Killer chats up women on prison computer

Jan 10 2010 Sunday Sun

THE FAMILY of a man stabbed to death are outraged after it appears his killer is using Facebook to contact women from prison.

Tony Blades, 19, is serving 12 years in HMP Castington prison, Northumberland, after being convicted of stabbing Anthony Blakelock, 21, in a County Durham street.

Mr Blakelock’s relatives were horrified when they discovered an account in the killer’s name has been set up on networking sites Facebook and Bebo to contact women across the region.

Our research showed that Blades, who was jailed in May 2009, made two new friends on the site just last month.

A relative of Anthony, 21, who does not want to be identified, said: “Our family is outraged by this. It’s a real insult to Anthony’s memory that Blades appears to be on Facebook and Bebo as he is inside jail for being a killer. It’s not right that he’s able to go online to contact people outside.

“It’s also deeply insulting to Anthony’s mother Susan. Anthony was an only child and she was very close to him. “The thought of Blades using Facebook and Bebo is really upsetting for her.

“She goes to Anthony’s grave daily, and was there on Christmas Eve.”

The relative added: “Blades was on bail for stabbing someone else when he killed Anthony. If he had been locked up then Anthony would still be alive.”

During Blades’ Newcastle Crown Court trial last year the jury heard he had goaded Anthony out onto the street in Murton, County Durham, in September 2008, and in the following confrontation stabbed the former soldier twice.

The court also heard that Blades was on bail at the time for stabbing Richard Dowse in the arm after smashing his car window to get at him.

Cleared of murder, but found guilty of manslaughter, he was jailed for 12-years for Mr Blakelock’s death and given a concurrent seven years for wounding Mr Dowse.