Man with 'DEAD' tattooed on face killed his friend then dumped his body in a stream

Four gang members who slit a man's throat and dumped his body in a stream have been jailed for life.

Jack Towell, David Oswald and two other men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ambushed Owen Fairclough, 21, after they thought he would tell police about their drug dealing operation. A group of teenagers later found Mr Fairclough's body in the water near a path in Breaston, Derbyshire, at around 7.20pm on June 23 last year.

A court heard he had been lured to the area after arranging to meet his friend Towell to collect some money he was owed. Mr Fairclough got a taxi from his home in Long Eaton to the Navigation Inn pub where he had agreed to meet Towell at around 11pm on June 21.

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But when he arrived he called Towell, who then 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 a brutal attack.

Jurors were told the group had hatched a plan to kill the victim, believing he was about to report their drug dealing to the police. Towell, of Nottingham, was arrested at 1.42am on June 24 after CCTV and geolocation placed him in the area at the time of the killing.

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. All three were charged with murder.

They denied the charges but were found guilty after a trial at Derby Crown Court. They 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. On Monday, November 25, 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.

Det Supt 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.

"I 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, added: "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."