DAVE MINTON'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN BLACKPOOL AND STAINING: THE DEMON BARMAN'S BRUTAL MURDER OF TEENAGE GIRL

In July 2013, a tragic and horrifying incident unfolded involving the brutal murder of a 16-year-old girl named Sasha Marsden, whose life was tragically cut short in the seaside town of Blackpool. The perpetrator, David Minto, a 23-year-old man known locally as 'The Demon' due to his sinister reputation, was convicted of a savage attack that shocked the community and left a lasting scar on all who knew her.

David Minto, who worked as a barman and resided in Blackpool, used social media platforms, specifically Facebook, to lure Sasha to a hotel where he was living and working. The young girl, a child care student from nearby Staining, was deceived into believing she was being offered a job as a cleaner. Tragically, this seemingly innocent offer led her into a nightmare from which she would not escape.

According to court proceedings, the attack occurred on January 31. When Sasha arrived at the hotel, Minto's intentions turned deadly. The court heard that he likely attacked her from behind, as 48 of her 58 stab wounds were inflicted on the back of her head. The violence was frenzied and relentless, with Minto stabbing her repeatedly with a kitchen knife, causing injuries to her head, neck, and face as she desperately tried to escape. The attack was so severe that Sasha had to be identified through DNA evidence taken from her toothbrush, underscoring the brutality of the assault.

Following the stabbing, Minto engaged in further heinous acts. He sexually assaulted Sasha either as she lay dying or after she had already succumbed to her injuries. In a disturbing act of desecration, he then wrapped her body in carpet underlay, a duvet cover, and a bin liner before transporting her to an alley behind the hotel. There, he set her body alight in an attempt to destroy evidence. Witnesses in the neighborhood saw the flames and initially thought it was a mannequin until Minto himself pointed out that it was a person, revealing the horrifying truth.

Police investigations quickly uncovered bloodstains on Minto’s clothing and throughout the hotel, which was owned by his girlfriend’s family. The evidence was overwhelming, and Minto was arrested and charged with murder. During the trial at Preston Crown Court, the court heard that Minto’s account of events was inconsistent; he claimed that he and Sasha had engaged in consensual sex at the hotel before she left unharmed, suggesting she returned unnoticed and was later killed by someone else. He also admitted to removing her body because the sight of blood made him queasy, a claim that was met with disbelief given the evidence of his brutality.

Victims’ families, including Sasha’s mother Jayne and her father Gary, delivered powerful victim impact statements. Jayne expressed her anguish, stating, “For his sexual gratification he’s robbed us of saying goodbye to her. He’s robbed us of everything. I can never forgive him.” Both parents described the profound pain inflicted by the attack, emphasizing that each wound inflicted on Sasha had pierced their hearts. They also conveyed that the manner of her death would haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Judge Anthony Russell QC, presiding over the case, condemned Minto’s actions in the strongest terms. He described the murder as occurring in “the most brutal fashion” and sentenced Minto to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years. The judge labeled him a “very dangerous and evil man,” reflecting the severity of his crimes and the threat he posed to society.

Neighbors who witnessed the aftermath of the fire initially believed the burning figure was a mannequin until Minto pointed out that it was a person, revealing the horrifying reality. The case drew widespread attention, highlighting the tragic loss of a young life and the devastating impact of violence and deception in the community of Blackpool and Staining. The community continues to mourn the loss of Sasha Marsden, whose life was tragically ended by a man driven by darkness and cruelty.