Tyldesley: Trio get life for murder of Thomas Williamson

Ben Dawber and Kane Adamson, both 19, along with 20-year-old Joshua Prescott, all from Leigh, were all convicted last month of the murder of Thomas Williamson.

The trio were brought back before the court this week to learn their fates.

Jason Pitter, prosecuting, said: “The crown have always maintained that the conduct that led to the death of Thomas Williamson was part of a wider pattern of behaviour.”

He added: “The defendants were out looking for trouble, they were out looking to rob and use violence.”

The case was heard at Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Pitt told the court how the three had been driving around Atherton and Tyledsley in the early hours of September 21, 2021 when they came across Mr Williamson, who was unknown to them.

Mistaking him for a man they had beeb involved in a confrontation with hours earlier, the three attacked 30-year-old Mr Williamson, who had simply been out walking to "clear his head" as he often did.

Mr Williamson died of stab wounds in the wake of the attack and Dawber, of Lord Street, Leigh, Adamson, of no fixed address, and Prescott, of Walter Street, Leigh, were all arrested soon afterwards.

They pleaded not guilty to murder but were convicted of a jury on February 17 this year after a trial of several weeks.

Mr Pitter said that the prosecution accepted that the murder itself was “spontaneous” but said the wider pattern of crimes they had been involved in was not, given they had been involved in fights and attempted robberies over the course of that night.

He also accepted that the three did not appear to have taken the knife to the scene themselves.

Moving testimony read to the court by the prosecution from Mr Williamson’s mother described the impact that her son’s murder had had.

Her statement said: “There is a hole in my life without him that can never be filled and our home is empty without him.”

She added: “Tom was a loving, kind and always knew how to lift my heart and make me laugh.”

David Spence, defending Dawber, argued that the murder itself had not been carried out "for gain" despite the earlier robberies.

He also told the court about the young man’s extremely difficult background and said he had since come to recognise the effect he had had on his victim’s loved ones.

Michael Brady, defending Adamson, also said that his client had shown remorse since then and drew attention to his young age.

Adamson had only just turned 18 at the time of the murder.

He said: “Statements about this young man all speak of themes of loss abandonment and poor decision making.

“But they also speak of some hope for the future of this young man.”

Steven Swift, defending Prescott, pointed out that his client was also a young man of limited maturity.

But unlike the other two he also had a history free of violence and was now regretful for the part he had played.

Mr Swift said: “Although limited, there is an expression of remorse.”

But Judge Maurice Greene reminded the court of the devastating loss of Mr Williamson’s life, who he said “was described as a gentle soul.”

He said: “You were out looking for an individual to attack him, the tragedy is that Thomas Williamson was the wrong man, in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Judge Green admitted the evidence he had seen could not show exactly which of them did what during the attack but said he did not distinguish between them.

He sentenced all three to life in prison.

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Dawber was also there to be sentenced for robbery and aggravated vehicle taking he had committed in August 2020 and for another robbery he had committed in November 2021, after the murder of Mr Williamson.

He received a minimum term of 20 years.

Adamson, who has 12 previous convictions for 22 offences, received a minimum term of 18 years, while Prescott, who has no previous violent convictions must serve at least 17 years.

After all three were taken down to the cells, Judge Greene closed by praising the “thorough, painstaking work” of the detectives who investigated the case.

Greater Manchester Police has been approached for custody pictures of the three defendants.