Drug dealers who filmed violent Hardwick stab attack guilty of murder

Layton Lightfoot, Jesse Reaney and Charlie Wilcock “were on a mission to use violence” when they launched a “cruel and brutal” attack on David Cuthbert in his home. 

The trio entered the Egglescliffe Close property, in Hardwick, Stockton, on January 10 where a knife was delivered with such force that it penetrated David’s heart and lung.

David Cuthbert (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

All three men had spent a day in escalating violence, starting with badly beating and robbing a woman after trying to attack a home by kicking at a door. 

Minutes before the murder, Lightfoot, 18, Reaney, 18, and Wilcock, 19, stole the woman’s money by punching and kicking her on the floor before making their way to David’s home.

They were all captured on CCTV walking onto the street at around 4.30pm and, as they entered armed with a knife, filmed David cowering on an armchair in his bedroom. 

Jesse Reaney (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

It was there that he was inflicted with numerous injuries to the left side of his body. 

As they fled, David managed to crawl to the hallway.

He was found by the front door a few hours later after a relative had become aware of footage of part of David’s attack filmed by Wilcock on Snapchat.

Charlie Wilcock (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

After climbing through a window to get to David and making attempts to save his life, he sadly died inside the home.

Detectives were able to identify Reaney and Wilcock from the footage that had been shared online. It showed them entering David’s home while armed with a knife.

Their evidence grew stronger from further data on the men’s phones and Lightfoot’s electronic tag to outline all their movements after the murder had taken place.

It included reports of the men being at a petrol station. 

Layton Lightfoot (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

After being picked up by a taxi they set off only to ask the driver to travel back to the same petrol station where police later recovered a hood with a knife concealed inside and a matching jacket with Reaney’s bank card inside.

While giving evidence, all three told the jury that they profit from dealing crack cocaine.

Wilcock admitted to carrying a weapon to deal drugs most days, Teesside Crown Court heard.

And today (August 12), a jury found Lightfoot, of Stockwith Close in Middlesbrough, Reaney, of Lowthian Road in Hartlepool, and Wilcock, of no fixed address, guilty of murder and robbery.

A police van on Egglescliffe Close in Stockton following the death of David Cuthbert. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

They will return to Teesside Crown Court on November 27 to be sentenced.

Following the verdict, David’s family said: “Our minds are scarred by the cruelty and brutal act that these three men carried out on David.

“Losing David has left us absolutely heartbroken. There are no words to describe the pain we feel. We are forever changed.”

Temporary Detective Superintendent and senior investigating officer Daryll Tomlinson said: “I am pleased the jury has found Lightfoot, Reaney and Wilcock guilty of murder and given David’s family the justice that they deserve.

“These three men, who were heavily involved in criminality and instilling fear, were on a mission that day to use violence through the use of weapons to obtain money or drugs from those living within the community.

“They wanted to assert their authority, brazenly brag about their violence to those online and then when reality set in try to conceal their involvement and continue to lie. 

“All without any thought for the pain and harm they caused to David and his family and friends.”