Father Guilty Of Family Murder

A man has been found guilty of murdering four members of his family.

Neil Crampton, 36, of Winlaton, Gateshead, admitted killing his daughter Abigail, 12, son Steven, five, ex-partner Olufunke Sobo and her brother Yemi Sobo at their home in Kenton, Newcastle, two years ago.

However, he denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Crampton has been told he must serve a minimum of 36 years.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 36-year-old was jealous and possessive of Ms Sobo, also known as Funke or Liz, and could not come to terms with the fact his on-off relationship with her was ending.

The jury also heard police were alerted by a 999 call made by Crampton in which he confessed: "I've murdered my entire family."

Ms Sobo and her children lived in her mother Tunde Sobo's semi-detached house in Hawthorne Gardens, Kenton, Newcastle, where the murders took place.

Crampton struck on the night before her mother Omotunde Sobo - known as Tunde - was returning from a holiday in her native Nigeria, which may have been a trigger as he realised a reconciliation was even less likely when she came home.

(JM)