Horrific fate of young man who was tortured to death by monsters he thought were his friends

A man found guilty of murdering a disabled adult who was mercilessly beaten for days, drugged and dumped by the side of a footpath in his pushchair is facing a life sentence.

Victim Lee Irving, 24, died a slow and painful death after suffering horrific injuries including 27 separate rib fractures, multiple bruises to his limbs and body, cuts and broken bones in his face.

The court heard he was punched, kicked and stamped, and drugged to prevent him from escaping the house where he lived with people who he thought were his friends, but took advantage of him.

After a two-month trial at Newcastle Crown Court a jury found James Wheatley, 29, of Studdon Walk in Kenton, Newcastle, guilty of murder.



Barry Imray, 35, was cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

He had previously admitted perverting the course of justice by taking Mr Irving's body 800 metres in a pushchair and dumping it beside a footpath in plain view of dog walkers.

He then rang 999 saying he had found a body.

Wheatley's mother Julie Mills, 51, also from Studdon Walk, and his girlfriend Nicole Lawrence, 21, of Morpeth, Northumberland, were convicted of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They will be sentenced on Friday by Mr Justice Soole.

The women, who had been on bail during the trial, were remanded in custody for their own safety.

There were cries of "Yes" and "Get in" from Mr Irving's family members in the public gallery as the foreman returned the guilty verdicts, while Wheatley, in a shirt and tie, scowled and looked furious.

Mr Irving's badly beaten body was discovered on June 6 last year on a footpath beside the A1 at Fawdon, Newcastle.



- Mirror