Jail sentence for murder of a man whose body has never been found

Newsdesk • Published 26 Apr 2012 17:15

A MAN from Colnbrook is one of five jailed in connection with the murder of a man whose body has never been found.

The men have been jailed for a total of more than 58 years in connection with the death of Jesse Richards, who was last seen in Worcestershire in July 2009.

David Reuben Butler, 26, of Drift Way, Colnbrook, was jailed for four years, with time served taken into account, after pleading guilty to obstructing a coroner.

West Mercia Police said Mr Richards, a 40-year-old father-of-three from Surrey, was attacked and killed in the Cleeve Prior area because of a drugs debt. His body was taken to Warwickshire to be disposed of.

His body has never been found and there is a reward of £10,00 for anyone who can lead police to his body.

The murder trial began at Birmingham Crown Court in January.

Kevin Houston, 50, from Coventry, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 19 years for manslaughter and six years six months for obstructing a coroner, The terms will run concurrently.

James Morris Doe, 38, formerly of Essex, pleaded guilty and was jailed for 17 years for manslaughter and five years for a separate blackmail charge, to run concurrently. Doe was also sentenced to 18 months for a burglary offence, to run consecutively.

A hearing for a confiscation order will take place in relation to the blackmail offence.

Joseph Gene Doe, 37, from Essex, pleaded guilty and was jailed for four years, with time already served in custody being taken into account, for assisting an offender - his brother James.

Matthew Robert Taylor, 29, from Coventry, pleaded not guilty to murder but was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 13 years.

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

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