Drug dealer ‘with no emotion, no remorse, no feeling’ stabbed neighbour to death

Kevin Draper, 55, delivered seven deep stab wounds to 27-year-old Jack O’Brien at his flat on Siddow Common in Leigh on December 3 last year.

After a trial at Manchester Crown Court a jury found Draper, who has several previous convictions for violence to his name, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

Draper was brought back to court to be sentenced this week where he listened on with an unchanging expression as Mr O’Brien’s mother Tracy laid bare the consequences of his actions.

She said: “Kev, you have no idea what you took from me, you are just a drug user with no emotion, no remorse, no feeling.

“You are just a violent, selfish man.”

Tracy O’Brien’s statement said how Siddow Common had over eight years gone from a “tight knit community” to a “drug users’ paradise”.

She set out the horrific events of the night itself when she and Mr O’Brien’s other loved ones had endured “an emotional rollercoaster, a rollercoaster no family should have to go through”.

Describing the trial that ended in Draper’s acquittal for murder but conviction for manslaughter, she said: “We feel as a family that the case catered to and was manipulated by Kev.”

Kevin Draper was arrested soon after the incident (Image: GMP) She added: “On verdict day as soon as the jury read out not guilty you turned to me and my family, and you laughed.”

Prosecutor David Temkin KC set out earlier in the case how Mr O’Brien had gone to Draper’s house with two other men.

Mr O’Brien went into the house alone and “after an exchange of words the defendant became angry and produced a knife”.

Mr Tempkin said that when stabbing his victim seven times Draper had meant to cause harm “just short of grievous bodily harm”.

Kevin Draper was convicted of manslaughter (Image: GMP) He told the court how Draper had been smoking crack cocaine and heroin that day, had tried to dispose of the knife afterwards, had abandoned his phone and washed his clothes.

Mr Temkin said that Draper had also inflicted “a serious wound to his own wrist” which he said was to help with “false claims of self-defence”.

Siobhan Gray KC, defending, said that the defence’s position was still that the violence had started in self-defence.

She said that the prosecution agreed that Mr O’Brien had come to Draper’s flat in a bid to “tax” him, meaning to take his drugs.

The loss Jack O’Brien caused devastation to his family (Image: GMP) Ms Gray also said that camera angle CCTV footage taken from a shop Draper had gone to shortly after the stabbings could not clearly show his wrist injury.

She said this was “context to a very short incident that of course had devastating consequences”.

Judge Alan Conrad KC accepted that the only direct evidence from what had happened in the flat that night came from Draper himself.

But he said he did not accept that Draper, who he said was a “prolific user of drugs” who kept drugs in his home and “knew the risk involved in that” was acting in self-defence.

Jack O’Brien died after an incident on Siddow Common, Leigh last December (Image: GMP) Judge Conrad said: “I do not find any indication in you of any genuine remorse.”

He jailed Draper, of Siddow Common, Leigh, for 11 years and said he will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for release.

Judge Conrad closed by commending the police officers involved in the case for their work.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Matthew Hamer, of Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team, said: “Today’s sentencing reflects the severity of Draper’s actions and the tragic loss of Jack O’Brien.

“Our thoughts remain with Jack’s family and friends during this difficult time.

“We hope this outcome brings some measure of closure to those affected by Draper’s actions.

“This case reaffirms our commitment to ensuring justice is served and our streets remain safe.

“We thank local residents for their cooperation and the officers involved for their diligent work in bringing this case to a resolution.”

A statement released by Tracy O’Brien on behalf of the family said: “The drive home from the hospital was the longest drive ever.

“I came back to an empty house and sat in Jack’s bedroom.

“Even now, I haven’t changed anything in that room, even his bedding.

“It will be forever Jack’s bedroom, even when I am gone. I still sit with Jack’s unwashed clothes behind me on the couch, trying to smell Jack on them, a smell which is slowly fading.

“Prior to Jack dying, I had already bought him Christmas presents which I had wrapped all ready for Christmas Day.

“Jack loved Christmas, a day we would all spend together as a big family. He would always be the first up to open his presents.

ALSO READ: Drug dealer not guilty of murder after 27-year-old stabbed to death in his flat 

ALSO READ: Drug dealer claims man stabbed to death in his home had ‘tried to tax him’ 

ALSO READ: ‘Drug dealer who didn’t like to be challenged’ stabbed visitor to death, court told

“Those presents still remain unopened in Jack’s bedroom.

“Although we spent the Christmas together, the day was just not normal. Jack was not there. The day felt quiet, but we had to do it for the grandchildren.

“You [Draper] viciously attacked him, causing deep stab wounds that took his life, but you also took mine.

“I will never be able to touch, hear or hug my boy again, I just have memories, pictures and his ashes.

“I don’t eat or sleep, and when I do sleep, I don’t want to wake up because the reality is Jack.”

Source – INDIA TV