Sunderland murdering thug's years of terror

Dec 5 2010 by Dan Warburton, Sunday Sun

HULKING thug Ryan Ferguson had terrorised the neighbourhood where he became a killer for years, the Sunday Sun can reveal.

Ferguson is today behind bars after being sentenced to 18-years jail time for killing a doting dad in a bungled robbery, in Wearside.

The teenage killer plunged a 12cm serrated knife into Keith Redpath’s chest, piercing his heart.

The Sunday Sun has learned the knifeman’s criminal career stretches back to his early teens, when he began targeting families across Sunderland.

From an early age the attacker was known to police.

In 2005 aged just 14, Ferguson was convicted of burglary and theft and was given a supervision order.

In April last year Ferguson was sentenced to 12 months in detention for wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Despite his reputation within the community good-hearted families did their bit to help track down the killer by passing on crucial intelligence to cops.

Police chiefs have praised the bravery of nearby homeowners who provided the information which helped bring Mr Redpath’s killer to justice.

Det Chief Insp Peter Bent, of Northumbria Police, said: “I want to thank the people of Hendon.

“It was detected so quickly because of the fantastic response of those in the area. Without their help we wouldn’t have had this success.

“The key witnesses came forward and gave us the information we needed to locate those responsible.

“The case shows that if people come to us with information then we can try and help.”

Ferguson launched his attack after he kicked his way into Mr Redpath’s home and stabbed him in the heart in January this year. Ferguson and his brother Anthony Ferguson then fled the scene carrying Mr Redpath’s TV, an X Box games console and a box of video games.