Killers’ sentence due today

Four people convicted following the death of a Sunderland dad after an attack plotted by his former girlfriend over a £30 debt are due to be sentenced today.

Michael Young and Daniel Mould launched a joint assault on Michael Stead outside his Millfield home in March last year.

During a trial, Newcastle Crown Court heard how the pair blamed each other.

But, a jury found Mould, 26, of Chester Terrace North, guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit GBH with intent.

Young, 26, of Rutherglen Road, also stood trial on a charge of murder.

However, after the jury failed to convict him, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, which was accepted by prosecutors.

The victim’s ex-lover, Leanne Mould, 34, of Brady Street, and a fourth defendant, Trevor Creighton, of Lumley Street, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit GBH with intent.

Dad-of-three, Mr Stead, was left in a vegetative state following the attack for nine months until he passed away in hospital on December 28 last year. Jurors heard how a witness told police she saw Young walking away from the scene saying “we’ve killed him, we’ve killed him”.

The prosecution said there was an initial incident with confrontation involving Mr Stead and the three male defendants, but Daniel Mould and Young returned to the scene and inflicted the injuries.

The four are all due to be sentenced today.

For results of the hearing ,visit the Sunderland Echo website at www.sunderlandecho.com.