A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to five years and one month behind bars after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of a Bournemouth man 12 years ago.
Daniel Scott, of no fixed abode, was sentenced today, Friday 4 October 2013, at Winchester Crown Court for the manslaughter of 42-year-old Clive Wilcox in May 2001.
Mr Wilcox was assaulted just before midnight on Friday 4 May 2001 outside the One Stop Community Shop on Wimborne Road in Winton. As a result of the attack he received a serious head injury from which he did not recover. He died at Royal Bournemouth Hospital the following night.
An extensive and exhaustive investigation was conducted by Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team with officers taking 500 statements and speaking to 2,710 people.
Having caught the Eurostar from Paris to London, Daniel Scott was stopped as part of a routine check by customs officials at St Pancras International Station on 13 June 2013 following suspicions about his passport. Fingerprint checks revealed he was wanted in connection with Clive Wilcox’s death.
On 15 June 2013 he was charged with manslaughter and the possession of a false UK passport. On Friday 6 September 2013 he pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court.
Inspector Stewart Balmer, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “This sentence brings an extensive and lengthy investigation, which spanned 12 years, to a close.
“Key hurdles were the many young witnesses who were too scared to come forward and the fact the CCTV outside Winton’s One Stop shop was not working at the time.
“Daniel Scott was always a suspect and he was circulated as wanted.
“We had our suspicions that he had gone to ground in mainland Europe but we were not in a position to get him back. We were just waiting for an opportunity.
“We have always suspected he may have been going back and forward into the country but we did not know by what means, what name he was using and whether he was using his passport or a fraudulent passport.
“We are pleased Daniel Scott pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
“This was a tragic incident that resulted in an innocent man losing his life and Daniel Scott was responsible for Clive Wilcox’s death.
“My thoughts are with Clive’s family. I thank them for their patience and cooperation throughout the years and I hope that today’s result will bring some resolution and closure for them.
“This case has highlighted that we will not give up and are committed to bringing offenders to justice.”
