Man strangled by gang over drugs, court told

Image source, Humberside Police

Image caption, Ian Staves was found dead at his home in Cherry Lane, Wootton, North Lincolnshire, in September 2022

A man was strangled to death in a "violent attack" by six men who wanted to steal his drugs, a jury has heard.

Ian Staves was found dead at his home in Cherry Lane, Wootton, North Lincolnshire, on 12 September 2022, having been killed the night before.

Bradford Crown Court heard Mr Staves had been punched, kicked, and stamped on before being strangled.

All six defendants deny murder and manslaughter.

The defendants are:

  • Nicholas James St Clair, of Castle Grove, Hull
  • Bobby Gibson, of Woodcock Street, Hull
  • Aaron Windas, of Anlaby Road, Hull
  • Celestino Furtado, of Waterloo Street, Hull
  • Jamie Smith, of Skippindale Road, Scunthorpe
  • Patrick Joseph Smith, of no fixed address

Opening the trial, prosecutor Tom Storey KC told the court that the men had all been involved in a "carefully orchestrated" conspiracy.

They were "fully prepared" and intended to seriously harm, "if not kill" Mr Staves, the prosecutor said.

"They were engaged in either the physical attack, or encouraged, supported, or assisted in that attack," he added.

Jurors were told Mr Staves was a cocaine user and had been under investigation for involvement in controlled drugs at the time of his death.

"Whatever lay behind the attack, nothing justifies what happened to Mr Staves," Mr Storey told the court.

The prosecutor told the court that in the run-up to the killing, the defendants had exchanged multiple messages and carried out "a reconnaissance trip" to Mr Staves' home.

A red Vauxhall Corsa stolen in a burglary was then used on the night of the attack, along with a BMW, to transport the defendants from Hull, across the Humber Bridge to Wootton and back, the court was told.

Afterwards, the car was dumped on the south side of the Humber Bridge and found more than a month later by police at a garage in West Yorkshire, with several different false licence plates inside the boot, the jury heard.

Mr Storey said it was the prosecution's case that all six defendants were equally responsible for Mr Staves' death.

The trial continues.

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