Lee Harrison, Ashley Dale’s boyfriend, is jailed for drug crimes, years after she was fatally shot in a gang-related attack.
Her killers looked for Lee Harrison. He was the real target of the revenge plot. Harrison did not cooperate with the police, and he is now jailed for drug crimes because he controlled a crack and heroin supply.
Police stopped Harrison and Terence Rice in a BMW as they entered Liverpool through the Wallasey tunnel on November 25. The police found a Nokia phone in the car showing drug sales on 247 occasions, with the drugs’ street value about £22,230.
Officers found cocaine worth nearly £11,900 at Harrison’s home, which he shared with his mother. He pleaded guilty to drug charges and received five years in jail, including supplying heroin and cocaine and possessing cocaine.
During his defense, Harrison’s lawyer spoke about Ashley’s murder, stating that it was a difficult time for him. The lawyer stressed that Harrison did not excuse his crimes, but he had a major loss in his life and then lost his job and home. As a result, he lived with his mom and got benefits.
Ashley was murdered at her Liverpool home while watching TV with her dog. Gunman James Witham forced the door open, and as Ashley screamed and tried to run, one of ten bullets struck her abdomen.
Witham fired five more bullets; these hit an upstairs bedroom wall to send a message to Harrison, the main target. The court heard that he should have died with Ashley.
Witham, Niall Barry, Sean Zeisz, and Joseph Peers were jailed for life after being convicted of murder. They were also convicted of conspiring to murder Harrison, conspiring to possess a Skorpion gun, and possessing ammunition for it.
The tragic events stemmed from Harrison’s argument with drug dealer Barry, triggered by an attack at Glastonbury, which fueled the feud. Ashley feared the worst, saying she was always looking over her shoulder just weeks before she died.
Harrison left Ashley alone the night of the murder, and the killers were told to kill Harrison and “deal with” anyone in the way. After Ashley’s death, Harrison didn’t talk to police, claiming he didn’t know why Ashley was targeted. He stayed uncooperative during the trial and denied any threat against him.
Ashley’s mother blamed her daughter’s boyfriend for the murder. Julie Dale said she felt angry toward him, even angrier than at the killer, stating that without Lee Harrison, this would not have occurred. Harrison’s actions after Ashley’s death hurt the family. Julie said he showed no remorse or support, denied any involvement with Ashley’s murder, and carried on with his life, going on holidays like nothing had happened.