Men who meet other men for sex – regardless of their sexual orientation – are urged to contact police if they feel they have been targeted.
Cumbria police made the appeal after Jack Crawley, 20, was jailed for life for the murder of Paul Taylor.
Crawley, of no fixed address, was sentenced today at Carlisle Crown Court for the premeditated and unprovoked attack in October 2023 which resulted in the death of Mr Taylor.
He had admitted to the manslaughter of Mr Taylor claiming it was a robbery gone wrong, however a jury found him guilty of murder after a trial this month.
He has been sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 37 years in prison.
Crawley was also sentenced for attempted murder following a separate incident in North Yorkshire in January 2024. For this he received a 15-year sentence, to be served concurrently.
Mr Taylor, 56, of Annan, had his head completely smashed in by hammer-wielding Crawley after they met for a late night sex hook-up in Carlisle last October.
They earlier chatted on gay dating app Grindr. Jurors heard the army veteran and hospital catering manager desperately tried to defend himself from the fatal attack on October 18 2023.
Crawley hauled Mr Taylor’s body into the boot of his own car and drove to a woodland near the city where he torched the body and hid Mr Taylor. He later cleaned the car and tried to sell it for £2,000.
For nearly seven months, Mr Taylor’s traumatised family agonised over his whereabouts until Crawley led detectives to the skeletal remains in May.
Cumbria police said they would like to encourage anyone who is part of the community, known as MSM, who believed they had been targeted by Crawley or anyone else, to speak to them in confidence.
Police said: “We’d like to encourage anyone who has any concerns relating to any incidents linked to the investigation which have caused concern or distress to make a report. We would also encourage anyone who is part of the MSM community and believes they may have been targeted by Crawley or anyone else, to come forward. All reports will be dealt with the highest degree of sensitivity and privacy.”
After the sentencing, senior investigation officer Detective Superintendent Ian Hussey said: “I am pleased that our investigation has resulted in justice for Paul and his family.
“Paul was the victim of a premediated and calculated attack by Crawley who arrived to meet Paul prepared to commit a serious act of violence.
“Paul’s body was then taken to a remote woodland near Carlisle and hidden in undergrowth with Crawley only finally admitting where he’d concealed Paul’s body several months after he’d been charged with murder.
“From the very start of this, Crawley has lied about his actions – from initially denying even knowing Paul, to later denying he murdered him, instead concocting a story around self-defence.
“Today, Crawley is behind bars where he rightly belongs, and he will now spend a considerable amount of his adult life in prison.
“I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Paul’s family and friends for their loss.
“I can only imagine what they have had to go through over the past year and an I would like to commend them for remaining dignified and composed throughout the whole investigation and trial, despite being forced to hear some shocking and hurtful evidence.
“Again, I would finally like to thank all the officers, staff, prosecuting counsel the Crown Prosecution Service and our Crown Prosecution colleagues whose hard work on these investigations has allowed us to successfully prosecute Crawley for his crimes and get justice for Paul’s loved ones.”
To mane a report to Cumbria police, visit www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it or call 101.
