BRYAN HARRIS FROM IDEFORD SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER IN NEWTON ABBOT

In a tragic and violent incident that shocked the community of Newton Abbot, a man named Bryan Harris was convicted of a savage murder that took place in November 2012. Harris, who has a long history of criminal activity, including violence and paedophilia, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of Paul Drury.

At Exeter Crown Court, the judge described Harris's actions as a 'punishment beating administered to seek revenge,' emphasizing the severity and brutality of the attack. Harris, aged 45, was found guilty of murdering Mr. Drury, a 32-year-old man from Whimple, near Exeter, and also of wounding Dawn Lewis, Harris's girlfriend, with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

The incident occurred at Mr. Drury’s residence in Newton Abbot, where Harris and Lewis had been staying. The circumstances leading up to the attack involved a confrontation that erupted in the middle of the night. Harris claimed that he believed the couple was engaging in sexual activity, but both the police and Mr. Drury’s family dispute this account, asserting that the attack was an unprovoked act of extreme violence.

According to reports, Harris launched a ferocious assault that lasted approximately twenty minutes. He attacked Mr. Drury with punches, kicks, and ultimately used a frying pan as a weapon, beating him to death. The attack was so severe that it caused devastating injuries, leading to Mr. Drury’s death. Harris’s actions drew widespread condemnation, with police branding him a coward and his family expressing relief that he would no longer pose a threat to the public.

During the sentencing, Judge Mr. Justice Evans sentenced Harris to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years. The judge described the attack as one of extreme brutality, stating, 'You assaulted Mr. Drury with such ferocity it caused devastating and fatal injuries. You punched him, you used your feet on him and you also used a frying pan as a weapon to beat him. In short, you beat him to death.'

Harris’s criminal history is extensive, with over 35 previous offences, many involving violence. He is also a convicted paedophile and has previously been described as a lifelong career criminal and vagrant. His life took a brief turn towards stability when he moved into the home of Dawn Lewis in Newton Abbot and began working part-time at a stable in Ideford, where Lewis’s sister kept her horse, Dude. However, this period of relative stability was short-lived.

Within weeks, Harris and Lewis were evicted from the property due to allegations of anti-social behavior. Their lives were further destabilized when Mr. Drury offered them shelter at his home in Valley Path, Newton Abbot, paying £20 a week for their stay. Tragically, about three weeks after moving in, Harris found Mr. Drury and Dawn Lewis together, which led to the fatal attack. Harris’s actions have left a lasting scar on the community, and his conviction marks a significant step in seeking justice for Mr. Drury and his family.