Girlfriend jailed for helping Facebook feud killer

A woman who helped her boyfriend flee after he and a friend murdered a disabled man over a family's Facebook feud has been detained for more than two years.

Ross Connelly, 46, was beaten to death at his home in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, by Lewis Armstrong, 18, and Harvey Hughes, 20, in May 2023.

Armstrong's girlfriend, Millie Bradley, who was 18 at the time of the killing, initially denied assisting an offender but changed her plea several days into a trial, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Judge Nathan Adams said it was "inconceivable" Bradley was unaware Mr Connelly, who was effectively housebound, had been seriously injured during the "merciless and cowardly attack".

Mr Connelly, who had a longstanding alcohol issue and slept in his living room, had been engaged in a heated argument on Facebook with his cousin, Armstrong's mother, during 30 April, the court heard.

Armstrong recruited Hughes and others to go to Mr Connelly's home in Alexandra Terrace in the early hours of 1 May to "force him to take down the posts and visit severe punishment on him," prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC said.

The court heard it was not possible to say who inflicted which injuries, but audio recordings from a neighbour's security camera revealed there must have been at least 40 blows on Mr Connelly as he was attacked in his bed.

His attackers fled and he was left to die from impaired breathing and blood loss, having suffered multiple broken ribs, bones and injuries to his head, the court heard.

Bradley, who had started a relationship with Armstrong shortly before the attack, drove him to Mr Connelly's house in her Nissan Juke in convoy with Hughes' van from Peterlee, stopping on the way at Armstrong's father's yard where it is believed they collected weapons including a metal pole.

Mr Lumley said a woman's voice could be heard laughing on the recording while the attack took place and Bradley, now 20, must have been able to hear the beating.

She then drove Armstrong away at speed and stayed with him until about 14:00, after which she sent him the numbers of his relatives when he got a new mobile phone, the court heard.

Bradley, of Beech Grove, Trimdon Grange, continued to message him over the following days, expressing her love and offering to help him before she was arrested at her home on 3 May, the court heard.

Hughes was arrested in Leeds the same day and Armstrong handed himself in on 21 May after going on the run, the court heard.

Both denied murder but were found guilty following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court and jailed for life in November.

Hughes was given a minimum of 26 years and Armstrong 24 years.

Mr Lumley said Bradley "must have been aware" of the feud and that Mr Connelly had been seriously injured.

In mitigation, Jane Foley said Bradley, who had been working in a beauty salon while attending college, had been "immature and totally naïve".

"One questions whether she had the confidence or strength of character to say no to [Armstrong] after he returned to her car," Ms Foley said, adding: "What was she to do, a young girl never before in that situation?"

She said Bradley was "horrified" by Mr Connelly's death and she had made the "worst decision of her life".

Judge Adams said he accepted Bradley may have felt "under pressure" from Armstrong and panicked, adding "misguided loyalty played a part".

But he said she must have known about the "simmering feud" and what had happened to Mr Connelly, adding it "must have been obvious something terrible had occurred" with the "relentless beating".

Bradley was sentenced to 27 months at a young offender institution.