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Burglar's tears for dead youth

By DANIEL CHURCHER.

Newark burglar Brendan Fearon has told the Advertiser of his shame at leading teenager Fred Barras to his death. 

Norfolk farmer Tony Martin started a life sentence on Wednesday after being found guilty, by a majority verdict, of the murder of16-year-old Barras.

In a letter to the Advertiser, Fearon says he is to blame for the death of Barras at Bleak House Farm, Norfolk. Fearon has been gaoled for burgling the farm.

The Advertiser sent Fearon (30) of Mercia Road, Newark, a letter after he agreed to an interview.

He replied: "Acknowledgement of causing the death of a little boy shames me and whatever I say or do won't bring him back now.

"This keeps my eyes wet at night and my head hung in shame by day.

"I feel my stupidity has gone too far."

He said he and getaway driver Darren Bark of Montgomery Road, Newark, took Barras along only after the youngster badgered him.

"To this day I regret taking him as he would still be alive today.

"I wish it could have been me instead of little Fred," he said.

The jury of six men and six women at Norwich Crown Court also found Martin (55) guilty of wounding Fearon with intent, for which he received a further ten years, but cleared him of Fearon's attempted murder and possessing a pump-action shotgun with intent to endanger life.

He was sentenced to 12 months for possessing a shotgun without a licence - a charge he admitted.

In his summing up on Tuesday, the judge, Mr Justice Owen, said it was a tragedy a young boy was dead but that it was also tragic that the life of Martin, who had led a good and decent life, had been ruined.

Martin remained impassive in the dock as the verdicts were read but there were screams of joy from Barras's relatives, many of whom broke down in tears.

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