News

New £20k reward offered to find wanted man Thomas Dures

It's in relation to the murder of Matthew Daulby.

Daisy Jackson - 20th August 2024

A new £20,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to the arrest of Thomas Dures.

Police have wanted to speak to the 20-year-old ever since the fatal stabbing of Matthew Daulby, who died last July.

The Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner’s office has now decided to match the £10,000 reward offered up by Crimestoppers, meaning anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of Thomas Dures could claim a huge £20,000 reward.

In a statement released this week, officers said that it is ‘high time he does the right thing and hands himself in’.

They also stressed that whoever is ‘assisting him in evading arrest’ will also face the courts.

Matthew Daulby, 19, was found a short distance away from an ongoing disturbance at Railway Road in Ormskirk at around 12.05am on 29 July 2023.

He was found with stab injuries and despite the efforts of the emergency services, died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

In March, Henry Houghton, 19, was jailed for life after being found guilty of Matthew’s murder.

But officers still want to speak to Thomas Dures as part of their enquiries into his death.

DCI Andy Fallows, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “It has now been over 12 months since Matthew’s murder and although one man has been found guilty, his family’s wait for justice goes on.

“Thomas Dures has known that my officers have wanted to speak to him for some time and while Matthew’s family continue to search for answers about what happened that night, Dures is out there about to celebrate his 21st birthday. It is high time he does the right thing and hands himself in.

“We know that people are assisting him in evading arrest. I want to make it clear to those people that we will ensure they are arrested and put before the courts.”

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said: “My decision to match the Crimestoppers reward to £20,000 makes clear Lancashire Constabulary’s commitment to deliver justice for Matthew Daulby’s family.

“We know that sometimes it’s difficult for people to go to the police about what they know – and that can be for a range of reasons including fear of intimidation or loyalties. Matthew’s family, together with the wider community, deserve to know what happened.”

The new, combined £20,000 reward is only available to people who pass on information exclusively to the charity Crimestoppers, either via their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

If you know the location of Thomas Dures call 101, quoting log 1007 of July 29, 2023. For immediate sightings call 999.

Featured image: Lancashire Police