Cheers as killer is jailed for 20 years

GUILTY . . . Dale Ross “abused kindness of the victim”

‘Despicable’ Ross stole from landlord after his murder
A FATHER-of-four who stabbed his landlord to death before stealing his benefit money has been jailed for life.

There were loud cheers from the public gallery as Dale Ross (46), of no fixed abode, was told he would serve at least 20 years for murdering Anthony “Tony” Dale at his Chadderton flat on February 3.

After drinking one evening, an argument had ensued between the pair over Mr Dale’s laptop because Ross had pawned it for £100 instead of having it repaired.

When Ross was confronted about it, he took a knife from the kitchen and plunged it into Mr Dale’s heart, almost to the hilt.

As he lay dead on the sofa, Ross failed to call an ambulance but instead rifled through the deceased’s wallet, took his post office card which he knew the pin number to, and withdrew Mr Dale’s benefit money — just over £150.

Ross later told police that his landlord had come at him with a knife first, which he knocked from his hand before accidentally killing him during a struggle.

But when police found Mr Dale — who Ross described as his “best friend” — he was still holding his glasses in his hand.

Prosecutor Peter Wright QC told the court how Ross had a history of convictions for dishonesty.

Judge Clement Goldstone QC said he expected an explanation from the senior investigating officer over how it came to be that the killer, with his previous record, was only given a caution for burglary in December, 2010.

Defending, Simon Jackson QC had asked the judge to consider that even though Ross had lost control, he had given himself in to the police instead of running off to Scotland as he had originally planned.

He also told the court that during his 166 days in remand, he had helped out in the prison as a mentor, teaching prisoners to read and write.

Judge Goldstone told the defendant the knife had never been in anyone else’s hands.

He said: “You stabbed with unerring accuracy and with such force that the knife went in, to the hilt.

“You knew perfectly well what you were doing, both when you stabbed him and simply left him to die with the knife embedded in his chest — a man who you had the nerve to describe as one of your best friends.

“He was a friend to you, but you were no friend to him.

“You abused his kindness before he died but that’s nothing to the way you abused him in death.

“You may be sorry that he died but you’re sorry for yourself.”

He said the mitigating facts were far outweighed by two aggravating circumstances and found it “quite despicable” how he stole from Mr Dale after his death.

Senior investigating officer Andy Tattersall said: “Anthony Dale put a roof over Ross’s head and he has betrayed that kindness by stealing from and ultimately killing him.

“Ross’s account of what happened simply did not stand up and he has forced Anthony’s loved ones to endure a trial.

“He even lied about where the money had come from; claiming Tony’s benefits were in fact wages he had earned. He has done nothing but tell lies and mislead police throughout.

“I am pleased he has been found guilty of murder and I hope that Anthony’s family find comfort in knowing his killer has been jailed for life.”