Bolton teen helped murderer after Atherton stabbing

Paul Marsh, 49, was stabbed to death by Bolton teenager Jordan Rance, who was 16 at the time, at a flat on Samuel Street in Atherton in November last year after a disagreement between them.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard today, Monday, how phone evidence showed Rance and another boy, also then 16, had planned to give false evidence to police to help him escape justice.

Prosecutor Joseph Hart said: “He said he had spoken to the ‘feds’ and said he and Mr Rance had their stories set out ‘in case they got nicked.’”

Quoting the boy’s message, he added: “Cos me and Jordan had our story ready for if we got nicked.

Paul Marsh was murdered in Atherton (Image: GMP)

“So, I’m Jordan’s alibi, so I get Jordan out of this and make us both look good.”

The pair had also discussed destroying SIM cards as a way of disposing of evidence.

Mr Hart told the court how the now 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been with Rance when he stabbed Mr Marsh at the Atherton flat on November 17 last year.

He said that Rance, who has eight previous convictions for 11 offences, had run off after the stabbing and was in the company of the other boy at the time.

The case was heard at Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

When spoken to by police, the boy claimed he had seen a “scuffle” between Rance and Mr Marsh but that he did not think anything serious had happened.

He also claimed to have never seen Mr Marsh before.

Mr Hart said: “This was an untrue account and an attempt to pervert the course of justice.”

Rance, of Platt Hill Avenue, Deane, was eventually convicted of murdering Mr Marsh after a trial.

He was sentenced to detention at His Majesty’s Pleasure, the equivalent of a life sentence, with a minimum term of 21 years.

Jordan Rance stabbed Mr Marsh to death (Image: GMP)

The 17-year-old boy, who has six previous convictions for 18 offences, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice when brought before Manchester Magistrates' Court.

David Bruce, defending, said that the boy had shown “clear remorse” for his crime and had struggled with "significant difficulties with his life".

He also said that he deserved credit for having pleaded guilty and attending court as a witness.

Mr Bruce told the court that he had shown a better side to himself when away from negative influences and that he hoped to find a job once his sentence was completed.

Judge Tina Landale accepted these points but, speaking to the boy directly, reminded him of the seriousness of what he had done.

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She said: “It is obvious that you and Jordan had got your heads together to give this story in the hope of getting Jordan off a murder charge.”

Judge Landale said that the story was clearly “a lot of nonsense” that a pathologist had found was “impossible".

She said that the boy had done it out of “loyalty for your friend Jordan” after he had murdered an “innocent man".

Judge Landale sentenced the boy to 12 months' detention and training.