3 men jailed for life over murder of County Durham man in his own home
3 men have been jailed - for murdering a man, who was shot dead in his home in County Durham.
Last updated 11th Dec 2025
3 men have been jailed - for murdering a man, who was shot dead in his home in County Durham.
60 year old grandfather, Barry Dawson was killed in Stanley back in April after a gun was fired through the window of the house in South Moor, but he wasn't the intended target.
Earlier this year, a jury unanimously found Sean Reay, Kelvin Lawson, and Thomas Sterling guilty of murder - though they'd all denied the charges.
The court heard how 30 year-old Reay had received threats to burn his house down earlier on the same day as the shooting - and was seeking retribution.
CCTV footage showed the front window of the house on Elm Street being smashed by 38 year-old Lawson - before Reay fired a gun into it.
22 year-old Thomas Sterling and Lawson were arrested - as well as Reay who fled to Northern Ireland.
Reay was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 32 years, Lawson was sentenced to life with a minimum of 28 years behind bars, and Sterling was also sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 26 months.
Sean Reay, 30, of Sabin Terrace, Stanley, shot Barry at close range through the living room window of his home address. The shot struck Barry in the chest, puncturing his heart, lung and liver, and he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Reay was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 32 years.
Kelvin Lawson, 38, of Frosterly Gardens, Stanley, and Thomas Sterling, 22, of The Avenue, Stanley, were also found guilty of murder. Lawson was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 28 years and Sterling was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years.
The three men had travelled to the scene in the same car. Lawson smashed the living room window with a brick just before Reay fired the fatal shot at Barry. Following the shooting, Reay fled the Durham area and was later arrested in Northern Ireland.
Prosecutors presented expert evidence as part of their case and were able to successfully prove that Reay’s accomplices each played a part in Barry’s murder. This included the use of CCTV and mobile phone data to show their movements in the run up to the shooting and their actions that followed.
Mr Justice Cotter said: "This was an extraordinary crime in an ordinary residential street.
"It was the sort of thing most people only see in television or films, and then not in this country."
In a victim impact statement, Mr Dawson's partner Sarah Hopwood said the man people knew as Buck was an "adored father and grandfather".
She said: "This horrendous crime has broken our hearts and it is something we will never recover from."
The court heard Reay was out for revenge following an altercation outside his home earlier that day which was suspected to be drug-related, and in which he claimed a man threatened to burn his house down.
Reay's gang believed the person responsible was in Mr Dawson's home and they hoped to lure him out by smashing windows.
Mr Dawson, who had been resting upstairs, and who had nothing to do with the earlier trouble outside Reay's home, came downstairs to see what was happening.
Mr Justice Cotter said Reay was in charge while Lawson and Sterling were "key lieutenants".
The judge said the three men lived by a code which saw the police as the enemy.
"You can reflect on where your code has got you during your decades in prison," he said.
"Until you reject the code, you will not be safe to rejoin society."
Reay recruited Kevin Dorward, 38, to drive them to the shooting and his cousin Keith Dorward, 48, came along as well.
They were cleared of murder but admitted perverting the course of justice by trying to burn out the getaway car.
Kevin Dorward's partner Michaela Hetherington also admitted perverting the course of justice by falsely claiming to police that the car had been stolen.
The judge jailed Kevin Dorward for 20 months, Keith Dorward for 16 months, who were living in Annfield Plain at the time, and Hetherington for 15 months, meaning she will be released immediately having served 246 days on remand already.
Andrea Milsom, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North East, said: “While it was Sean Reay who pulled the trigger of the gun which took the life of Barry Dawson, the two men convicted of murder alongside him both actively encouraged and assisted him in this fatal act.
“Barry Dawson was not the intended target of this attack. He was shot by mistake after coming downstairs to investigate the commotion unfolding outside his home. It is difficult to imagine the fear caused to local residents as this scene played out in their street on that quiet Saturday afternoon, where only moments prior to the attack children had been playing.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with Durham Constabulary to build a robust case against those convicted today. Thanks to an excellent investigation by our police partners, we have been able to draw upon hours of CCTV footage, digital phone records and forensics to meticulously piece together the actions of each person involved, both before and after the shooting.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Barry Dawson, who have spoken publicly about the enormous loss that they have endured. We only hope that they can take some measure of comfort in seeing those responsible for his death jailed today.”