Man sentenced to life for murder of Lee Pickles

Mark Robertson

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A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering Lee Pickles and assaulting two other men at a party in Rochdale earlier this year.

Mark Robertson, born 28/06/82, of Grove Road in Middleton was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday 20 December 2006. He was sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation to serve a minimum of 21 years for Lee's murder.

Robertson was also sentenced to 11 and 13 years for two counts of section 18 assault on the other men he stabbed. Additionally, the judge sentenced him to three years for perverting the course of justice.

On Friday 2 June 2006 Lee Pickles (born 05/02/69) of High Street in Heywood, was in the White Lion pub in Heywood with seven friends. They arrived in the pub at about 8pm. Robertson wasn't there at the time but had previously invited one of the friends to a party on Walton Close in Heywood.

The woman whose house the party was at was in the pub and she agreed all the friends could come along. They all agreed to go and made their way to Walton Close at different times throughout the course of the evening.

By midnight all the friends had arrived. Robertson was there and a short time later a fight broke out which involved Robertson, Lee Pickles and four other men. The court heard from witnesses who said they saw Robertson lunge at Lee with a large knife, which was approximately nine inches long. He saw him do this twice and then saw Lee holding his side before Robertson struck Lee with the knife one more time.

Robertson then turned his attentions to two other men who were at the party. He struck the men, aged 30 and 40 years at the time of the incident, and they suffered slash injuries to their heads.

Lee Pickles and the two men were able to run from the flat independently of each other and met up on Newhouse Road. They had all suffered serious stab injuries and called the police from a mobile phone. They were then all taken to Fairfield General Hospital. The two men who sustained head injuries were treated and then discharged. Lee Pickles remained in hospital and died during the evening of Saturday 3 June 2006.

Police launched a murder investigation and Mark Robertson handed himself in at Rochdale police station on Wednesday 7 June 2006. He was charged with murder and two counts of section 18 wounding on Friday 9 June 2006 and remanded in custody.

Even then however, Robertson did not stop intimidating witnesses to his crime. Whilst in prison he acquired a phone and called a woman who was due to give evidence against him, threatening her with violence if she went ahead. She ignored his threats and today was awarded £350 by the judge for her bravery in doing so.

Detective Inspector Daryl Chadwick who lead the investigation into Lee's murder, said: "I would like to extend all my sympathies to Lee's family and friends who have been totally distraught by this awful murder and who have lost a much loved, happy and popular person. Their accounts of what happened that night must have been very hard to give but have been crucial to the success of this investigation and we would like to thank them for their help in putting Robertson where he belongs.

"I would also like to thank the other people Robertson stabbed who bravely faced the court and their attacker to give evidence against him.

"There are not really any words of comfort that can be given to a grieving family at any time, but at this time of year coping with the death of a loved one is perhaps even harder. I only hope they can feel some small relief from today's result and, in the future, can try to focus on the good memories Lee gave them."

In an extract from her victim impact statement, Lee's mother Denise Pickles said: "At this time the only thing that occupies my whole life is the death of Lee, it is as if a part of my heart has gone, every waking moment I think about Lee.

"Lee would always come round to help Peter, his father, with jobs around the house. Just before he was killed Lee brought some paint, he was going to paint the Facia boards, the paint is still out there. Everywhere you turn there are things that remind you of Lee.

"All of Lee's friends have been unbelievable, the support they have shown. I understood just how much Lee was missed by the fact that the church at his funeral was packed and there was standing room only. It really touched me when I saw so many grown men crying. The one thing they all said was that they will never see his cheeky laugh and grin again, they said Lee always made you laugh.

"That young lad who's taken Lee's life, he just doesn't know what he's done he really doesn't. He's not just taken Lee's life he's taken all our lives.

"The family are dreading Christmas this year, as last Christmas was such a wonderful time. We were all together on Christmas day and the house was filled with laughter. As anyone who had ever met Lee will understand, his laughter was infectious, but all we are left with this year are memories, and there are two young boys left without a father."

Lee's girlfriend Yvonne Davenport said in her victim impact statement: "At first the severity of Lee being killed was too much for me to comprehend. On the 29th May 2006 we were walking along the beach in Rhyl, laughing and joking, and eight days later, on 6th June 2006, I was doing a press conference to appeal for his killer, or anybody harbouring him, to come forward.

"I can't function properly, as Lee was not just my boyfriend but my best friend as well. I miss the fun we used to have, and how he always made me laugh. He was always the life and soul of the party, and could usually be heard over everybody else, laughing and joking, with his friends, of which he had many. He was a very bubbly, energetic amp; popular person.

"I am angry because as far as I can see, Lee has been taken away from me for no just reason. It makes me so sad to see his family amp; his two young children having to cope with this awful, unnecessary pain, as they have had this injustice done to them also for no reason.

"My friends are going Christmas shopping for CD's, DVD's, aftershave etc. for their boyfriends. I've ordered mine a wreath for his grave. Nothing can ever put this right."