Pair jailed after fatally stabbing man whilst he slept in Crawley
Harrison Tomkins was murdered in August last year
Two men have been jailed for life after fatally stabbing another man as he slept.
23 year old Kaydon Prior from Crawley and 22 year Jason Curtis from Lambeth in London were travelling back from the Chelsea area where they'd been celebrating Curtis' 22nd Birthday. They heard Prior's ex-girlfriend was out in Crawley town centre with her new partner, 25 year old Harrison Tomkins.
Prior and Curtis were seen on CCTV outside a nightclub at 03:00 and then made their way to her flat, where they heard Harrison and the girl inside.
Prior then called a taxi and travelled back to his own home where the court heard he picked up his old key to her flat and the murder weapon. Curtis stayed and watched the flat.
Prior returned in the same taxi and at 05:30 they entered the flat. Moments later Harrison was stabbed to death as he laid in bed, with no chance to defend himself.
A major search operation was launched, using officers on the ground and a drone. Curtis was found hiding nearby whilst Prior was arrested at his address.
Giving a victim impact statement in court, Alicia Parrin, who was Tomkins partner said she regretted the day she met Prior and will never be able to recover from the trauma of the attack on "totally innocent" Mr Tomkins.
"I can not unsee what happened that night. Everything was in slow motion and I felt weak," the 20-year-old said.
"I used to use sleep as a way of getting out of scary situations. As soon as I close my eyes I see him coming into my room and doing the unthinkable again."
She added: "One of the worst parts is, Kaydon would probably take pleasure in how he has pulled my life apart.
"I will never be able to leave behind the fear he instilled in me.
"Even if I hear keys in a door, I'm immediately on edge and thrown into a panic."
Following conviction, Harrison's family issued the following statement: “As a family, we are pleased with this result and feel justice has been served.
“Harrison hasn’t got a voice today, so we will speak on behalf of him.
“Harrison was innocent in all of this, taken by surprise and killed as he laid in bed, with no time to defend himself.
“We knew our son and he didn’t move in any of these circles or know this way of life.
“We were an amazing family, completely content, loving, supportive and protective. Except in August last year our family was destroyed that fateful day - the day I could not protect my son.
“Nothing said or done can help justify this senseless loss of life.
Kaydon Prior and Jason Curtis were sentenced to a minimum of 28 years and 22 years respectively for the murder of Harrison Tomkins.