RAF hero battered to death in row over dog
A MAN has been jailed for life after an RAF war hero was battered to death in a row over a dog.
Joe Hasledine, left, murdered neighbour Chris Fields – who had served in Afghanistan – after a long-running dispute over Hasledine’s Staffordshire bull terrier boiled over.
Police are also being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after being called to Mr Fields’ Stockport flat twice on the day he was found critically-injured.
AMAN has been jailed for battering an RAF war hero to death in a row over a dog.
Joe Hasledine, 24, was handed a life sentence for murdering Chris Fields, 37, who had served in Afghanistan.
He died following what police described as a ‘vicious assault’ over around two hours at his flat in Old Chapel Street Stockport in December last year.
The pair had been involved in a long-running dispute over Hasledine’s Staffordshire bull terrier, which had to be put down following an attack. The owner had blamed Mr Fields.
Police were first called to the former RAF man’s flat on Old Chapel Street, Edge- ley, following reports of an aggravated burglary and assault. Officers found Mr Fields with ‘ minor facial injuries’.
Hasledine turned up during the visit – after climbing through a window – but Mr Fields did not name him as his attacker and the pair appeared to dismiss the incident and the officers left.
But police were called back two hours later and found Mr Fields with fatal injuries. He died in hospital nine days later.
Hasledine, of Wellington Road North, Heaton Chapel, was handed the sentence at Manchester Crown Court on Monday and told he would serve a minimum 16-and-a-half years. He admitted murder.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is due to publish a report shortly into the first visit to the flat by officers.
After the sentencing, Mr Fields’ family said: “Chris was the greatest son, brother and best friend to many.
“We cannot express how devastated we are that his life has been stolen from him. We miss him every minute of every day.
“No matter how long the sentence is it will not bring Chris back or make our loss any easier.
“We need to attempt to move on and hopefully today will now provide closure for our pain over the last seven months, however, we will never forget Chris or the many memories he has given us.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank GMP, and the Crown Prosecution Service for their continued support and professionalism.”
Senior GMP investigating officer Bob Tonge said: “I am pleased that the sentence reflects the severity of crime.
“GMP would like to send our deepest condolences to his family and hope that this conviction will bring some closure to what must have been a terrible ordeal.”