Twenty-stone Hartlepool killer branded 'overbearing bully' as he is jailed by judge

Leslie Dowson, who was twice the weight of his Hartlepool victim, burst through Stanley Burgon's front door and caused him fatal injuries by beating him before leaving the house without calling an ambulance.

The attack in Rydal Street, off Elwick Road, lasted no more than five minutes, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor John Elvidge told the court there was no clear motive for the attack although Dowson was in an on-off relationship with Mr Burgon's daughter, Carly, and there had been an argument between the three people earlier.

Mr Burgon, 56, suffered head and other injuries.

He was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by air ambulance, where he died three days later.

Dowson, 43, of St Oswald Street, near Raby Road, Hartlepool, admitted committing manslaughter on November 18 last year.

He also admitted a separate offence of unlawful wounding against his cousin, Michael Casey, on December 7 last year.

In an overhead conversation, Dowson said he had "mullered" Mr Casey, and "really went to town on him".

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, jailed Dowson for a total of 12 years for both offences.

The judge told him: "You were 20 stones at the time, Mr Burgon was half your weight, and clearly no match for you.

"In your own words, you went to town on your second victim.

"It is clear you intend to put people in fear of you.

"In short, Mr Dowson, you are an overbearing bully."

The judge ruled Dowson presents a danger of serious harm to the public and ordered his licence period on release to be extended by four years.

Senior Investigating Officer Chief Inspector Steve Young, from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire Major Investigation Team, said after Wednesday's sentence: “I am pleased with the sentence handed to Leslie Dowson today, which reflects the severity of the crime that was committed.“A man has sadly lost his life and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”