Owen Blades sent to prison for life after killing retired carer John Connolly near Lincoln

A man who murdered a 69-year-old man in his own home just two days after being released from prison was today (Thursday) jailed for life.

Owen Blades, 27, stabbed retired carer John Connolly with a knife he bought just a day after leaving jail.

He will now serve a minimum term of 35 years behind bars after a judge described him as "no stranger to the courts".

Blades, who had binged on cocaine and alcohol had earlier told a store security guard 'my name is Blades, and its Blades for a reason, because I stab people'.

Mr Connolly's body was not found until five days after his death, by which time Blades was already in custody for another stabbing.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Blades had been released from prison in Lincoln on June 11 last year - a month after he was jailed for 12 months for assault. He was released early due to time spent on remand.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Blades he could not be sure he murdered Mr Connolly for financial gain but added "this was a sustained attack involving at least 18 blows with a knife."

"You entered Mr Connolly's home and subjected him to a ferocious and sustained attack with the knife," Judge Hirst explained.

"You inflicted at least 18 wounds to Mr Connolly."

Judge Hirst said it was clear Mr Connolly was a "much loved man."

"Clearly finding the body of their brother had a significant impact on his two sisters."

Judge Hirst added it was an aggravating feature that Blades was on licence and had showed significant planning and premeditation by going to Scunthorpe and buying the knife.

The judge stressed there was no guarantee Blades would be released at the end of his minimum term.

Blades, from Gainsborough, had admitted murdering Mr Connolly in his home near Lincoln city centre on the morning of June 13 2024.

Tragically Mr Connolly's body was not found for five days until June 18 when family members including his two sisters discovered his body following a call that they were concerned for his welfare.

Investigations showed Blades had been arrested on June 13 and charged with stabbing a man who was working at Merkur Slots amusement arcade in Lincoln that same day.

Blades was on remand for wounding arcade worker Tyler Baxter when Mr Connolly's body was found by his family at 11.30am on June 18 and he was quickly identified as a suspect.

Harpreet Sandhu KC, prosecuting, said Blades had been released from Lincoln prison for a sentence of assault on 11 June and took a train to Gainsborough where he withdrew £500.

While in Gainsborough the defendant told a store security guard "my name is Blades, and its Blades for a reason, because I stab people."

Mr Sandhu said the next day Blades was taken to Scunthorpe by his mother.

While he was in Scunthorpe he went to a store and bought a stiletto style knife with a five and half inch blade after showing his identification.

"It was a large dagger style lock knife," Mr Sandhu explained.

"It was the knife he would use to stab Tyler Baxter and to stab Mr Connolly to death."

The court heard Blades returned to Lincoln on the morning of 13 June and stole items from a Tesco store before moving on to Merkur Slots.

Mr Sandhu said Blades refused a request from Mr Baxter not to drink from a bottle of alcohol and threatened to "put him in a coffin" when Mr Baxter picked up a phone to ring 999.

"As the defendant said that he pulled out a knife," Mr Sandhu said.

Police attended at 10.55am and Mr Baxter showed them a single stab wound to his abdomen inflicted by Blades.

Blades continued onto Portland Street where a witness saw he was carrying a knife.

"The knife had a dark brown handle and matched the description of the knife he bought in Scunthorpe the previous day," Mr Sandhu said.

The court heard Blades then went into number 99 Portland Street and burgled the property before moving on to number 73 Portland Street - the home where Mr Connolly lived alone.

There was no sign of forced entry and it was likely Mr Connolly had opened the door to Blades.

Mr Sandhu said: "The defendant then subjected Mr Connolly to an immediate and sustained attack with the knife."

Blood was distributed around the ground floor and Mr Connolly was later found dead in his armchair.

The pensioner's clothes and slippers were covered in blood, and he had suffered a number of wounds including to the top of his head, his neck, his left eyeball and right ear.

Mr Sandhu revealed: "Mr Connolly had been struck at least 18 times with a knife."

A defensive wound indicated Mr Connolly had tried to defend himself from the attack.

The pensioner died from stab wounds to the neck and blood stains showed Blades had moved around the house and spent over three hours in the property.

Mr Sandhu said police did attend outside the property at 12.09 on 13 June but officers did not enter or knock at the property.

The court heard Blades eventually disguised himself and went to another property at 13a Portland Street where a woman messaged a friend and stated "this guy has stabbed two people, one dead."

Mr Sandhu said Blades had blood stained bank notes in his possession and argued it was likely that he had stolen from Mr Connolly.

Blades was arrested by armed police that evening at 13a Portland Street in connection with the stabbing of Mr Baxter.

The folding knife used to murder Mr Connolly was found still at his home when his body was discovered on 18 June.

Blades remained silent during a series of police interviews.

Mr Sandhu told the court Mr Connolly had worked as a carer and had a close relationship with his two sisters and their families.

One of his sisters described Mr Connolly as "a very caring and loving person."

Blades, of Tennyson Street, Gainsborough, also pleaded guilty to four other offences which he committed on 13 June last year.

They were the burglary at 99 Portland Street, Lincoln; having an offensive weapon, namely a knife in Lincoln High Street; theft of food from a Tesco Express in Lincoln High Street; and wounding Tyler Baxter with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

The court heard Blades had eight previous convictions including offences of battery and wounding. The victims included his own mother and an ex-partner.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on 20 May 2024 for an offence of assault occassioning actual bodily harm but released from Lincoln prison on 11 June because of the time he had already served in custody on remand since November 2023.

Phil Bradley KC, defending Blades, argued there was not sufficient evidence to suggest he killed Mr Connolly for finanicial gain

"He (Blades) simply does not remember what happened," Mr Bradley suggested.

Mr Bradley said Blades had also chosen not to run a trial despite facing life imprisonment.

Judge Hirst passed sentence on Blades who watched the hearing via a video link from Wakefield Prison.