Andrew Dawson (murderer) explained

Andrew Dawson (born 1962) is a British serial killer who committed three murders between 1981 and 2010. He was issued with a whole-life order for the latter two murders and thus will never be released from prison.

First murder and conviction

In August 1981, in his native Ormskirk, Dawson murdered his first victim named Henry Walsh. Walsh was a shopkeeper who was 91 years old at the time of his death and was stabbed 11 times. Dawson was convicted of the murder of Walsh in 1982 and was released on license in 1999.^[1] He was returned to prison three times between 2003 and 2007 before being released in 2008.^[2]

Murder of Matthews and Hancock

On 25 July 2010, John David Matthews was found stabbed to death in his flat in the Derby area of Chaddesden. Five days later in the same area, Paul Hancock was also fatally stabbed. On both occasions, Dawson placed their bodies in a bathtub of their respective flats so he could remove their odors.^{[1] [3]}

On the same day Matthews' body had been found, Dawson was arrested in Whitehaven.^[4] On 18 July 2011, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order.^{[1] [5]}

Documentaries

Dawson has been featured in a number of documentaries:

• In 2012, a series 1 episode of the Crime+ Investigation series When Life Means Life documented the case^[6]
• In 2020, a series 4 episode of Britain's Most Evil Killers documented the case^[7]

See also

• List of prisoners with whole life orders
• List of serial killers in the United Kingdom

Notes and References

1. Web site: Released to kill again: the Ormskirk murderer who idolised Cumbrian gunman Derrick Bird. John. Siddle. Liverpool Echo. 20 July 2011.
2. Web site: Andrew Dawson: Concerns raised did not contribute to double murder. George. Torr. BBC. 15 December 2022.
3. Web site: New details of 'Angel of Mercy' serial killer murders in Derby. Derby Telegraph. 16 December 2022. Callum. Parke.
4. Web site: Police link knife deaths in Derby flats. 2 August 2010. BBC.
5. News: Neighbour killer Andrew Dawson given whole life term. 18 July 2011. BBC News. 18 July 2011.
6. Crime & Investigation. 30 October 2012. When Life Means Life: Andrew Dawson . Television documentary. Series 1.
7. Pick TV. 5 October 2021. Britain's Most Evil Killers: Season 4 Episode 5 . Television documentary . English . 3 April 2024 . Sky UK.