Connor Brown murder: Man jailed for life after stabbing teenage boxer over £5

Death of ‘most wonderful son’ has devastated his community, say family

Leighton Barrass, left, has been jailed for murder (Northumbria Police)

A man who stabbed a teenage boxer to death in a row over £5 has been jailed for life.

Leighton Barrass, 20, murdered Connor Brown in an alley behind a pub in Sunderland in February by knifing him repeatedly.

He was also handed a 15-month sentence for carrying a blade, which will run concurrently.

Barrass’ co-defendant, Ally Gordon, also 20, was jailed for three and a half years for manslaughter, having kicked and stamped on 18-year-old Brown during the attack.

They were jailed at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday after a jury found them guilty on Wednesday.

Brown’s parents said in a statement: “Connor was the most wonderful son that any parents could have wished for. He lit up every room he walked in to, his smile was infectious and he was loved by so many people.

“Over the last four weeks, instead of looking forward to Christmas as a family, we have been sat in a court room forced to re-live the events of that tragic night which saw Connor cruelly taken away from us.

“The two defendants have shown little remorse for their actions, and while their conviction today brings some comfort to us knowing that justice has been served, there are no winners. Nothing can bring Connor back, and that is the sobering reality that we face.

“The last 10 months have been so difficult for everybody – for the family, for Connor’s friends, his colleagues and everybody who knew him. He had so much to live for.

“We cannot put into words the kindness and generosity that the community has shown to our family since Connor’s death. The outpouring of emotion shows what a special person Connor truly was and has reminded us all that Sunderland does have a heart.

“We stand here today because of the stupidity of two people. Their decisions that night have ruined not only our lives, but their own as well. They have caused pain and suffering to so many.

“We hope that if any lessons can be learnt from Connor’s death, it’s that there can never a good reason for carrying a knife under any circumstances.”

In a statement, Northumbria Police said that an argument had broken out between Brown, Barrass and Gordon on 24 February after the pair tried to sell the younger man drugs following a night out in Sunderland.

Barrass threatened Brown and his friends with a knife, saying he “would stab any one of them”. After that he launched the fatal assault on Brown, officers said, and was caught by bouncers nearby when he tried to run away.

Barrass, of Hartside Square, will serve a minimum of 20 years in prison, less the 289 days he has spent on remand. He and Gordon, of Polmuir Road, were convicted after a four-week trial.