Life sentence for Don Lock's killer Matthew Daley

Matthew Daley, who killed Worthing grandfather Don Lock in a '˜frenzied' attack, has been given a life sentence.
Matthew Daley, left, stabbed grandfather Don Lock, right, 39 times in July, 2015Matthew Daley, left, stabbed grandfather Don Lock, right, 39 times in July, 2015
Matthew Daley, left, stabbed grandfather Don Lock, right, 39 times in July, 2015

On May 16, a jury found Daley guilty of the manslaughter of 79-year-old Mr Lock, who he stabbed 39 times in what was described by Sussex Police as a ‘frenzied attack’ in July last year.

And at Lewes Crown Court this afternoon, judge Mr Justice Rabinder Singh told Daley he would serve at least ten years in a medium secure unit at Hellingly, East Sussex.

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But he said that should Daley’s treatment lead to him being classed as low-risk before that time, he would be serve the rest of the time in prison.

Floral tributes left in memory of Don Lock in Findon. Picture by Eddie MitchellFloral tributes left in memory of Don Lock in Findon. Picture by Eddie Mitchell
Floral tributes left in memory of Don Lock in Findon. Picture by Eddie Mitchell

The court heard this morning how Mr Justice Singh was ‘certainly considering the imposition of a life sentence’ for Daley, who had previously been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and psychosis, and more recently had been rediagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

The court had heard from Dr Roderick Ley, who is responsible for Daley’s care and who was asked to give evidence about how he had been responding to treatment following his conviction.

Dr Ley said Daley seemed ‘settled’ when he saw him yesterday before the sentencing. “Superficially he is settled and well, and causes no problems,” he said. “He has revealed somewhat reluctantly that he continues to hear voices at times and a range of other experiences, including staff calling him derogatory names. He doesn’t recognise these as abnormal experiences but they are auditory hallucinations.”

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He confirmed that Daley was a ‘poor historian’ when it came to recalling the event, and that Daley’s insight into his own illness was ‘classified as poor’, adding that he was ‘sometimes embarrassed’ about his symptoms.

The court also heard that Dr Ley found Daley was being compliant with his new regime of anti-psychotic medicine and therapy, which was having a positive effect. He did say, however, that it would take Daley ‘many years’ before he became a low risk to the public.

Responding to whether Daley would still be a risk to society after any successful treatment, Dr Ley said: “We don’t conceptualise risk as an all-or-nothing thing; it’s about levels and degrees of risk. When mental illness is properly treated it will reduce his risk of violence but we can achieve his low risk of future violence probably with much support from mental health services and ongoing monitoring.”

The court also heard from Mr Lock’s son, Andrew, who read a statement from his sister Sandra Goodlad, who was described as ‘not being in a fit state to attend today’.

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He said: “Life for us will never be the same without him. You expect to lose a loved one through ill health or old age, but this has taken away any opportunity we would have had for one last hug, one last chat or laugh and eventually to be able to say our goodbyes and tell him how much we loved him. It hurts so much, the thought of him being totally alone suffering such an awful death with no-one to help him. We can only hope he didn’t suffer too much that day. Rest in peace our, hero.”

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