S16E10 | Robert Wilson (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, 2020)

When Robert Wilson went to work at the Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical plant in Linthwaite, Huddersfield on the evening of January 16, 2020, he had no idea that he would never return home.

The 53-year-old was carrying out a routine security check when he confronted two teenagers trespassing on the premises. What followed was a frenzied and senseless attack, in which Robert was subjected to an act of unimaginable violence.

This harrowing case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and the dangers posed by individuals willing to commit acts of extreme violence.

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Intro music:⁣
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣
davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

References:
Abbiss, B. (2020, January 27). Dad stabbed when Robert Wilson was killed may lose the use of his arm. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/dad-stabbed-robert-wilson-killed-17637631
Baynes, C. (2020, September 3). Teenagers who tried to decapitate factory worker with samurai sword jailed for murder. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/teenagers-jailed-killing-factory-worker-samurai-sword-robert-wilson-huddersfield-a9702886.html
Bravery award for West Yorkshire PCs who disarmed sword killers. (2021, December 10). BBC News. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-59608948
Criminal sentence -  Kiyran Earnshaw - Leeds Crown Court - Mr Justice Lavender. (2020, September 2). The Law Pages. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Kiyran-Earnshaw-29928-1.law
Criminal sentence -  Luke Gaukroger - Leeds Crown Court - Mr Justice Lavender. (2020, September 2). The Law Pages. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Luke-Gaukroger-29927-1.law
Factory supervisor hacked to death with more than 100 blows from samurai sword. (2020, September 2). Bradford Telegraph and Argus. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18692094.factory-supervisor-hacked-death-100-blows-samurai-sword/
Finnegan, S. (2020a, May 28). Teenagers deny murdering Robert Wilson outside Linthwaite factory. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/teenagers-deny-murdering-robert-wilson-18323049
Finnegan, S. (2020b, June 26). Two teenagers plead guilty to murder of Robert Wilson at Huddersfield factory. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/two-teenagers-plead-guilty-murder-18493585
Finnegan, S. (2020c, September 2). Teen glorified sadistic murder of “much-admired” factory worker in rap titled “No Remorse.” Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/teen-glorified-sadistic-murder-much-18868851
Finnegan, S. (2020d, September 3). Sword-wielding teen who murdered dad at Huddersfield factory had history of knife convictions. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/sword-wielding-teen-who-murdered-18862936
Finnegan, S. (2020e, December 23). Two teens locked up over murder of factory worker who they stabbed and hacked at with sword - as it happened. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/live-linthwaite-murder-sentence-court-18862796
Finnegan, S., & Grove, A. (2020, September 2). All the horrifying details of the sadistic murder of a loving dad who just asked two sword thugs to stop trespassing. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/horrifying-details-sadistic-murder-loving-18869203
Higgens, D., & Finnegan, S. (2020, September 2). “How on earth have we come to this?” Distraught wife of factory worker bludgeoned to death with a sword confronts killers. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/how-earth-come-this-distraught-18868183
Marano, R. (2020, September 2). Two teenagers jailed for life after “barbaric” murder of man they hacked to death with samurai sword. Yorkshire Evening Post. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/two-teenagers-jailed-for-life-after-barbaric-murder-of-man-they-hacked-to-death-with-samurai-sword-2959783
Newton, G. (2020, November 2). Yorkshire police officers who chased Samurai sword murderers and saved a family from a burning flat honoured at National Police Bravery Awards. Yorkshire Evening Post. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/brave-yorkshire-police-officers-who-chased-samurai-sword-murderers-honoured-3440785
Robinson, A. (2020, January 20). Tears as two teenagers appear in court charged with Robert Wilson’s murder. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/tears-two-teenagers-appear-court-17598348
Robinson, A. (2022, November 3). Widow of Huddersfield Samurai sword murder victim Robert Wilson sues factory bosses for £200,000. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/widow-huddersfield-samurai-sword-murder-25415936
Robinson, A., & Abbiss, B. (2020a, January 17). “I heard high pitched screaming” - horrifying witness accounts as five arrested in Huddersfield murder investigation. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/murder-arrested-linthwaite-police-stabbing-17583623
Robinson, A., & Abbiss, B. (2020b, January 17). Police arrest five after one man, 53, killed and second, 39, seriously injured in attack by several people. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/linthwaite-murder-thornton-ross-stabbed-17584282
Shaw, M. (2021a, October 1). Thornton & Ross set up fund in memory of Robert Wilson to tackle scourge of knife crime. Huddersfield Hub. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://huddersfieldhub.co.uk/thornton-ross-set-up-fund-in-memory-of-robert-wilson-to-tackle-scourge-of-knife-crime/
Shaw, M. (2021b, December 14). Hero police officers who arrested crazed killers of Robert Wilson receive national bravery awards. Huddersfield Hub. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://huddersfieldhub.co.uk/hero-police-officers-who-arrested-crazed-killers-of-robert-wilson-receive-national-bravery-awards/
Sutcliffe, R. (2020, February 12). Funeral service for Robert Wilson who died in attack at Thornton and Ross in Linthwaite. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/funeral-service-robert-wilson-who-17734041
Sutcliffe, R. (2022, January 17). Huddersfield worker who survived Samurai sword attack that killed friend speaks of his “dark year.” Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-worker-who-survived-samurai-22770869
Sutcliffe, R., Robinson, A., & Abbiss, B. (2020a, January 17). First photo of innocent man killed after confronting gang of drunken youths at Thornton and Ross. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/murder-linthwaite-robert-wilson-killed-17587887
Sutcliffe, R., Robinson, A., & Abbiss, B. (2020b, January 17). Innocent worker killed after confronting gang of “drunken youths” who set upon him and “stabbed him to death.” Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/linthwaite-murder-robert-wilson-stabbed-17585997
Teale, C. (2021, September 28). Wonderful way Huddersfield firm is battling knife crime after worker Robert Wilson brutally murdered with samurai sword. Yorkshire Live. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/wonderful-way-huddersfield-firm-battling-21690575
Teens sentenced to life after stabbing Yorkshire man at least a hundred times with a samurai sword. (2020, September 2). ITV News. https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2020-09-02/yorkshire-factory-worker-murdered-after-being-stabbed-at-least-a-hundred-times-with-a-samurai-sword
Tomlinson, A. (2021, August 5). HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HEAR FROM WIDOW OF MURDER VICTIM AS PART OF PEAK PROJECT. Huddersfield Town Foundation. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.htafcfoundation.com/2021/08/05/knives-project-elaine-wilson/
Victim support for John Badejo, organized by Jessica Craner. (n.d.). Gofundme. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-support-for-jon?rcid=8425bf5f32e54118a647f08af49cc49d
Wife pays tribute to “much loved” Robert Wilson who was murdered in barbaric samurai sword attack. (2020, September 2). Yorkshire Evening Post. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/wife-pays-tribute-to-much-loved-robert-wilson-who-was-murdered-in-barbaric-samurai-sword-attack-2959881