Heywood man sentenced to 22 years for murdering his wife

Thomas Dooley

A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to 22 years in jail after being found guilty of murdering his wife and seriously assaulting three other people.

Thomas Dooley (born 19/03/60) of Grosvenor Street, Heywood was arrested on Saturday 18 February 2006 after police were called to his former mother-in-law's address following reports that Dooley had stabbed her.

Dooley made unsolicited admissions to police that he had murdered his partner, 31-year-old Susan Crane. He had smotherered her with cushions from a settee and strangled her with the cord from a camcorder charger.

At about 8.15pm on the evening of 18 February Dooley telephoned his ex-wife asking to visit their son who lived with her. She agreed, and Dooley drove over to the house on Bury Old Road in Heywood. Before leaving the house Dooley asked his ex-wife's partner, who was his current partner's ex-husband, if he could speak to him in private. Dooley and the 51-year-old man went into the front room of the house where Dooley suddenly produced a small knife and stabbed the man once in the throat.

A short scuffle ensued and Dooley fled the house, getting into his BMW. Dooley's ex-wife, her partner and his 52-year-old brother (who was also at the house) followed Dooley but as they stood on the pavement Dooley quickly reversed his car, knocking his ex-wife and the 52-year-old over, before driving away.

In doing this Dooley broke the 52-year-old's leg and injured his ex-wife's legs. The 51-year-old had a laceration on his throat after Dooley stabbed him.

Just after 9.30pm police received a call from Dooley's ex-wife reporting that Dooley had driven his car into her. Just after she made this call, she phoned her 69-year-old mother to check she was alright, warning her to lock all her doors.

A few minutes later, Dooley arrived at the 69-year-old's house, also on Grosvenor Street. As all the doors were locked, he smashed a window at the back of the house using bricks.

After Dooley broke into the house he hit the 69-year-old over the head with the brick. Using a knife from her kitchen, he then stabbed her 23 times, penetrating the lining of her heart.

A neighbour who heard the 69-year-old screaming came to the front of her house and smashed a window to try and get in. After seeing Dooley standing over the woman he went back home and called police.

Officers arrived at the woman's house on Grosvenor Street where they found the 69-year-old with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance. She survived Dooley's attack.

Dooley's BMW was found by police nearby, and a short time later after a short foot chase, he was arrested on suspicion of assault near his house.

Following his arrest, Dooley confessed to police officers that he had killed his wife and gave them the keys to his house, where he said they would find her body. Officers then went to the house on Grosvenor Street and found the body of Susan Crane.

Following further questioning, Dooley was charged with the murder of his wife Susan Crane at 6.30pm on Thursday 21 February 2006, and the attempted murder of his former mother-in-law, his partner's ex-husband, and his ex- wife's husband's brother.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff McMahon said: "During the course of the investigation it became clear that Thomas Dooley possessed a controlling personality that when challenged led to violence. Susan was a fun loving individual who was brutally murdered by a man who she had shared the last part of her life with. Our thoughts go out to Susan's family at this difficult time"

Susan's mother, Liz Jennings, said: "Tom Dooley has been found guilty of the murder of my daughter but whatever sentence he got it could not bring my daughter Susan back.

"Life should mean life; my life has completely changed forever and so has my sibling's.

"My grandchildren also lost their mother.

"It has been proven now that all the things he has said in court were lies.

"All through the trial he has not shown any remorse whatsoever. He is a cold, calculating, murderer.

"My daughter was a loving, caring, person who is not here to defend herself.

"As long as I live I will never ever forgive Tom Dooley for the pain he has caused myself, my family and Susan. May she now rest in peace."

As well as being found guilty of murdering Susan Crane, Dooley was also found guilty of the section 18 wounding of the 51-year-old, the section 20 wounding of the 52-year-old and the attempted murder of his former mother-in-law.