Two given life sentences for murder of Ben Bebbington
Two men were today handed life sentences for the murder of 43-year-old Shrewsbury man Ben Bebbington.
Four others were also sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Detective Inspector Andy Parsons, who led the police investigation, welcomed the life sentences given to Stewart Doran and Bradley Davies.
Eighteen-year-old Bradley Davies, who had denied murder, was found guilty on Wednesday and was today told he will serve a minimum of 14 years in prison.
Stewart Doran, aged 22, who pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing, will serve a minimum of 16 years.
Davies’ mother, Janet Davies, 47, was jailed for two years, his cousin Kayleigh Davie, 25, was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work, his half brother Luke Stevens, 27, was jailed for eight months and a juvenile who cannot be named for legal reasons was given a two-year youth rehabilitation order with supervision.
They all admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Ben Bebbington was attacked by Doran and Davies, who had followed him along the Old Canal Towpath off Ditherington Road, Shrewsbury late at night on Thursday, 6 September 2012.
He was found severely injured by police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
DI Parsons said: “The brutal and savage attack on Mr Bebbington was both shocking in its ferocity and the fact that it was completely unprovoked.
“Having chased him along a dark pathway, Doran and Davies knocked him to the ground and subjected him to a sustained assault involving repeated stamps to the head, before leaving him to die.
“Both defendants then sought to cover up what they had done by disposing of clothing and fabricating a story. They were assisted by others and it is only right those responsible have been dealt with for attempting to pervert the course of justice”.
He said: “I wish to thank those people who came forward in the early stages of the investigation and provided us with crucial evidence, as they helped us bring two killers to justice.”
DI Parsons added that although it would never bring him back, he hoped the convictions would bring some degree of comfort to Mr Bebbinton’s family.
“Ben Bebbington was a popular Shrewsbury man who was renowned locally for his musical talent. I hope his family draw some comfort and closure from the fact the men who took his life will remain in jail for many years to come."
