Teen who boasted after killing angler on fishing trip found dead in jail cell

A teenager who boasted after beating an angler to death with a plank of wood on a summer fishing trip has been found dead in his prison cell.

Lenny Crawt was just 16 when Scott Wilkinson, 48, was murdered on a small island in the Thames in Surrey in July 2016.

He and his brother Shane, then 17, were jailed for life for murder in March last year and their cousin Charlie Smith, who was 21 at the time of the attack, was jailed for 13 years for manslaughter.

Mr Wilkinson was punched, kicked and stabbed before his head was smashed in with a piece of wood, and Smith later bragged to friends he was on the run "for murder".

Lenny, 19, was serving his sentence at HMP Aylesbury, a young offender institution in Buckinghamshire, when he was found dead on May 16.

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A Prison Service spokesperson told Mirror Online: “HMP Aylesbury prisoner Lenny Crawt died on 16 May.

“As with all deaths in custody there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”

It is understood Lenny was found by staff during a routine check.

His death is being treated as non-suspicious.

Mr Wilkinson had been enjoying a nighttime fishing expedition at his favourite spot on Donkey Island, near his home in Walton-on-Thames, when he was murdered.

After his partner left, he was brutally attacked and left to die. Readings from his pacemaker suggested he died three hours later.

The Crawt brothers and Smith were the only other people camping on the small island, jurors were told during a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

After the attack, the trio left Mr Wilkinson and fled to Grovelands Park, where they met up with friends.

One of the three, according to police, said: “I wouldn't say anything if I was you because we killed someone tonight.”

Smith told an old school friend that he was on the run “for murder”.

Police described the attack as "vicious and senseless" and said “Shane Crawt, Lenny Crawt and Charlie Smith thought they had got away with it and even boasted about what they had done".

The killers denied their involvement and blamed each other.

Shane, from Purley, and Lenny, from West Molesey, were both handed life sentences for murder with a minimum of 15 years.

Smith, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 13 years after being convicted of manslaughter.

He will serve half his sentence and the remainder of the sentence on licence.

Judge Jonathan Black told them during sentencing: "The three of you left the island without checking how badly he was hurt and without alerting the emergency services.

"He was placed into the River Thames and left to die alone and without succour."

As the killers were found guilty and jailed last year, Mr Wilkinson's family said: "We have such fond memories of Scott which include him misbehaving with his brother Shaun when they were children much to the consternation of his mother Janet and humorous delight of his father David.

"Scott liked to tinker around doing up cars but this interest did not match his ability, often leaving the vehicle worse off.

"On one occasion attaching an ill-fitting sunroof which gathered water and suitably soaked unsuspecting passengers during sharp left turns.

"However Scott’s passion, as anyone who knew him would tell you, was fishing.

"Fishing was a family hobby which brought us all together.

"It created shared experiences during long summer holidays, adventurous trips to Ireland with long drawn out tales of the one that got away.

"The energy and enthusiasm which Scott directed towards fishing was reflective of his character towards people.

"He offered friendship, kindness and closeness to those that wanted or needed it.

"He enriched the lives of the people who knew him."

Days later, his heartbroken girlfriend, Lisa Lane, who found his body, said: "It was a mindless act of violence and has left his family and I utterly heartbroken.

"I went to the trial and felt like killing those boys myself as they smirked and smiled throughout the whole thing.

"There was a point when the judge asked them to take things seriously as they were just showing absolutely no remorse - it was disgusting.

"It was all just a game to them.

"Although justice has now been served, no sentence can ever bring my Scott back."