place at the wrong time," it read. |
| "He was in the right place, in his bed, in his room, in his student house. He should have been safe. | "He was in the right place, in his bed, in his room, in his student house. He should have been safe. |
| "Joe never knew violence, he had never been in a fight. Joe could offer no provocation, he had no defence. | "Joe never knew violence, he had never been in a fight. Joe could offer no provocation, he had no defence. |
| "Our gentle Joe had no hope against a murderer determined to stab him to death. | "Our gentle Joe had no hope against a murderer determined to stab him to death. |
| "Joe's murderer did not bungle a burglary, he chose to discard Joe's life, then continue with his work." | "Joe's murderer did not bungle a burglary, he chose to discard Joe's life, then continue with his work." |
| 'Unwarranted violence' | 'Unwarranted violence' |
| Speaking after sentencing, Det Supt Bill Shackleton of West Yorkshire Police, said: "It is clear from the evidence that Brear was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and launched a violent attack on Joe when he encountered him in the house. | Speaking after sentencing, Det Supt Bill Shackleton of West Yorkshire Police, said: "It is clear from the evidence that Brear was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and launched a violent attack on Joe when he encountered him in the house. |
| "Joe was physically small and is unlikely to have offered much resistance. | "Joe was physically small and is unlikely to have offered much resistance. |
| "The violence used by Brear was completely unnecessary and unwarranted. | "The violence used by Brear was completely unnecessary and unwarranted. |
| "Brear's criminal lifestyle and drug and alcohol abuse made for a deadly combination which cost an innocent young man his life. | "Brear's criminal lifestyle and drug and alcohol abuse made for a deadly combination which cost an innocent young man his life. |
| "Joe was universally liked and loved and had his whole life ahead of him. | "Joe was universally liked and loved and had his whole life ahead of him. |
| "His death has left a gap for his family and friends that will never be filled." | "His death has left a gap for his family and friends that will never be filled." |