Two teenagers jailed for life after 'barbaric' murder of man they hacked to death with samurai sword

Factory supervisor Robert Wilson, 53, was killed in a brutal attack - described as one of the worst ever seen by officers - outside the Thornton and Ross pharmaceutical plant in Huddersfield on January 16 2020.

Mr Wilson had gone outside to investigate youths hanging around the factory when he was attacked by Kiyran Earnshaw, 18, and Luke Gaukroger, 16.

The two teenagers passed a 20 inch sword between them and slashed and chopped at their victim, at one point trying to decapitate him.

-> West Yorkshire factory supervisor hacked to death with more than 100 blows from samurai swordLeeds Crown Court heard audio recorded from Mr Wilson’s phone call to a security firm which captured the younger of the two – who was 15 at the time – shouting “get his head, I want to cut his head, Kia I want to cut his head”.

The recording, also played in court, captured the night shift supervisor’s pleas to the youths to stop their attack.

The court heard that Mr Wilson had left the plant to talk to the youths in the car park with colleagues Paul Thewliss and John Badejo.

Mr Badejo was seriously injured as he tried to help his friend and both men were forced to flee for their lives, the court heard.

Kiyran Earnshaw, of Field Lane, Batley, and Luke Gaukroger, from Arthur Street, Huddersfield both pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Wilson on January 16 2020.

They were both sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, September 2.

Earnshaw also pleaded guilty to a Section 18 assault on Mr John Badejo, another victim of the incident.

Earnshaw was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years and 140 days for the murder.

He was also sentenced to 9 years for the Section 18 assault to run concurrently.

Gaukroger was sentenced to life with a minimum jail term of 16 years and 17 days.

DCI Marc Bowes of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said: “The murder of Mr Wilson and the serious assault on Mr Badejo were truly dreadful offences in what was a horrendous incident for the community of Linthwaite.

"It is no exaggeration to say the level of violence used by these males in the attacks was absolutely barbaric.

"They both acted in a manner which many of us would struggle to comprehend and committed acts which were among the worst that I and other members of my investigation team have witnessed in our policing careers. Thankfully such acts are very rare occurrences in today’s society.”

He added: "We can't begin to imagine the appalling impact Mr Wilson's murder has had on his family. Their courage and dignity in coping with such a traumatic event has been immense.”

"Nothing can alter the tragic outcome of this night but I do sincerely hope that the family of Robert, Mr Badejo and his wider family, and all those affected by this senseless incident can take some measure of comfort in seeing these two individuals jailed for such a long period."