Cleveland Police react as Hartlepool teenager Jesse Reaney is convicted of murder

Jesse Reaney, 18, of Lowthian Road, was found guilty by a jury of murdering David Cuthbert inside the 50-year-old victim’s Stockton home on January 10.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Mr Cuthbert died from catastrophic blood loss after being stabbed in the chest.

Layton Lightfoot, 18, of Stockwith Close, Middlesbrough, and Charlie Wilcock, 19, of no fixed address, were also convicted by the jury of his murder.

All three were also found guilty of robbery following a separate incident just minutes before the stabbing in which they stole a woman’s money after punching and kicking her on the floor.

Police swiftly identified the suspects after footage of the attack on Mr Cuthbert was posted on social media.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Daryll Tomlinson, the senior Cleveland Police officer in the case, said: “I am pleased the jury has found Lightfoot, Reaney and Wilcock guilty of murder and given David’s family the justice that they deserve.

“These three men, who were heavily involved in criminality and instilling fear, were on a mission that day to use violence through the use of weapons to obtain money or drugs from those living within the community.

“They wanted to assert their authority, brazenly brag about their violence to those online and then when reality set in try to conceal their involvement and continue to lie.

“All without any thought for the pain and harm they caused to David and his family and friends.”

Following the verdict, David’s family said in a statement released by the police: “Our minds are scarred with the cruelty and brutal act that these three men carried out on David.

“Losing David has left us absolutely heartbroken. There are no words to describe the pain we feel.

“We are forever changed.”

Reaney, giving evidence during the trial, accepted going to Mr Cuthbert’s address in Egglescliffe Close, Hardwick, with Lightfoot, who was his friend, and Wilcock, who Reaney said he met for the first time that day.

He told the court that his memory of that day was “a bit of a blur” due to having taken a number of temazepam sedative tablets.

But he remembered that Mr Cuthbert first refused to let the three defendants inside his house to smoke cannabis.

He said Mr Cuthbert then became “aggressive” toward him when he asked for money on behalf of one of the other defendants.

Reaney said he then climbed through a window for a “fight” with Mr Cuthbert and the pair exchanged punches inside.

He said at one point he became aware that Wilcox was holding a knife and he saw blood on Mr Cuthbert’s leg.

Reaney said: “I just panicked and thought ‘what am I getting myself into here’, so I have left the property straightaway.”

The trial earlier heard how Reaney was arrested the following day at Lowthian Road.

All three will return to Teesside Crown Court on Friday, November 27, to be sentenced.