Murderer who repeatedly kicked and punched man in vicious Heysham attack jailed for life

Police were called to reports of an assault off Heysham Road, near the Bay Medical Centre, in the early hours of September 28, 2024.

When the first officer arrived that morning, he found Keith Thompson, 49, from Morecambe, slumped against the basement wall.

Emergency services continued to try to save Keith, as did the hospital staff, but he was sadly pronounced dead at 5.55am that morning.

A post-mortem examination later established the cause of his death as blunt force trauma to the head.

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Leigh Smith was arrested and later charged with Keith’s murder.

Smith, of Binyon Court, Lancaster, had originally denied murder and an earlier assault causing actual bodily harm to another victim.

The 39-year-old later pleaded guilty to both offences on the seventh day of his trial at Preston Crown Court.

In a victim impact statement, Keith’s mum, Nancy, said: “When I first found out what happened to Keith, I didn’t want to live anymore, just so I could be with him.

“As I got older, he always said to me that he couldn’t live without me, but here I am now, having to live without him.

“I am devastated and utterly heartbroken. That man has taken away such a loving son.”

Keith’s daughter, Alisha, said: “I just can’t stop thinking of my dad suffering at the hands of that monster who killed him.

“My future children now won’t have a grandad. He murdered my dad with his hands and feet, and this will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“Rest easy, Dad. I love you and I miss you.”

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Sitting at Preston Crown Court this morning, Mr Justice Bright told Smith he would have to serve a minimum of 22 years and 177 days before he is considered for parole.

He was also sentenced to 36 weeks for a separate assault, which will run concurrently.

Det Chief Insp John McNamara, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “My thoughts today are with Keith’s devastated family and friends at this incredibly upsetting time. When Smith attacked Keith on the morning of his death, he did so with prolonged and extreme violence.

“Smith assaulted another victim prior to Keith, which was both random and unprovoked. His behaviour continued to escalate, culminating in the vicious attack on Keith.

“While no sentence can ever make up for the taking of a life, I do hope Keith’s family can gain some degree of closure, and I hope they feel some relief knowing that Smith will be in prison for a considerable length of his life. He will then have to convince the Parole Board that he poses no risk to the public before he is ever released.”