Pictured snorting a line of cocaine: Facebook murderer who posted 'I feel like killin some1' message hours before stabbing father to death



A young man who posted a message on Facebook saying he felt 'like killin some1" hours before stabbing a man to death in a crowded bar in Bolton has been imprisoned for a minimum of 17 years.

Leon Ramsden, 19, stabbed Paul Gilligan, 31, in Bolton's Pepper Alley bar six months ago.

Mr Gilligan, from Little Hulton, Salford, was stabbed in his shoulder and chest and died from his injuries an hour after the attack, Manchester Crown Court heard.

No remorse: Police released this picture of Leon Ramsden snorting cocaine. He had been on a three-day drink and drug binge before he murdered Paul Gilligan

Ramsden, from Turnstone Road, Bolton, posted a message on his Facebook wall earlier that evening which read: "I'm twisted at home. My head's up my a*** .

'I feel like killin some1 need to stay off the hard stuff ha f*** it it's Saturday ha."

Sentencing Ramsden for the murder, Mr Justice Teare said: 'Paul Gilligan was 31 years old. He lived with his partner and three children.



'His death has caused great suffering to them and also to his parents and his two brothers.

'This was a senseless and unprovoked murder which has devastated Paul Gilligan's family.'

The court previously heard Ramsden went on a three-day alcohol and cocaine-fuelled binge before the attack and had not slept for 36 hours prior to stabbing Mr Gilligan.

Prosecutor Guy Gozem QC told the jury several customers had witnessed the attack but did not realise Ramsden had stabbed Mr Gilligan as the knife was concealed in his fist.

Father-of-three: Paul Gilligan was stabbed in the shoulder and chest

The two men were seen 'play-fighting' minutes before the incident.

Ramsden then left the Pepper Alley bar, only to return seconds later and stab Mr Gilligan before running off.

Outside the court, Detective Inspector Mark Roters from Greater Manchester Police read a statement on behalf of Mr Gilligan's partner and family.

'We worked so hard for justice to get a young, dangerous lad off the streets for a long time," the statement read.



'This youth has never shown remorse and he felt he was untouchable.



'He knew he had killed a man, one loved by many, in a heartless, shocking, cowardly stabbing.



'Paul didn't deserve this, nor would he have anticipated such brutality.



'He is greatly missed and was such a happy, social, family man. We will never get over his death.'

Mr Roters said: 'Ramsden is a pathetic individual who believed he had been slighted by Paul in front of a crowd of people.



'As revenge for this, Ramsden killed him.



'This was a needless and extremely violent attack that resulted in the death of a father-of-three.



'Ramsden's behaviour has resulted in the loss of well-loved father, son, brother and friend. He now has a long time to reflect on what he has done.'





