Six jailed for 'senseless' killing of man

Six men have been jailed after a man was killed during a burglary in North Lincolnshire.

Ian Staves, 44, was found dead at his home in Cherry Lane, Wootton, on 12 September 2022.

He had been punched, kicked, stamped on and strangled the night before, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Judge Peter Kelson KC said all the defendants had "played more than a minor role" in the attack, adding it was a "carefully planned burglary", with the target "most likely drugs and drug money".

Those convicted are:

• Nicholas James St Clair, 36, of Castle Grove, Hull, manslaughter and conspiracy to burgle. Jailed for 15 years
• Aaron Windas, 41, of Anlaby Road, Hull, manslaughter and conspiracy to burgle. Jailed for 15 years
• Celestino Furtado, 38, of Waterloo Street, Hull, manslaughter, conspiracy to burgle and firearm offences. Jailed for 20 years
• Jamie Smith, 35, of Skippindale Road, Scunthorpe, manslaughter and conspiracy to burgle. Jailed for eight years
• Patrick Joseph Smith, 29, of no fixed address, manslaughter and conspiracy to burgle. Jailed for 15 years
• Bobby Gibson, 20, of Woodcock Street, Hull, conspiracy to burgle. Jailed for three years in a young offender institution

St Clair, Windas, Furtado, Jamie Smith and Patrick Smith, were all cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter by a jury following a four-week trial.

Gibson was also cleared of murder. On Wednesday he was cleared of manslaughter.

Patrick Smith and Jamie Smith admitted a charge of conspiracy to burgle and the jury returned guilty verdicts on this charge for the other four men.

Judge Kelson told St Clair he was the "mastermind" behind the attack, adding: "You recruited the others to do your dirty work, hoping to remain sufficiently distant to avoid detection."

The judge said Patrick Smith, Furtado and Windas were "party to the attack" on Mr Staves, who was beaten by more than one person.

Following the killing, police seized 11lb (5kg) of cocaine and a large amount of money, the court heard.

Judge Kelson said Mr Staves was seen carrying a bag into his home the day before he died. However, the bag was never recovered by police.

Earlier, prosecutor Tom Storey told how during searches of Furtado's home, a loaded handgun was found in a gift bag, which also contained a loose round of ammunition.

Another shortened shotgun was discovered wrapped in a pair of tracksuit bottoms, Mr Storey said.

In a statement, which was read out in court, Mr Staves' eldest sister Jacqueline Jeffrey described her brother's killing as "senseless" and said she had "no idea what made him take that first step into addiction".

She said had doted on brother when he was a child and added: "His last minutes haunt me."

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