Jack Crawley: Security guard who murdered army veteran and tried to kill man he met on Grindr is jailed
A security guard who murdered an army veteran and tried to kill a man he met on the dating app Grindr has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years.
Paul Taylor, 56, disappeared while driving from Scotland to England in October last year, with his remains later found in woodland near Carlisle, Cumbria, in May.
Jack Crawley, 20, was this week found guilty of murdering Mr Taylor.
Paul Taylor’s body was found months after his disappearance. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary
Crawley was also convicted of attempting to murder a second man with a hammer after they met through Grindr.
He was out on bail for the killing of Mr Taylor when he attacked the man in York, North Yorkshire, in January.
Crawley, from Carlisle, was sentenced on Wednesday to at least 37 years in prison for the murder. He was also handed a 15-year sentence for the attempted murder, which will run concurrently.
Mr Taylor, from Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, was last seen on 17 October 2023.
His blue Vauxhall Corsa was driven south to Carlisle that evening and was days later found abandoned in Langwathby in northern Cumbria.
Mr Taylor’s Vauxhall Corsa. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary
Cumbria Constabulary launched a murder inquiry but did not find Mr Taylor’s body until May when Crawley, who had been arrested two months earlier, told police where to find him in the Finglandrigg Wood area west of Carlisle.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), attempts had been made to burn Mr Taylor’s body.
Senior crown prosecutor Katie Marsden said the CPS, Cumbria Constabulary and North Yorkshire Police joined forces – piecing together the forensic evidence, CCTV footage and phone location data to build a strong case against Crawley.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
During the trial at Carlisle Crown Court, Crawley had admitted manslaughter but denied murder. He claimed Mr Taylor’s death was the result of a car theft gone wrong.
A post-mortem examination showed Mr Taylor had been struck on the head at least 10 times. The victim also had two injuries on his left arm.
Mr Taylor had suffered multiple injuries. Pic: Cumbria Constabulary
The CPS said: “A specific cause of death could not be determined due to the passage of time but is likely to have been caused by blows to the head.”
According to court reports during the trial, jurors heard how Crawley and Mr Taylor had met previously for sex, unbeknownst to the victim’s family and wife.
Read more from Sky News:
Man charged with murder of mother-of-six
Body found in search for missing nurse
During his police interview in relation to the attempted murder in York, Crawley claimed he was acting in self-defence when he hit the man with a hammer.
Following Crawley’s conviction, Mr Taylor’s family said their “lives and world were completely torn apart” by the murder.
In a statement released through Cumbria Constabulary, they described Mr Taylor as a “gentle and loving” husband and dad.
They added: “For many years Paul worked to protect his country giving up time being a husband and father. Now was the time for us to be that family unit and we grieve the loss of that and of our future.
“Losing Paul in these circumstances and the torment and hurt this has caused has been horrendous and indescribable.
“Paul will be dearly missed and he will remain in our thoughts forever.”
UK
Three Iranians charged under National Security Act after investigation by UK counter-terror police
Two firefighters and a member of the public have died in a large fire in Bicester, the fire service announced.
The firefighters died in the inferno at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire, which now hosts historic motoring and aviation centre Bicester Motion.
The local fire service was called to the scene at 6.39pm last night.
Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we today report the loss of two of our firefighters. Families have been informed and are being supported.
“Our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times and we ask for privacy to be respected.
“We cannot release any details at present but will provide further information as soon as we can.”
Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries and are currently being treated in hospital, Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement.
Footage shared on social media shows plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and flames swallowing the large building.
Clouds of smoke from the fire were billowing into the sky last night. Pic:@kajer87X
Two firefighters and one other person died in the fire, while two more firefighters were seriously injured. Pic: PA
Ten fire crews attended the incident, with four remaining at the scene. The fire is still ongoing, but it is considered under control.
Local residents were advised to remain indoors and keep their windows shut, but this advice has now been lifted.
Bicester Motion said in a statement it would be closed today and over the weekend.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway