Land row led to murders

A sadistic killer who calmly went to feed his geese after stabbing and battering his aunt and uncle to death is today beginning a minimum 25 years behind bars.

Stafford Crown Court head the murderous attack was triggered by a row over a plot of land near to a Uttoxeter scrapyard and access to a field adjacent to the yard.

After feeding his geese, kept along with some cows in the field, Richard Barlow returned to the yard, called the police and confessed. Judge Simon Tonking recommended the police operator who handled the call, Dawn Sladen, for a High Sheriff's award.

He heard she kept Barlow talking for 14-minutes, ensuring he stayed there until officers arrived and to prevent injury to anyone else.

Barlow, aged 29, of Heath Road, Uttoxeter, pleaded guilty to murdering 79-year-old George Barlow, better known as Bill, and his wife Joyce, 65, at the yard on October 26.Part of the attack was caught by CCTV cameras at the scrapyard in Ashbourne Road owned by Mr Barlow.

Judge Tonking described the attack as "a single incident of intense violence finding its origins in long-standing and deep seated animosity between two sides of the Barlow family." He said relationships between Richard Barlow and his mother on the one side and Mr and Mrs Barlow on the other had become overtly hostile.

The judge gave Barlow two life sentences and ordered he serve at least 25-years before being considered for parole.

Mr Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, said the track to the field where Richard Barlow and his mother kept their animals was through the scrapyard and Mr Barlow had taken to padlocking his gate to prevent unauthorised access.

On October 26 of last year, the gate remained padlocked and both Barlow and his mother were very upset, going separately to the local police station for advice.

Richard Barlow was in fact warned to avoid confrontation but instead he went to the yard and a heated argument developed between him an Mr Barlow.

During it he used an electric tester to stab Mr Barlow, and when Mrs Barlow went to intervene he stabbed her as well before repeatedly bludgeoning them with a drive shaft.

The ill feeling had started following the death of Richard Barlow's father, the brother of George Barlow. He owned a piece of land which, said Mr Hotten, was sold for a substantial sum. The money was divided between George Barlow and his other brother, but Richard and his mother felt they should have had a share.

By Tony Raba