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A MAN was sentenced to life in prison yesterday (Wednesday) for the murder of a father from West Drayton.

Richard Alan John Blower, 36, of Trewarden Avenue, Iver Heath, will serve a minimum of 22 years for murdering Mark Yates.

Mr Yates, of no fixed abode, was found stabbed to death at an address in Coleham Avenue, West Drayton, on August 30, 2006, Blackfriars Crown Court heard.

On that day, Blower and Mr Yates were together and had gone to the house of Blower's family friend, Liz Garner in Coleham Avenue.

After some time, Blower left the house, leaving Garner there alone with Mr Yates and her two young children the court heard.

She claimed that Mr Yates asked if he could have a bath with her and invited her and her son to join them.

Garner then left the address with her children. She told the court she had become concerned about Mr Yates' intentions.

She called 999 but hung up before speaking to police and rang her mother instead.

Carol and Tony Pope, Garner's parents, met her outside the house in West Drayton. Blower, in the meantime had returned to the propert, the court was told.

Witnesses told the court shouting was heard after Blower went in the house and shortly after he came out covered in blood and carrying a knife. A post mortem found Mr Yates had been killed by a stab wound to the chest.

After the murder, Garner and the Popes all claimed there had been a stranger at the house, but police had doubts about their statements and they were arrested. They all claimed they did not know Blower.

They all stood trial at Blackfirars Crown Court in April. Garner was found guilty of one count of peverting the course of justice.

Her parents, Tony, 65, and Carol, 63, both of Lowdell Close, West Drayton, were also both found guilty of peverting the course of justice.

They have been remanded in custody to be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on May 30.

Mark's sisters, Tina Fossey and Elaine Harding, said in a statement: "Mark was a much-loved member of our family. In the months before his death he lost his beloved mother and daughter.

"This loss caused his world to fall apart. Why Richard Blower attacked Mark that night, only he knows. Mark did not deserve to have his life ended, leaving three children without a father."

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Laurence, the Senior Investigating officer in the case said: "Despite a web of lies we have proven beyond Blower was responsible for murdering Mark"

9:31am Thursday 8th May 2008

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