THREE men who ambushed and murdered Preston drugs dealer John Dookie have been jailed for life.

Anthony Kirk, Stephen Mellor and Stephen Cole were described as 'dangerous young men' by Mr Justice Douglas Brown as he sentenced them at Preston Crown Court.

Dookie, 22, and friend James Handyside were lured into a planned ambush and attacked in St Peters Street, Preston, on St Valentine's Day last year.

The three-week trial heard that Dookie and Handyside sold heroin in the Meadow Street area but a month before the murder, Mellor had begun to sell drugs on their 'patch' for a cheaper price. A 'turf war' started, with violence from both sides. Mellor arranged a meeting with Dookie and Handyside at the Rat and Raven pub on Moor Lane, but it was a trick and they were attacked.

Dookie was stabbed through the stomach and badly beaten. He died two days later in hospital. Handyside was seriously injured.

Mellor, 20, of Moor Lane, Preston, Kirk, 19, of Cranbourne Street, Bamber Bridge and Cole, 21, of Wavertree, Liverpool, were convicted of murder and wounding with intent.

The judge described the killing as 'a callous and cold blooded planned murder' resulting from the 'evil heroine trade in Preston'.

Former Preston North End player John Fowler, 23, and his brother Stuart Fowler, 21, both of Lawson Street, Preston, were each jailed for four years for aggravated burglary.

Five days before the murder, they had accompanied Kirk and Mellor on a 'raiding party' in Alice Square, Deepdale, where Dookie and Handyside were staying.

Kirk and Mellor, who admitted the aggravated burglary charge, were given concurrent seven year sentences.

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