Drug gang jailed for life over murder of 'kind, gentle' Rotherham dad Adam Clapham

Five members of a drugs gang who used “extreme levels of violence” to torture and murder Rotherham dad Adam Clapham in a cellar have today (Monday) been sentenced to life in prison.

A sixth defendant was also jailed for assault and false imprisonment, as Mr Clapham's family spoke of their devastation following the death of the “kind, gentle” father of a seven-year-old daughter.

Appearing at Sheffield Crown Court, four men and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of Mr Clapham's murder.

The group were convicted of the 31-year-old's murder last month in a trial that had been running since April. 

The convicted murderers are 18-year-old Muhammad Ashraf, 23-year-old Arbab Yusuf, 30-year-old Kieron Millar, 31-year-old Robert Crookes, and the 17-year-old boy who cannot be named.

They were also sentenced for their roles in the false imprisonment, serious assault and rape of a second victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Sixth defendant Lynette Myers (39) was found guilty of assault and false imprisonment and sentenced to 12 years for assault and three years in prison for false imprisonment, to run concurrently.

Previously during the hearing, the court heard Mr Clapham was tortured and beaten over a dispute over a drug debt in the basement at a property on Spring Street overnight on September 18 last year.

Mr Clapham and the unnamed victim were also forced to perform oral sex on each other which was filmed on a smartphone and retrieved from defendant Muhammad Ashraf’s phone.  

The second victim was also beaten but escaped and was found on the floor in Rotherham town centre at 11.17pm on September 18.

At another previous court hearing in May, the 17-year-old youth also admitted filming the sex acts because “I was being immature” but denied involvement in Mr Clapham's murder.

The teenager said he had known Mr Clapham for three or four months and met him dealing drugs at a property on Albion Road.

When asked how the two got on, he said: “He was a good person.”

In a statement read to the court, Mr Clapham’s mother said:“I never thought I would have to try and explain how I feel at the loss of my son.

"This is every parent’s worst nightmare. It was certainly mine and now my nightmare is a reality.

“The death of Adam has impacted the whole family – he leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter, who he will never see develop into a young woman, who he will never see get married or have children of her own.

“This leaves a seven-year-old fatherless and having to process the loss of her dad.

“Adam also leaves behind a loving father and sister, and several nieces and nephews who are all devastated.

“We as a family are still trying to come to terms with what has happened, but I doubt we ever will.

“When Adam died, a part of me died with him. I will never be the same.

“Adam was a kind, gentle man and he would not hurt anyone.

“I cannot put into words how much we miss him.

“Adam we love you – always have, always will and until we meet again you will forever be in our hearts.”

Det Chf Insp Emma Knight said: “The sentences given today reflect the extreme levels of violence used and the gravity of this group’s offending.

“I would like to thank all those involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case, who have worked tirelessly to secure justice for those involved.”

Captions: 

Clockwise from top left: Arbab Yusuf, Robert Crookes, Kieron Millar and Muhammad Ashraf

Second image: Lynette Myers