Gang jailed for more than 130 years after slaughtering Coventry man ‘like lions on prey’
Killers who ambushed a much-loved Coventry man ‘like lions on prey’ and chopped at him with a 24cm knife have been jailed. Bailey Atkinson mumbled ‘I am going to die, tell my mum I love her’ as he bled to death following the horrific attack in the West Midlands.
Chilling CCTV captured the 21-year-old as he was chased to his death, unable to outrun his attackers in the final moments of his life, reports BirminghamLive. He was left for dead in a pool of his own blood, with a murder weapon lodged in his shoulder, following the vicious attack in January 2023.
Jurors heard that the violent onslaught was witnessed in part by staff at a nearby Asda. Staff rushed to his aid as the brutal attack came to an end, seconds after Mr Atkinson had wrenched the embedded blade from his body, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
A total of seven killers were locked up for his murder yesterday (Friday, May 24). Benjamin Wilkes, of Guild Avenue, Bloxwich, was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 18 years, and Patrick Brookes, of Hunter Crescent, Walsall, was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 20 years, said West Midlands Police.
Sonny Loveridge, of Irvine Road, Bloxwich, was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 23 years, and Ronan McCulloch, of Livingstone Road, Bloxwich, was handed a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 21 years at Nottingham Crown Court. Three other teenagers, who have not been named, were jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 19 years, reports BirminghamLive.
Police said Atkinson had moved to Walsall from Coventry two years before the violent attack to ‘escape a gang lifestyle.’ He had been out with a friend when he was killed on High Street in Walsall, on January 28, 2023.
Jurors heard that the pair were dropped off on High Street by a taxi driver as the killers arrived in a Toyota and a Seat Leon. CCTV captured both vehicles passing Mr Atkinson as he walked with his friend before the Seat Leon drove towards him causing the 21-year-old to run towards Poundland and The Entertainer.
One person got out of the Seat Leon while Mr Atkinson was standing outside Poundland. It was just moments later that the 21-year-old was recorded on the ground as his attackers surrounded him to ‘lay blows’, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Jurors heard that the vicious gang rushed back to the two vehicles as Mr Atkinson was left seriously wounded on the ground. Both the Toyota and the Seat Leon were driven to grassland near Slater Street and Gough Street, where they were dumped and ‘set alight.’
‘Did you really think you were going to get away with it?’
Relatives said it was ‘sickening’ to see the killers ‘laughing and joking’ during the ten-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, reports BirminghamLive. Wilkes, Brookes, Loveridge and McCulloch showed ‘no emotion’ as CCTV captured the victim running for his life before the group cornered and attacked him ‘like lions on prey.’
Mr Atkinson ‘loved going out’ and was said to be ‘fiercely loyal to his friends.’ Hundreds turned out to pay their respects to the 21-year-old at Canley Crematorium in March 2023.
A statement written by his loved ones was read out at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday (Friday, May 24). It said: “It is beyond any of us how human beings can do what you did to Bailey. What type of people are you?
“What went through your mind afterwards? Did you really think you were going to get away with it? I do not even know how you sleep at night knowing what you did.”
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