Five jailed in connection with death of scrap metal dealer

Jesse Richards was last seen in Worcestershire in July 2009.

The 40 year old husband and father, who lived in Surrey, was attacked and killed in the Cleeve Prior area because of a drugs debt.

Mr Richards had travelled to Sheffield before he was kidnapped and bundled into a white Renault van in Cleeve Prior, which was later found burnt out in Bedworth. His body was disposed of in Warwickshire but has never been found and there is a reward of £10,000 still on offer for anyone who can lead police to its location.

Chesterton Windmill near Harbury was among the sites police searched in attempts to find his remains during an operation in which Warwickshire Police officers assisted their West Mercia colleagues.

Five men were charged with Jesse’s murder and a trial began at Birmingham Crown Court in January this year.

Coventry man Kevin Houston, 50, currently of HMP Birmingham, pleaded guilty during the trial to manslaughter and obstructing a coroner.

He was sentenced to 19 years for manslaughter and six years six months for obstructing a coroner. The terms will run concurrently.

Houston was told by the judge he was a danger to the public and must serve a minimum of nine and a half years in prison before he can be considered for parole.

James Morris Doe, 38, formerly of Essex, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a separate blackmail charge. James Doe went on the run from police and was arrested in the Southport area in April last year.

He was jailed for 17 years for manslaughter and five years for blackmail, to run concurrently. Doe was also sentenced to 18 months in prison for a burglary offence, this will run consecutively.

Joseph Gene Doe, 37, of Oak Road, Maldon, Essex pleaded guilty to assisting his brother James. He was jailed for four years.

David Reuben Butler, 26, of Drift Way, Colnbrook, Slough pleaded guilty during the trial to obstructing a coroner and Matthew Robert Taylor, 29, of Wyken Way, Wyken, Coventry denied murder but was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court last month (March).

Butler was jailed for four years and time already served in prison will be taken into account. Taylor was jailed for 13 years for manslaughter and will serve at least half the time in prison.

Jonathan Calcott, 30, from Nuneaton and Martin Sutherland, 44, from Coventry had charges of perverting the course of justice against them dropped last week.

The Hon Mr Justice Royce presided over proceedings and commended the police team for their work on the complex investigation.

Det Chief Insp Mark Loader, who led the investigation for West Mercia Police, said: “This was a brutal attack on an unarmed, passive, family man over a drugs debt.

“We are pleased these men have been convicted of this terrible crime but it is not a day for celebration. We still need to find Jesse’s body and his family cannot have a funeral and lay him to rest until we do. We would appeal to the public for any information which may help us locate Jesse and the large police reward remains on offer. Jesse’s children need to have that closure and peace of mind.

“This has been a complex and challenging investigation spanning more than two years involving offenders from several different parts of the country. I would like to thank our colleagues at Warwickshire Police, Gwent Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance during the inquiry.”