Beaten and left to die by sadistic ex

LEFT TO DIE: Victim Jason Taylor.

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A sadistic single mum tortured an ex-boyfriend to death to stop him interfering with her new romance.

Deborah Burkhill (30), of Chadderton, subjected 37-year-old Jason Taylor to a merciless hour-long assault because she was fed-up at him trying to rekindle his relationship with her. Jason suffered up to 85 injuries in the assault at his home in Raleigh Close, Coldhurst during which Burkhill beat him and attacked him with a screwdriver.

After battering him senseless, the brunette factory worker then called new boy friend Stephen Crawford (29) who arrived at the flat to deliver a fatal stab wound.

Crawford, of Vale Drive, Oldham, stabbed Jason in the side. The pair then locked Jason in the flat leaving him to die. His body was discovered by his mother on New Years Day, around four days after the attack. Despite suffering more than 80 injuries the death was not initially treated as suspicious by Greater Manchester Police and the body was released for a funeral.

However, undertakers at the mortury became suspicious to the injuries and an investigation began.

Yesterday, Burkhill and Crawford were given life sentences after being convicted of murder by a jury.

Burkhill — a mother of one of Victoria Street, was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years before being considered for release and Crawford was told he must serve 17 years.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Nicholas Blake said: “I am satisfied that the pair of you intended to kill Jason Taylor rather than just frighten him.

“You Deborah Burkhill instigated it when you contacted Jason Taylor. I am satisfied that not only did you abuse his trust to gain access to his flat but for the best part of an hour you viciously assaulted him.

“You Stephen Crawford were well aware of what Deborah Burkhill was doing and intended to do. She phoned you several times to tell you and so you could hear the noises of what she had done and was doing to Jason.

“Despite that you joined Birkhill and joined in the attack on him delivering the fatal stab to his chest from which he died.”

After sentencing, Mr Justice Blake indicated that a review of police procedures was needed after the death of Jason was not initially treated as suspicious.

The court heard that Burkhill had been in a relationship with the victim since 2005 but the affair was stormy and she later ended the relationship citing violence as the reason for the split.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Jason’s mother Mrs Rita Taylor said: “Jason was tragically taken from me and left to die alone in his flat, no mother should have to face this.

“He was no angel but Jason was a loveable, lively lad who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

“He didn’t deserve to die alone. He was betrayed, he knew and trusted his killers, I hope they rot in hell.”

Det Insp Sam Pickering said: “What happened is being looked into by GMP but what is important is that despite that justice has been done.”

GMP added: “Jason’s killers are today behind bars because of a fantastic, detailed and thorough investigation.”