Fifth man charged with murder of Barry Dawson in Stanley

29-year-old Sean Reay, also of Stanley, has been charged with murder, among four others, of the "much loved" 60-year-old who was shot dead in his home on Elm Street on April 5.

Police have said that a warrant was issued for Mr Reay's arrest, and he was taken into custody by the Northern Irish police and transported back to Durham yesterday (April 12).

(Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY) He remains in custody and will appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (April 14).

Officers say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with Mr Dawson's death.

Keith Edward Dorward, also known as Keith Edward Lax, was also arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday (April 10) and charged last night with the offence.

The 47-year-old, of Stanley, is expected to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (April 14).

Kevin Dorward, 38, of South View Gardens, Annfield Plain, was also charged with murder and appeared briefly at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (April 10) where he was remanded in custody to appear at Durham Crown Court on Friday, May 9.

His partner Michaela Hetherington, faces a single charge of perverting the course of justice, relating to an allegation that she falsely reported a car had been stolen.

District Judge Steven Hood granted her conditional bail, but John Garside, prosecuting, made an immediate appeal against that decision, so she was remanded into custody pending a crown court hearing to consider the matter.

Thomas Lee Sterling was arrested on Wednesday (April 9) evening, four days after Mr Dawson's tragic death.

(Image: The Northern Echo) The 21-year-old, of The Avenue, Stanley, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 11, where he entered no plea, and has been held in custody until he appears at Crown Court on Monday.

Kelvin Craig Lawson, 37, of Frosterley Gardens, Stanley, was arrested after a search warrant was carried out on Friday (April 11).

Mr Lawson appeared in court on Saturday, April 12, and did not enter a plea and will be held in custody until he appears at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (April 14).

On Wednesday, his family issued a heart-breaking statement paying tribute to the life of Mr Dawson, saying: “Barry was a much-loved father, granddad and partner who will be greatly missed.

“We are truly devastated, and his loss will leave an enormous gap in our lives.”

T/Superintendent Neil Fuller added: “We are not looking for anyone else in connection with Mr Dawson’s death and want to thank the community for their continued support while our extensive enquiries were carried out.

“We appreciate the patience and support residents have given us as officers have worked around-the-clock on our investigation.”