CONSPIRED TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

TWO women who were overheard concocting their story on a 999 call after a 24-year-old man was stabbed to death in a Hartlepool bungalow have been jailed.

- By POPPY KENNEDY

Lisa Lithgo, 38, and Janette Dowson, 58, have been locked up for two years and 18 months respectively after admitting conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

It follows the murder of Kieran Wood, on May 22, 2023.

Teesside Crown Court heard how suspect Paul Foster took his own life before he could be arrested over Mr Wood's death.

The 24-year-old victim, from Horden, was working as a drugs runner and was making a delivery to an address on Spurn Walk, in the Burbank area of Hartlepool, following a request from Lithgo.

Teesside Crown Court heard Mr Foster had "no intention of paying for the drugs" and Mr Wood had been "set up to be robbed".

Mr Wood died in the house after he was brutally attacked - he suffered nine stab wounds to his chest, legs and arm.

The court heard previously how at 2.47pm, almost an hour before Mr Wood arrived at the bungalow, Mr Foster had called 999, and said: "I've got my ex torturing me, right. I’m going to shoot her, right.

"I’m going to peg her ears. The biggest mistake Raoul Moat made was shooting himself."

Three days earlier, Mr Foster had been released from prison and had called his probation officer on May 22, to cancel his appointment, saying that he had split up from his partner.