Exclusive:'Violent, dangerous' man, 23, who murdered dad "with heart of gold" may spend rest of his life in prison
“Alan will be forever loved and is missed by us all”
A “violent, dangerous” man who ran out of his house wielding two knives before stabbing a dad-of-two to death has been locked up for 24 years.
Callum Strachan was 22 when he murdered 41-year-old Alan Sutton in a “mindless attack” on Burton Road, Monk Bretton, Barnsley, on September 1, 2024.
Alan, who was described by loved ones as a man with “a heart of pure gold,” was one of three neighbours who confronted Strachan at his home over anti-social behaviour that day.
Sheffield Crown Court heard today (May 1) how Strachan made threats to stab and attack others in the street, as well as his partner who was inside the house.
He went into the house by the back door, and the three men walked away.
CCTV showed a moment of apparent calm on the street - before Strachan emerged from the house with a kitchen knife in each hand.
“You had a choice,” His Honour Judge Graham Reeds KC told Strachan at the sentencing today. “You could have chosen to stay in your house with your door locked.
“Or you could have chosen to go out with weapons to confront them. You chose the latter.”
Armed and violent, Strachan ran around a corner in pursuit of the three men who had walked away.
Tragically, the closest man when he arrived was Alan, who fell to the floor after he was stabbed in the chest.
Strachan stepped over Alan, threatened the other two men, and turned to go back - only to stop and stab the dad-of-two again, this time through the neck.
Despite the bravery of a woman in the area who tried to save his life, Alan died at the scene.
Meanwhile, Strachan shoddily hid his murder weapons under a cutlery tray, left the house with his partner, and even flagged down a police car and lied about his involvement in the crime.
Strachan’s previous offending
Strachan would later plead not guilty to murder and callously claim he simply ran around the corner with knives outstretched before colliding into Alan, and “didn’t even know I stabbed him.”
But the jury saw through his lies and unanimously found him guilty of murder.
The 23-year-old has a lifetime of previous violent offending, including an occasion where he headbutted and beat his mother before trashing her house because she refused to lend him money. He also previously assaulted his former partner, and on the day of Alan’s murder threatened to stab his then-girlfriend.
Along with Alan’s murder, Strachan was also sentenced on May 1 over an incident where he chased down and savagely wounded a man in an incident on June 15, 2024.
He had arranged to meet the man for a confrontation for texting his girlfriend, but brought an accomplice, between them carrying a baseball bat and a machete.
After chasing the man down, they beat him with the bat before Strachan stabbed him four times, inflicting life-threatening injuries.
Strachan later told prison doctors he “loses his temper,” and has since been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
A shattered, heartbroken family
Several tributes to Alan - who would now be a grandfather had he lived - were written by his heartbroken family and read out in court.
His mother, Amanda Galfsky, wrote: “Alan was my firstborn son. Knowing he will never walk through my front door and say ‘ey up mam’ with a big smile on his face ever again has broken my heart.
“I have one of his shirts neatly folded under my pillow. I talk to my son’s photo every day to say good morning and good night.
“He was a kind, caring, happy-go-lucky man with a heart of pure gold, who will never get to walk his daughter down the aisle.
“His loss has physically, emotionally and mentally affected us all.
“Alan will be forever loved and is missed by us all.”
Life in prison
During the sentencing, Strachan, who appeared over a live link from prison, picked at his nails and fussed over his clothes as he listened to how he murdered a man.
Eventually his microphone was muted for muttering to himself.
He seemed unfazed as he was told there was a real possibility he would spend the rest of his life in prison.
The judge said: “From the evidence I have heard, I have no doubt you are someone who regularly loses his temper and makes threats to stab people.
“There is no evidence that you needed to defend yourself from Alan that day. He was simply there, with his shopping bag. He had done nothing to you.
“It was simply the result of your temper.
“The impact of your murder on Alan Sutton has been profound - his mother says she is shattered.
“His family loved him. All of that was taken away from them by your selfish, aggressive and violent behaviour.
“In doing so, you took his life, and your own life is ruined too.
“You are obviously dangerous.”
Judge Reeds sentenced Strachan to life in prison with a minimum term of 24 years. It is longer than he has even been alive, and he will be 47 before he is considered for parole.
The judge said: “It may mean that you may spend the rest of your life in prison. Whether that happens is up to you.”
The judge also recommended the woman who attempted to save Alan’s life despite the presence of armed men, for a High Sheriff’s commendation.