The three Sheffield teens who hacked a “kind and vulnerable” boy to death with scythes during a camping trip
“It was the cruellest of crimes”
In July 2004 three Sheffield teenagers hacked a “kind, generous, trusting and vulnerable” 17-year-old boy to death with two scythes during a camping trip at a remote lake deep in the woods.
At the time a detective in the case said there had been “nothing of this magnitude” since two-year-old James Bulger was abducted and killed by two boys aged 10 in Liverpool in 1993.
Terry Lee Hurst, who had learning difficulties and the mental age of a boy four years younger, suffered more than 80 wounds in the frenzied attack at Broomhead Reservoir near Bolsterstone.
His attackers were John Sawdon and Jermaine James, both 17, and 15-year-old Rebecca Peeters.
Sheffield Crown Court heard how as the scythe attack unfolded Terry tried to escape twice despite having already suffered horrific injuries but was caught and eventually slaughtered.
His family wept in court as the injuries were described. He suffered more than 60 deep slash marks, his teeth were rammed down his throat and his jaw broken.
After taking it in turns to stamp his head into the ground the trio attempted to suffocate him with a plastic bag. The larger scythe was left through his neck and his body was left abandoned near the campsite.
The reasons for the murder were never completely understood however police said there had been a disagreement at the campsite.
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Detectives’ enquiries suggested Sawdon, from Bolsterstone, had a vendetta against Terry as they had both dated the same young girl some time back.
Sawdon had been known to make threats to people about what he would like to do to Terry and said he would “like to kill”.
In the lead-up to the dreadful slaying the young trio of killers had walked off to Bolsterstone around two miles away from the campsite, leaving Terry behind with the tent.
It was at the village church they stole the two scythes which they returned to the camp with.
Sentencing the three youths, Mr Justice Andrew Smith, told them: "Your offence was chilling. You knew he would be defenceless. You found him in a tent and set about him mercilessly.
"After the initial assault Terry Hurst tried in vain to run. He couldn't escape. You all chased him and caught him and continued the attack.
"You intended to kill him. It was the cruellest of crimes and perhaps the more terrible because teenagers committed it. None of you showed any mercy whatsoever."
Sawdon was jailed for a minimum of 15 years. Peeters, of Stocksbridge, and James, of Wincobank were each handed a minimum of 13 years.
Terry was born in Shiregreen where he lived with his foster family and studied at Sheffield College before moving to semi-independent sheltered housing in Penistone weeks before his death.
His family revealed he had suffered at the hands of bullies for most of his life due to his disadvantages - including a speech impediment.
In December 2011, Terry's loved ones set up a petition calling for his killers to be “expelled from Britain” and their sentences to be extended.
Speaking at the time, Terry's friend Michael Hill, said: "Terry Lee was brutally attacked, violently tortured and murdered.
"He was a kind, generous, young man. He was autistic and very trusting and vulnerable. He had many friends and a caring family who still love and miss him.
"This petition is to extend the custodial sentences of his attackers and force them to be expelled from Britain at the end of their sentence."
Terry's brother Richard Lee Khan said: "We were not living together at the time – we were both being fostered but we spoke as much as we could and he was getting on with his life and going to college.
"At his funeral I carried his coffin – it's not what you ever expect to have to do for a brother at such a young age.
"Afterwards I ended up in hospital with mental health problems because it knocked me for six – I could not cope with what had happened to him. They should pay for what they did – they were ruthless with my brother."