Man, 19, jailed for life for ‘terrible, unprovoked’ murder of York father

A 19-year-old man has been jailed for life for the brutal murder of 53-year-old Shaun Skelton in York.

Daniel Thomas Reed, of no fixed address, was sentenced today (Monday, July 24) at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to the murder of Mr Skelton.

On the night of March 5, Reed smashed his way into Mr Skelton’s flat on Holgate Road before attacking him with a hammer and a knife.

Covered in blood

After killing Mr Skelton, Reed made his way through the streets of York, covered in blood.

He called at the railway station and at Fleetways taxi office on Queen Street where he told staff he had attacked a man.

The taxi staff alerted police officers who traced Reed’s movements to the Scarcroft Road area where he was arrested in the early hours of March 6.

‘Senseless death’

Reed, formerly of Strensall Road, was sentenced to life and will serve a minimum of 24 years in jail.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Pearson of the Major Investigation Team said: “My thoughts remain with Mr Skelton’s family today, particularly his mother and stepfather whose lives have been changed forever.

“They have had to endure the devastation brought on by the needless and senseless death of Shaun.”

Det Ch Insp Pearson added:

A second man, Scott Fletcher, 18, of Lindsey Gardens, Burmantofts, Leeds, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender (murder) after offering Reed a place to stay to avoid detection and advising him to delete text messages relating to the offer of accommodation.

He was given an 18 month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Family tribute

Shortly after he died, the family of Shaun Skelton issued a tribute to him.

“Shaun was a father, son, brother, uncle and grandad who has been taken from us too soon,” they said in a statement.

“He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself with a love of pet birds and was an avid Leeds United supporter.

“He will be sadly missed by us all.”