Pair jailed for violent conspiracy that led to death of teenager Matthew Daulby in Ormskirk
Three men have been sentenced after being found guilty of conspiring to commit violent disorder which ultimately led to the death of teenager Matthew Daulby in Ormskirk.
Samuel Hopgood, Alfie Forsyth and James Evans were unanimously convicted following a three-week trial at Preston Crown Court which concluded on November 5.
The court heard how officers were called to reports of an ongoing disturbance on Railway Road, Ormskirk, at around 12.05am on July 29, 2023.
Matthew was found a short distance away with serious stab injuries and was taken to hospital, where he later died despite the efforts of emergency services.
In separate trials at the same court, Thomas Dures, 22, and Henry Houghton, 20, were convicted of Matthew’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Dures must serve a minimum of 23 years before becoming eligible for parole, while Houghton must serve at least 20 years.
Jurors were told that the sequence of events leading to the fatal incident began the previous evening, when a man was assaulted by Dures near a pub in Wheatsheaf Walk, Ormskirk, after confirming he was friends with Evans.
That man contacted Evans to report the assault. At the time, Evans was in Liverpool city centre, while Matthew, Hopgood and Forsyth were in Maghull.
Evans travelled from Liverpool to Maghull to meet the others.
A Snapchat video outlining the assault was later shared in a group chat involving the defendants, followed by messages discussing travelling to Ormskirk to seek revenge.
Evidence presented to the court included messages sent by Hopgood stating “we’re ready now” and later “at the Greggs”, while the assaulted man provided updates on the whereabouts of Dures and Houghton.
Prosecutors said this communication demonstrated a conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
Shortly after the group arrived on Railway Road, a violent confrontation took place.
During the incident, Matthew was struck with a sock containing a rock by Houghton and was fatally stabbed by Dures.
Another man was stabbed and required hospital treatment. Evans and two others sustained injuries believed to have been caused by a knife but did not attend hospital.
The court heard that none of the defendants came forward to assist police in the aftermath of Matthew’s death.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Evans, Hopgood and Forsyth were charged with conspiring to commit violent disorder.
Evans, 21, of Bartlet Close, Liverpool, was sentenced to 34 months in prison.
Hopgood, 21, of Green Lane, Maghull, was also jailed for 34 months.
Forsyth, 21, of Lathom Drive, Liverpool, received a 24-month sentence suspended for 20 months.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Matthew’s father, Gary Daulby, described the profound and lasting impact of his son’s death on the family, saying their lives had been irrevocably changed.
He told the court that the knowledge a conspiracy existed and contributed to Matthew’s death had left the family “totally shocked”, adding that birthdays, family events and Christmas no longer carried the same meaning.
“The loss of Matthew is permanent, and the effects of all this will be felt for the rest of our lives,” he said.
“Our lives will never be the same, and we will continue to carry the weight of this tragedy forever.”
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallow, from Lancashire Police’s Major Investigation Team, said the sentences reflected the seriousness of the defendants’ actions.
“While I accept that none of them went to Ormskirk thinking that Matthew would lose his life, it was their reckless criminal conspiracy that contributed to this tragic outcome,” he added.
“I hope that young men across the county take notice of this case and the devastating consequences of choosing violence.
“A family has been left without a son, brother, cousin and nephew; two men have been jailed for life and nine young men with no previous convictions now face custodial sentences.”
Eight other men previously charged with conspiring to commit violent disorder were found not guilty following two separate trials