Family's shock as killer's sentence cut

May 24 2009 by Kim Carmichael, Sunday Sun

Ten years on from the murder, Brenda and husband Brian, 71, who are also parents to Shane, 47, Denver, 45, and twins Michelle and Tracey, 41, cope with their tragic loss by remembering Dean as the popular lad who would “do anything to help anyone”.

“Dean’s funeral was full of people who said what a great friend he had been to them,” said Brenda.

“Afterwards I got a lot of letters of support from Dean’s friends who said how much he was loved.

“He would have been a great father too. I haven’t seen his daughter for years but I would love to get back in touch. She was the double of her dad when she was born.”

Dean’s father Brian, a retired lorry driver, said: “One of Dean’s friends risked his life to give evidence against Ford and Boyle at the trial because he was so grateful to our son for the care he had shown for him and his family in the past.

“Dean did have two sides, but when he was right he was smashing and he was a fantastic son, brother and friend.”

Mr Justice Langstaff added that, had he been sentenced today, Ford would have received a 30-year tariff under more recent, much tougher, sentencing guidelines.

The decision means Ford, also from Darlington, will be free to apply to the Parole Board for his release on licence as early as 2016.

However, he will only be freed if he can convince the Parole Board he no longer poses a public danger.