Blackpool man jailed for life after murdering friend

A man has been jailed for life after murdering his friend in his Blackpool home, before stealing his property.

Adam Saunders, 51, of No Fixed Abode, was unanimously found guilty of the murder of Kevin Price yesterday (21^st May) at Preston Crown Court, after the jury deliberated for less than three hours.

In early November 2024, on a Thursday evening, Kevin Price was last seen alive on CCTV returning to his home at The Garfield Hotel from a neighbouring property.

That afternoon, Saunders messaged Kevin, 59, asking if he wanted some company. Having previously stolen a bag containing a bank card from Kevin in the days prior, Kevin responded to Saunder’s message, to ask that he return it.

Saunders invited himself round to Kevin’s home that night, where he brutally killed him. A Home Office post mortem examination found that Kevin suffered 56 stab injuries, including significant injuries to his neck, chest, back, and other parts of his body.

In the day that followed, Saunders entered Kevins home, and stole his property, including a television, and fraudulently used his bank card to buy mobile phones and other items, and withdraw cash. Whilst doing this, Saunders even wore Kevin’s clothes.

On the Saturday after murdering Kevin, Saunders booked a stay at a local hotel. Whilst there, he boasted about having access to money from a friend’s credit card.

When Kevin’s friend hadn’t heard from him a few days later on the Sunday, which was unusual, Kevin was reported missing to the police. Very sadly, officers found Kevin’s body in his property and a murder investigation was launched.

Saunders was arrested on suspicion of murder the following week and was subsequently charged. Saunders pleaded guilty to the theft and fraud offences, and, after an eight-day trial, was unanimously found guilty of Kevin’s murder and the burglary.

Today, he was sentenced to life in prison, where he will have to serve a minimum of 32 years before he can apply for parole, at Preston Crown Court.

In a victim impact statement, Kevin’s sister Diane said: “Kevin was the most thoughtful, kind, warm and loving person anybody could wish to meet. I loved him so dearly and still do. I hold him in my heart, and I always will. He was always in my thoughts when he was alive as he is in death.”

She continued: “Kevin used to ask me to place flowers on our mum and dad's grave for him, which I did every time, however I now have to do it for us both and not separately. This breaks my heart.”

Speaking of the trial, she said: “Having to sit and listen to that man give evidence is hard to describe. It sickened me hearing all his lies, knowing full well what disgusting and inhumane things he did to our Kevin.

“He took Kevin's life and then treated his property like his own. If he'd have respected Kevin like a father as he said in court this would never have happened, and he wouldn't have put all of us through the trial like he has. I now feel so relieved that we have finally got justice for our Kevin.

“I am truly devastated by what's happened, and I will always love my brother dearly. He will never be forgotten by all those that loved him. RIP Kevin.”

DCI Simon Pritchard, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “My thoughts today are with Kevin’s family and friends. Hopefully, they can now get some form of closure knowing the man responsible for Kevin’s horrific and inhumane death is now starting a considerable sentence.

“Saunders made them sit through a trial, hearing about Kevin’s final moments, and how he stole his life. 

“Saunders invited himself round to Kevin’s home, where he frenziedly attacked him, in the place that Kevin was entitled to feel the safest. He abused the friendship that Kevin gave him. After taking Kevin’s life, he then took his belongings – stealing his money, clothes and other items all while Kevin lay lifeless in the home.

“No sentence will bring Kevin back to the people who loved him. They will go through the rest of their lives without him, because of Saunders’ brutality, however Saunders will now have a significant amount of time in custody to reflect on his actions that stole Kevin from his family.”