Pair get life sentences for killing father who tried to stop them selling drugs
Two killers who battered a brave dad-of-two to death when he confronted them for selling drugs outside his home have both been jailed for life.
Gary Beech, 48, and Michael Swan, 45, stabbed Ian Tomlin, 46, seven times and beat him with a baseball bat just yards from his family home in October 2018.
Ian was found slumped in a pool of blood next to a rubbish chute in Battersea, southwest London, where he died at the scene.
The jury heard he would regularly challenge criminals for selling drugs near his flat in Charlotte Despard Avenue and approached his killers as he walked home after shopping at a nearby Tesco.
After Swan killed the former boxer, he told police it was self-defence and defiantly sneered: ‘He died from his injuries – cause he did – horrible c**t.
‘I know what I have done, I can live with what I have done.’
Swan leaves the scene with the baseball bat used to kill the victim
Swan and Beech were unanimously found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey following a three-week trial.
Swan was also found guilty of perverting justice for hiding a baseball bat after the murder.
Beech was given a minimum sentence of 21 years and Swann will serve 19 years before he is released.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy described the murder as an ‘extraordinarily violent attack.’
Ian Tomlin
She read a statement from Ian’s 82-year-old mother Monica Tomlin, who was present in court.
She said: ‘It is my wish to explain to the court the devastation of my family.
‘When I got to the communal doors I could see police, they wouldn’t let me through.
‘I looked past the officers and saw my son Ian lying in a pool of blood.
‘I felt an instant numbness. No mother should have to see that.’
Ms Tomlin added she felt haunted by the fact the incident took place just 100 yards from her home.
‘My family now argue at the slightest thing because they are all smothered with grief,’ the statement continued.
‘By murdering my son you have murdered my whole family, because of your brutal acts I will never see my youngest son again.
‘You have robbed me of my son, robbed my grandchildren of their dad and robbed Ian of his life.
‘I do not have any hatred in my heart for you and I pray for you.’
Phillipa McAtasney, representing Beech, said he was remorseful and claimed he showed a ‘lack of premeditation or desire.’
She said: ‘Mr Beech was trying to prevent any confrontation after Mr Tomlin had chosen to go to his flat and arm himself with the baseball bat.
‘He has lost his family in effect as well and has expressed his remorse about the fact that Mr Tomlin, who he had known since childhood, had lost his life.’
‘It was a spontaneous eruption of violence.
‘Although there may have been some history between them, they did not have any physical interactions prior to this incident.’
Passing sentence on Swann and Beech, Judge Rebecca Poulet said: ‘I am satisfied for at least twelve months before the murder serious tensions had grown up between you.
‘He was upset and angered by the many wishing to buy drugs who would ring his door at
anti-social hours.
‘You had inflicted at least eight such blows to the back of his head.
‘The force of your blows split the bat in two pieces.’
Judge Poulet then referenced the knife wounds found in Ian’s neck which punctured his airway.
‘After the blows, one of you must have turned him over to, as the prosecution suggest, finish him off.
‘I do not accept that this was planned but it was the conclusion of brutal hostility between you.
‘He was attempting to stop you both from drug related behaviour in his flats.’
