Jail term cut over fatal ‘punishment beating’
A KILLER who arranged the fatal ‘punishment beating’ of an addict over a £300 debt has had his sentence cut by top judges.
Alexander John Smith was jailed for 27 years after being convicted of the murder of Ian Bendall in Bolton.
Mr Bendall had been working as an underling to dealer Smith in June 2017 when a batch of drugs went missing.
‘Small time’ dealer Smith, 30, also known as Colgan, responded by turning up ‘mob-handed’ at Mr Bendall’s home and forcing him into a car.
He was driven to a scrapyard behind Century Mill, a former cotton mill in Farnworth, where he was kicked and stamped upon.
After being dumped near his house, Mr Bendall went to hospital suffering from severe chest pains. He died three days later from pneumonia, caused by the injuries he suffered in the beating.
Two others involved in the attack, William Coughlan, 25, of Ramsay Avenue in Farnworth; and Ellis Hampson, 19, Oakfield Drive in Little Hulton; were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter after a trial and sentenced to 10 years, and 11 years and one month, respectively.
At the time, prosecutors said they could not be sure who delivered the beating, but said Smith ‘directed’ the operation.
Smith, of Ramsey Avenue, Farnworth, Bolton, denied murder but was found guilty after a trial and jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court in January this year.
He was ordered to serve at least 27 years behind bars before he could apply for parole.
But during a hearing at London’s Criminal Appeal Court on Tuesday, Sir Brian Leveson ruled that was too harsh and cut Smith’s minimum term to 24 years.
Sir Brian, who was sitting with two other senior judges, concluded: “In our judgement there is force in this submission.
“The appropriate minimum term, allowing for the aggravating and mitigating factors, is one of 24 years, rather than 27 years.
“To that extent, allowed.” this appeal is