A thug with the word ‘DEAD’ tattooed on his face is one of four men jailed for life after he admitted murdering his friend.
Jack Towell, 22, pleaded guilty to killing Owen Fairclough, 21, who was found dumped in a stream with his throat slit and stab wounds to his body.
A court heard Mr Fairclough had been lured to the area by the gang – who feared he was about to inform police about their drug dealing – after arranging to meet his friend Towell to collect money he was owed.
Mr Fairclough got a taxi from his home in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, to the Navigation Inn pub where he had agreed to meet Towell at around 11pm on June 21.
But when he arrived, he called Towell, who directed him to the secluded area nearby.
Two other men – David Oswald, 31, and a man who cannot be named for legal reasons – were also waiting and Mr Fairclough was subjected to the fatal attack.
Jurors were told the three men had been had hatched a plan to kill Mr Fairclough along with help from a fourth man, who was not at the scene on the night in question.
A group of teenagers found Mr Fairclough’s body in a stream near a path in Breaston, on June 23 last year.
Jack Towell (pictured), 22, pleaded guilty to killing Owen Fairclough, 21, who was found dumped in a stream with his throat slit and stab wounds to his body
Two other men – David Oswald (pictured), 31, and a man who cannot be named for legal reasons – joined in the attack
Towell, of Nottingham, was arrested at 1.42am on June 24 after CCTV and geolocation placed him in the area at the time of Mr Fairclough’s murder.
He denied murder but changed his plea to guilty part way through a trial at Derby Crown Court.
Oswald, of Birmingham city centre, and a 23-year-old man known as Man A, from Long Eaton, were also at the scene of the murder.
Man B, 28, from Nottinghamshire – who also can’t be named for legal reasons – was not present on the night but was involved with the planning of the murder.
All three were charged with Owen’s murder. They denied the charges but were all found guilty after a trial at Derby Crown Court.
Judge Gregory Dickinson KC told the men during sentencing: ‘Shortly before midnight on June 21, 2023, in an isolated area, Owen Fairclough was murdered. His throat had been cut, he had been stabbed and barely alive he was manhandled to a bank and dropped into a brook.
‘There his body remained for two days until it was found. Owen was no angel. He was being drawn into the world of drugs by people like you. But he was loved, he had youth and had the capacity to live a decent family life. That was wiped out by you.
‘This was a planned killing to preserve your criminal lifestyle. The method of killing was no doubt discussed – a Rambo knife. There may have been one knife or two, one assailant or two. But all of you killed Owen Fairclough and there has been a total lack of remorse.’
Owen Fairclough, 21, was murdered by the gang, who slit his throat and stabbed him, before dumping him in a nearby stream
Mr Fairclough’s sister, Catherinesaid in a victim impact statement to the court: ‘The last one year and five months have been a rollercoaster of grief and heartache.
‘I feel like I have been walking in a world where everything is grey. There has been no light, no happiness and no energy.
‘He was my big brother and now I feel alone.’
Mr Fairclough’s mother’s statement read: ‘I miss him every day. Every single day and it has broken my heart and I am never going to get over the loss of my son.
‘One thing I will never understand is why so much violence was used. Losing Owen has completely altered my life beyond recognition.’
His father Andrew’s said: ‘I don’t understand how anyone can be so callous. Losing Owen feels like I have lost part of myself. There is now a massive void. Losing Owen has been absolutely monumental. We all have a whole life sentence.’
The four men have all now been sentenced to life imprisonment. Towell was ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years while Oswald must serve a minimum of 26 years.
Man A was ordered to serve a minimum of 29 years and Man B must serve a minimum of 25 years.
Today Derbyshire Police released Towell’s mug shot showing the word ‘dead’ inked on his face alongside a tattoo on his other cheek of a broken heart.
Detective Superintendent Leigh Sanders, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said: ‘This murder was one of the largest investigations that EMSOU have investigated – and among the most complex I have had to deal with in my time as a detective.
‘As is always the case with investigations of this nature there are dozens of people involved – and they all played a part in bringing these men to justice.
‘The team, led by Superintendent Matt Croome, worked round the clock to arrest and charge those responsible – and get justice for Owen’s family.
‘As well as Superintendent Croome, I also want to commend the work of Detective Staff Investigator Molly Mee the officer in the case – as well as Detective Sergeant Craig Yates who supervised the investigation.
‘I also want to thank Owen’s family for the manner in which they supported the investigation and the strength and dignity that they have shown through the court process.
‘Owen was clearly a much loved son – who died for no other reason than to protect the criminality of a group who thought nothing of luring a young man to his death.’
Detective Staff Investigator Molly Mee, who led the investigation, said: ‘This was a pre-planned and callous attack organised by Towell after he became convinced that Owen was about to inform police of the group’s drug dealing exploits.
‘Towell recruited Oswald and these other two men as part of his plan and the group then lay in wait for Owen, ready to kill him in the most horrific way.
‘Their calculated actions led to the needless death of a young man who had his whole life ahead of him.
‘The fact they carried on just drinking and taking drugs in the days after killing Owen speaks volumes about their characters.
‘I am pleased they have now all been convicted for their part in this awful crime and will be behind bars for many years to come.’