Man jailed for stabbing man to death in Skipton park
It happened during a county lines drug deal in Aireville Park last year
A 19 year-old man's been jailed for more than 10 years for stabbing a man to death in a park in Skipton.
It happened during a county lines drug deal in Aireville Park last year - when Brooklyn Bell, from Keighley, stabbed 44 year-old Simon McMinn.
He was sentenced for manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and supplying heroin and crack cocaine.
He stabbed the 54-year-old man in the back three times with a flick knife following a minor disagreement.
The victim suffered a collapsed lung and needed emergency surgery but survived.
Bradford Crown Court heard how Bell claimed to be a low-status drug pusher for a county lines drugs gangs from urban areas that infiltrate smaller rural towns and sell drugs by phone using a network of dealers. He used a phone line to deliver drug orders around West and North Yorkshire.
Following trial in January 2022, Bell was found not guilty of murder, but found guilty of the manslaughter of Simon McMinn.
The judge gave Bell an extended three-year licence period when he is released from prison after ruling he was a danger to the public.
After Bell was sentenced, DI Menzies said: “Simon McMinn was a son, brother, and father who lost his life in Aireville Park in Skipton through the illegal carrying of a knife.
“It’s a sad indictment to the damage drugs do to communities, and the devastation they bring to families. While I know Mr McMinn’s family are heartbroken by their loss, I hope Bell’s sentence brings some comfort to them.
“County lines drug dealing adds another dimension, importing misery and conflict into otherwise low-crime communities such as Craven.
“We have dedicated teams that work tirelessly to rid our communities of drugs and prevent dealers from other areas ruining North Yorkshire.”