Police investigating the murder of Lee Dawson in Preston have charged two more people.

Stuart Brown, 36, of Dawson Walk, Preston is charged with murder and Kerry-Ann Metcalfe, 38, also of Dawson Walk, Preston, is charged with assisting an offender. They were both due to appear before Preston Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday June 23).

A 23-year-old man arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Detectives have also arrested a further person on suspicion of murder. The 33-year-old man, from Preston, is currently in custody.

Police were called around 3am on Friday (June 17) by the Ambulance Service after 42-year-old Lee Dawson was found with stab wounds in Jutland Street.

Mr Dawson, originally from Preston but living in Sunderland - was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment but sadly later died and a murder investigation was launched.

A Home Office post-mortem examination showed Mr Dawson died as a result of stab wounds.

Two men have already been charged with Mr Dawson’s murder earlier this week.

Andrew Wilcock, 29, of Lincoln Walk, Preston and Benjamin Bibby, 20, of Dawson Walk, Preston appeared before Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with murder and possession of a bladed article and was to appear at Preston Crown Court. Five other men – aged between 18 and 31 - arrested over the weekend on suspicion of murder have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Det Chief Insp Mark Haworth-Oates, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “While we have charged a total of four people so far in connection with Mr Dawson’s death our investigation is ongoing and I would continue to appeal to anyone with information to get in touch.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 0149 of June 17 or contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.