Lancaster killer was 'helped' by his girlfriend and her dad, court told

A father and daughter who helped a murderer to evade justice after he knifed a young man to death in Lancaster have been jailed for two years and four months each.
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Connor Reece, 24, of West Road, Lancaster, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after he was found guilty of Lee Farrington's murder, having severing his femoral artery with a blow to his leg.

Police were called around 10.50pm on August 27 to reports of an assault at an address on Tarnsyke Road.

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Officers attended and found Lee, 29, with a serious stab wound to his leg.

Connor ReeceConnor Reece
Connor Reece

He was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary and then later Royal Preston Hospital for treatment, but sadly died on August 28.

In the meantime, Reece had contacted his girlfriend Danielle McCreery, 28, and both travelled to a hotel in Morecambe.

The following day the pair continued to evade police, travelled to Manchester, where they were helped to stay by Wayne McCreery, 47

The McCreerys were found guilty of assisting an offender.

Wayne McCreeryWayne McCreery
Wayne McCreery
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Judge Robert Altham accepted Miss McCreery was of good character.

He added: "I accept she had a difficult background and had problems of her own but the fact remains she decided she'd help, knowing full well he was wanted for a grave crime.

"Her involvement is far greater than her father - she indeed recruited her father to this enterprise."

Turning to Wayne McCreery he told him he was an "experienced criminal who had made clear what his character is".

Danielle McCreeryDanielle McCreery
Danielle McCreery

He added: "At the time he was subject to a prison licence.

"He only got involved at the request and instigation of his daughter, which makes his involvement somewhat less serious, but he has a far worse record."