Life in jail for dealer after fatal stabbing

A52-YEAR-OLD drug dealer is beginning a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering a man in a “squalid” flat in Teignmouth.

David Ablett, of Barnpark Terrace denied stabbing to death 38-year-old Matthew Jackson on June 3, but was convicted at Exeter Crown Court.

Ablett has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder, which he carried out with an ornamental fork. He will serve a minimum of 16 years. He was also found guilty on the charge of supply of a class-A drug and sentenced to three years in jail to be served concurrently.

The court was told Ablett stabbed Mr Jackson six times following an altercation at Ablett’s home address in Teignmouth.

Following the fatal stabbing, Ablett made attempts to cover up his actions by washing the murder weapon and hiding it in nearby undergrowth.

Ablett was then aided by Neal Hinton, 39, and also from Teignmouth, who helped move the body from the scene and disposing of it by nearby bins.

Property belonging to Mr Jackson was also placed in undergrowth away from the scene.

The body was found by a member of the public early in the morning on June 3, sparking the police investigation.

Detectives soon located Ablett in his flat where injuries he had sustained in the fight were covered up.

Police say Ablett gave investigating officers false information about how he came by his injuries in an attempt to distance himself from the murder.

Ablett was arrested on suspicion of murder and throughout the investigation refused to speak to police.

During his trial, Exeter Crown Court heard from Ablett that he was defending himself from Mr Jackson who, he said, was attacking him for drugs.

However, the prosecution argued this was a case of Ablett’s word only, that he was not defending himself but his drugs, and that the force used was not reasonable.

Hinton pleaded guilty at a previous and separate hearing to perverting the course of justice. He is due to be sentenced on Monday.