Shane O’Brien: ‘Most wanted criminal’ jailed for murder of Josh Hanson after three years on run

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One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives has been jailed after a three-and-a-half year global manhunt.

Shane O’Brien was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 26 years, for murdering Josh Hanson in a violent public attack.

Earlier this month, the 31-year-old was found guilty of killing Mr Hanson in October 2015.

O’Brien attacked him at the RE bar in Hillingdon and cut the 21-year-old’s neck with a knife.

The victim was left with a 37cm wound which ran from his left ear across to his chest.

He could be seen clutching his throat and stumbling as his horrified girlfriend watched.

“This was a grotesque, violent and totally unnecessary attack on an innocent man,” said Judge Lickley QC during the sentencing at the Old Bailey.

“The reason why you behaved in such a way may never be fully explained. You, however, know the reason.

“By the time you walked a few paces toward him, you had retrieved the knife and had it to ready to use.”

According to My London, the judge added: “Whatever reason you had cannot explain or justify what you did. You showed no sign of regret or feeling for Josh Hanson or anyone else at the scene.”

Following the attack, O’Brien left the bar and was helped by a friend, known only as “Vanessa”, to flee the country.

He escaped, leaving Britain on a private four-seat plane to the Netherlands.

An international manhunt followed, as O’Brien used false identity documents to travel across Europe, including to Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

O’Brien was added to both Europol and Interpol’s most wanted lists. He was briefly arrested in Prague over an unrelated assault but managed to avoid detection by using the alias Enzo Melloncelli and fleeing when he was released on bail.

Friends helped the martial arts fan hide as authorities pursued him, his trial heard.

Detective Noel McHugh said the manhunt for O’Brien proved “hugely challenging”.

“He was funded, provided with false documents, encrypted mobile phones, well beyond the capability of the ordinary criminal,” he said.

The fugitive was eventually arrested in Romania on 23 March and returned to the UK on 5 April.

During his trial, O’Brien claimed he felt threatened by the 21-year-old victim’s body language. He said he only wanted to scare Mr Hanson and did not mean for the blade to touch him.

A jury took 55 minutes to find him guilty of murder on 1 October.

“The court has heard from people who knew and loved Josh, people whose lives have been affected terribly by your actions,” Judge Lickley said.

“They have struggled to cope with the fact that Josh was murdered by you for no reason at all.

“You murdered Josh Hanson in front of people who were enjoying a Saturday night out. They had to see and experience the death of Josh Hanson.

“This was a random attack with no warning in an otherwise pleasant social situation. The wound and the blood loss must have been visible to all.”

Mr Hanson’s mother Tracey and sister Brooke tearfully read out victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing.

Tracey Hanson said her 21-year-old son had been a “considerate, kind and generous” man.

“On the 11th October 2015, my life changed forever,” she said.

“He was taken from us in the most horrific way possible – suddenly, abruptly, viciously and violently.”

There were angry shouts of “coward” from the public gallery as O’Brien was led from the dock.

“Today’s lengthy sentence is fitting for such a brutal and unprovoked attack,” said DCI McHugh. “O’Brien will be 57 before he can be considered for release, the best part of his life spent behind bars.

“It also shows no one is untouchable despite their connections and background – O’Brien thought he could evade justice with the help of his ‘associates’ but he was wrong.”

Tracey Hanson said: “I have no words that come close to describing the constant ache that consumes my every waking day but we will forever be truly grateful to everybody who helped bring Josh’s killer to justice, after four long, painful years.

“This has been an unimaginably difficult journey, and, along with the police, we would like to give special thanks to friends, family and the general public, who helped us through our darkest hours, with messages of support and practical help in sharing Josh’s story far and wide.

“Whilst justice has been done, the injustice is Brooke and I have been sentenced to a life sentence without our beautiful Josh.”

Additional reporting by agencies