Five men have been sentenced to life in prison for the barbaric torture and murder of man over a £300 drug debt.
Adam Clapham and another man were attacked in a basement in Rotherham after £300 worth of drugs money went missing from the property.
They were set upon by Mohammed Ashraf, 18, Arbab Yusuf, 24 – known as ‘Tony’ or ‘T’, Kieron Millar, 30, Robert Crookes, 31, Lynette Myers, 39 and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Myers was the only defendant found not guilty of murder in June following the trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
During the lengthy trial, jurors heard how Adam suffered over 200 injuries.
Mark McKone, prosecuting, said the injuries were caused by weapons which could have included a hammer and broken glass.
Adam and the other man were filmed and jeered at as they were forced to rape each other.
The prosecution said a drug dealing organisation was sending out a message ‘that they should not be crossed.’
Arbab Yusuf was jailed for a minimum term of 39 years for murder, rape, false imprisonment and section 18 assault.
The Honourable Mr Justice Dove told him: ‘On your own admission you were a drug dealer and I have no doubt you supplied drugs to both your victims and others.
‘I have no doubt you were the principle ring leader in relation to what happened that evening and the originator that led to this plan that led to this devastation.
‘I’m sure you were the person aggrieved by the money going missing and you were the person who decided on the plan to intimidate the man and capture Adam Clapham.
‘You have shown no remorse or insight into the catastrophic harm you have caused and on the phone were seen rejoicing in the pain and humiliation you were subjecting your victims to.
‘You tried to get your victim to provide a false statement to officers about what had occurred.’
The judge has handed Crookes a minimum term of 37 years for murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment and rape.
He told him: ‘While I accept you were not the person who originated the plan you were an enthusiastic participant in it.’
He said he bears a ‘substantial responsibility’ for what occurred that night.
‘You cruelly scolded both victims, this illustrates in my view the central part you played in the torture of the men that night.’
The judge has handed Millar a 30 year minimum term for murder, section 18 assault and false imprisonment.
He told him: ‘You were directly involved in locating Adam Clapham and you understood the purpose of that was so he could be subjected to violence.
The second victim described the enthusiastic encouragement you played in the assaults on him, and I accept he also observed you were less involved than the others and this is some mitigation for you.
‘You were not convicted of rape which is a clear distinction between you and the other defendants convicted of murder.’
For the murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment and rape, Ashraf has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 28 years.
The judge said: ‘You were actively involved in searching for Adam when you well knew the violence he would be subjected to. You took that appalling film footage.
‘At the end of the film as you revel in the disgusting behaviour you and the others instigated and forced with violence and threats.
‘We can see you laughing and mocking the victims. You were keen to play your part – albeit you were not one of the leaders in my view.’
Myers was jailed for 12 years for grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.
The judge told her: ‘It is inconceivable you were unaware of what was going on down there [in the cellar]. You continued the appalling beating and participated in the attack to interrogate him [the second victim.]
‘The attack was prolonged against a vulnerable victim and I’m sure you were aware that this was part of a wider plan to find Adam Clapham and punish him.
‘The harm which had been done at the time of your involvement was undoubtedly and particularly grave. Your attack on him was particularly cruel because he was known to you. He was looking to you for help.
‘Your false imprisonment of the victim, preventing him leaving the house, leaving him to the others is in my judgement a further aggravating feature in your case.
The judge said he accepts Myers was controlled by an addiction to drugs at the time, which he says has cost her her family life and liberty.
For murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment and rape, the 17-year-old youth has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years.
‘No doubt many people will find it shocking you have been convicted of your young age of these dreadful offences. I’m sure you took a full and active part in the assaults on Adam Clapham and the man.
‘In addition, you filmed the rape they were forced to perform on each other and Adam Clapham lost his life as a result of what you were involved with. That harm and the harm you caused another man cannot be put right.’
