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

Life sentence: Daniel Thomas Reed
Monday 24 July, 2017 @ 4.48 pm Crime, News YorkMix
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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

Flashback: Police at the block of flats in Holgate Road, York, in March. Photographs: YorkMix

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.

Forensics and scene of crime officers at the flats

‘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.”

A police officer at the back of the flats
An officer guarding the road to the flats’ car park
Officers at the scene

Det Ch Insp Pearson added:

While no sentence can compensate for the loss of a loved one, I hope today’s outcome brings a small measure of comfort to them, knowing that justice has been served and Reed is now facing the consequences of his terrible, unprovoked attack.

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

Sadly missed… Shaun Skelton

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.”

He died in a flat at Chancery House, Holgate Road
Photograph © Google Street View


Related YorkMix stories

Police launch murder investigation after body found in York flat

York man, 19, charged with murder – police name dead man

Family pay tribute to Shaun, who was found dead in York flat

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