Prisoner Shaun Newton jailed for life for cellmate's murder

Shaun Newton, 35, was found guilty of killing 47-year-old Tony Joynes at HMP Garth in Ulnes Walton, near Leyland.

The attack took place in July 2025 while both men were locked inside their shared cell.

Tony Joynes (Image: Lancashire Police)

Judge Graham Knowles KC, sentencing Newton at Preston Crown Court, said: "Tony Joynes was 47 when you murdered him.

"He was your fellow prisoner in HMP Garth and he was your own familiar friend.

"Tony Joynes was a compliant prisoner, he gave no trouble to anyone on the wing.

"You killed him in the night in the cell you shared."

Newton was already serving an 18-year sentence for attempted murder, following a stabbing in Romford, Essex, in 2018.

He had been convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court in 2019.

Newton and Mr Joynes had shared a cell for around six months.

On the evening of July 12, 2025, they were locked in their cell on Garth’s D wing at 5pm.

Welfare checks were carried out throughout the evening.

The following morning, prison staff responded to the cell’s buzzer.

Newton told them that he thought Tony Joynes was dead.

Staff raised the alarm and attempted CPR, but Mr Joynes was pronounced dead at the scene.

An abrasion was found on his neck, with blood on the bedsheets near his pillow.

A Home Office post-mortem confirmed the cause of death was neck compression.

Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team launched an inquiry.

Newton was arrested at HMP Garth on July 22 and interviewed at Blackpool Police Station.

He claimed that he and Mr Joynes had spent the evening talking and playing Xbox before he got into the top bunk around 7.45pm.

Newton said Mr Joynes had seemed fine but that he found him dead the next morning.

He was later re-interviewed in December 2025 at HMP Full Sutton near York and charged with murder in March.

Following a seven-day trial, Newton was found guilty by a jury on October 20.

Detective Inspector Marc Armstrong of Lancashire Police said: "Shaun Newton chose to kill his cellmate Tony Joynes by compressing his neck while he was laid in bed.

"Tony Joynes believed that Shaun Newton was his friend and trusted him; however, Newton betrayed this and showed a total disregard for Tony’s life.

"My thoughts remain very much with Tony’s family and loved ones."

He also praised the efforts of those involved in bringing the case to court.

Det Insp Armstrong said: "I would like to praise the investigation team for their hard work, dedication and professionalism in establishing what happened in that cell at HMP Garth and putting the case together.

"I’d also like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and prosecution counsel Tim Storrie KC for their hard work and professionalism in readying the case for trial and presenting the case in court."

Newton was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years.