Connor Brown murder: Leading detective reveals campaign to snare 'horrible piece of work' Leighton Barrass who stabbed much-loved Sunderland lad to death

Detective Superintendent John Bent has said officers worked around the clock to ensure justice was served for Connor and his loved ones.

As he praised those who helped give evidence during the four-week trial of Leighton Barrass and Ally Gordon, he also paid tribute to Connor's family for their dignity and support during the last 10 months.

The Northumbria Police officer spoke in the aftermath of a sentencing hearing, which saw Sunderland men Barrass, 20, of Hartside Square, jailed for life for a minimum of 20 years, and Gordon, also 20, of Polmuir Road, jailed for three years and six months for manslaughter.

Barrass will also serve 15 months and Gordon six months concurrently for possessing knives.

Det Supt has spoken of the task his officers faced as the inquiry began, with Barrass already in custody thanks to the quick actions of Sunderland doorstaff who apprehended the drug dealer within seconds of the stabbing.

Barrass’s criminal past

Just three weeks before the February tragedy, Barrass had been in court over a 5am street disturbance which landed in him in court for using threatening words – he had not started even started his community order when he was taken into custody over Connor’s death.

Meanwhile, in the hours after Connor’s death, Gordon, fled to Scotland, himself carrying a blade and a bag of ecstasy pills.

“He lost his job, he lost his car because he had no money and he lost his girlfriend,” Det Supt Bent said of Barrass.

“There was some suggestion in court he had fallen on hard times, but the reality is everybody gets upset about losing a job or a girlfriend.

“He armed himself with a knife and started drug dealing and I have no doubt that the only reason the went into the city centre – because they weren’t going to get into any pubs or clubs in a tracksuit, scruffy clothing and trainers – was to do that and to make some money.

“He told lie after lie in the box saying he had £100 on him, but we know when he was arrested he had just a small amount of cash on him, including a £10 note, which we think is what he took off Connor’s friend Stephen Nunn.”

‘A horrible piece of work’

Det Supt Bent said that Barrass was a liar and lied throughout the trial.

He said: “He lied consistently, including in a letter, and gave three or four different accounts during the trial and in the beginning, in his defence statement, he suggested it had been self-defence.

“The CCTV showed that obviously wasn’t the case, so he said he had been intimidated, but he had the opportunity to get away.

“Then he said there had been shouting and threats, but none of the witnesses saw that.

“Witnesses heard him say ‘watch what I’m going to do’ and ‘I’ll stab any one of you.’

“He said the victim fell on the knife and that he didn’t cause the four other injuries – the judge said in his comments that he caused all five.

“They were caused with some considerable violence, he broke bones.

“He is a horrible piece of work.”

Gordon lied about attack on Facebook

While officers were able to question Barrass soon after his arrest, efforts were ongoing to catch Gordon, who had just lost his job as a groundworker.

Det Supt Bent added: “On the morning after, he made this Facebook comment making out Connor and his friends had tried to assault them and vouching for his friend.

“He said it was six-on-two and that Barrass was a stand-up lad, the best you could meet and used this name ‘Badass’, so obviously and vociferously defending the indefensible, and really, he knew at that time Connor had been stabbed to death.

“He then goes to Scotland, lies about his grandfather’s funeral when he had died 18 months before, he’s got another knife on him and drugs.

“For these two, carrying knives is just what they do, it’s what drug dealers do, because they know they could get attacked.”

‘Old fashioned detective work’ used to solve the crime

Det Supt Bent explained his officers had a mammoth task and used “old fashioned detective work” to piece together CCTV showing the movements of all those involved during the day and into the next morning.

They then traced each person, seeking their support as witnesses and helping them through the court process.

He said: “There has been some outstanding police work to keep everyone involved, some very young people, and the other issue was it was very emotional for them, so we had some special measures set up in court to help.

“There’s also been some fantastic work by our family liaison officers, and Connor’s family are good people.

“You’ve just got to feel for them and I know that Connor's legacy will very much be kept alive by his mum and dad.

“They are wonderful people who have shown such dignity and have been so brave.”

Praise for the doorstaff

The police officer has thanked to the doorstaff who helped keep hold of Barrass, who was feared to still be armed, until police arrived.

A number of the bouncers then appeared as witnesses in the trial.

Det Supt Bent added: “We are incredibly grateful to the bouncers who did an outstanding job, both trying to provide some help to try and save Connor but also apprehend the person responsible, ultimately, of murder.”