Carpet fitter stabbed victim 5 times and hid body under stairs

A MAN has been found guilty of the ‘shocking and appalling’ murder of Daniel Pitham in Bedworth.

John Robert Allison, of Bulkington Road, Bedworth, was on Monday found guilty of murdering Daniel following a six-week trial at Warwick Crown Court.

The 36-year-old had denied murdering the 33-year-old but a jury found him guilty.

Detectives involved in the investigation said carpet fitter John Allison showed no remorse after stabbing Mr Pitham who was disabled - five times.

Following the attack, Daniel was rolled up in a carpet and put under the stairs.

Toni Allison, aged 34, of Springfield Crescent, Bedworth, was found guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Scott Warner, aged 36, of Missing Oak Close, Bedworth, had previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

All three will now be sentenced on March 2.

On May 4 last year, Daniel, who was 33 and also from Bedworth, went to John Allison’s house with Warner.

While they were there an argument ensued and John Allison stabbed Daniel five times. Daniel died at the scene from a stab wound to the heart.

Following the attack, John Allison and Warner rolled Daniel up in a carpet and put him under the stairs.

John Allison exchanged texts with Toni Allison about the incident. Toni Allison disposed of her phone and she advised John to do the same in order to cover their tracks.

Police discovered Daniel’s body the following day after his family raised concern for his safety.

John Allison handed himself in to police on May 8 following a wanted appeal.

He denied murdering Daniel claiming he had accidentally stabbed him in self-defence.

Mr Pitham had lost an arm in an horrific car crash in February 2018.

In a statement following the court’s decision, Daniel’s family paid tribute to a ‘fantastic son, brother and friend’ who had the chance to get back on the road to regaining his independence ‘snatched from him.’

“Danny was a wellloved person; by his family and friends. He was a fantastic son, brother and friend to many,” the statement reads.

“The taking of Danny’s life has left a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled. We are devastated by our loss and miss him greatly.

“He was our first born child and he has been taken from us in the most cruel and horrific way. Our lives will never be the same again, and we are struggling to move on without him. Danny was taking the first steps on the road to regaining his independence, and had already been through so much.

“This has now been snatched from him and he will now never have the chance to fulfil his goals, aspirations and dreams. He has missed out on meeting his first nephew and will never have the chance to be the uncle that he was so looking forward to being.

“We hope this never happens to any other family and that they don’t have to suffer like we have. This is a real life representation of how devastating the consequences of knife crime are, and we as parents hope that this can be a lesson for others.”

The jury found Bradley Matthew Gane, aged 40, of no fixed abode, not guilty of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

Lee Williams, aged 28, of Beechwood Road, Bedworth, was also on trial for perverting the course of justice. He was found not guilty.