Man sentaced to life in prison after fatal altercation in Beverley
Tinson caused fatal head injuries in an incident on Saturday Market in Beverley
Last updated 5th Aug 2025
Timothy Tinson, a 43-year-old man from Beverley, has today (Tuesday 5 August) been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of 44-year-old Matthew Phillips, after a brutal and violent altercation earlier this year.
Tinson’s sentencing comes after he repeatedly assaulted Matthew, causing fatal head injuries in an incident on Saturday Market in Beverley.
Tinson, who resides on Lairgate, had initially denied involvement in the crime when he appeared at Hull Magistrates Court in January. However, after extensive investigations, including hours of CCTV footage analysis and witness statements, he appeared at Hull Crown Court today and admitted to the charge of murder.
The tragic events unfolded on the night of January 4, when officers responded to reports of a serious assault in Beverley. Upon arrival, they discovered Matthew Phillips unconscious in the street, suffering from a severe head injury. Despite efforts from emergency services, Matthew later died from his injuries.
A prior verbal disagreement between Tinson and Matthew, who knew each other through mutual acquaintances, led to a violent confrontation. The dispute occurred at a property on Lairgate on January 3. Later that night, another encounter between the two men led to a physical altercation in which Matthew fell into the road. Tinson then continued his attack, applying repeated force to Matthew’s head, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses reported hearing loud thuds and shouting during the attack. One local resident found Matthew unconscious in the road, with Tinson standing over him, acknowledging his involvement in the assault.
Leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Leanne Murphy said: “Shortly after the attack, a local resident reported hearing loud thuds followed by shouting. When they opened their door, they found Matthew unconscious in the road with Tinson standing over him, making statements acknowledging his involvement.
"Tinson’s deliberate and violent actions that night tragically resulted in Matthew’s death. By pleading guilty today, he has finally accepted responsibility, helping to spare Matthew’s family the further pain of a prolonged trial process. I hope today’s plea provides his loved ones with a measure of comfort in knowing the person responsible will now face the consequences.
"I also want to thank the members of the public who offered assistance throughout the evening, providing crucial information that supported our investigation and ultimately led to detectives being able to stack up the evidence against Tinson.
“Information provided by the public to assist with this case was invaluable in ensuring that those responsible could be brought to justice, and we would always encourage people to report any concerns or suspicious activity to us, no matter how small, because your information could be the missing puzzle piece needed in the investigation.
“Violent crime will not be tolerated, and I would like this to be a stark warning to anyone who thinks it’s acceptable to unleash violence on our streets.”
Speaking of the heartbreaking loss, Matthew’s sister said: “Matthew was truly loved. His life meant everything to us.
"Since the 4 January, our world has fallen apart. The way Matthew died was so violent and cruel it's impossible to make sense of.
"Our father passed away shortly after Matthew’s death, heartbroken. We believe the emotional impact of the fatal attack, and everything that followed, weighed heavily on him.
"We’re shattered. We’re hurting deeply and still trying to understand how this could have happened. What Tinson did didn’t just take Matthew’s life - it took away all his hopes, dreams, and the future we thought we’d have with him. That future is now gone.
"So many lives have been affected. And the pain will never go away.
"We miss Matthew every single day. But his memory will always be with us, in our hearts, and in everything we do.”
Tinson was remanded into custody to appear back at Hull Crown Court for sentencing tomorrow (Tuesday, 5 August).