Wife pays tribute to "much loved" Robert Wilson who was murdered in barbaric samurai sword attack

The behaviour of the two teenagers who hacked Robert Wilson to death was “incomprehensible to any normal human being and they do not deserve a place in society”, his widow Elaine Wilson has said.

In a statement released by police, Mrs Wilson said her family were glad Kiyran Earnshaw, 18, and 16-year-old Luke Gaukroger “are now off our streets” after they were jailed for at least 22 years and 16 years eight months respectively.

-> Two teenagers jailed for life after 'barbaric' murder of man they hacked to death with samurai swordShe described Mr Wilson, 53, as a “much loved husband, stepfather, brother, uncle and friend” who was also a hard working and much admired boss with a wicked sense of humour.

“It is a comfort to us to know he will not be forgotten and that he made his mark in so many ways.

“He was a caring man who took the time to help out at a local nursing home and chat to the residents, raising a smile on their faces.

"He enjoyed many things in life, loved all sports, gardening, long distance walking (especially in the Yorkshire Dales) and music of which he was very knowledgeable.

"His passion for the game of golf brought many friends into our lives and he loved being a member of Dewsbury District Golf Club.

"It is a testament to Robert that both his golf club and company are honouring him with memorial days, awards and trophies in his name

“Everyone has been left devastated by his death.”

Mrs Wilson added: “Without a doubt the hardest part of losing Robert has been the manner in which he lost his life.

“That he had such a horrific death has been hard to bear for us.

“We have tried to look for positives and are thankful that it was only one life that was taken, it could quite easily have been more.

“We are just so glad that these youths are now off our streets as they obviously have no regard for anyone.

“To do what they did is incomprehensible to any ‘normal’ human being and they do not deserve a place in society.

“Going forward the family are determined to find some good from this ordeal and will support in any way we can the various knife crime programmes run in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police.

“I feel passionate that as parents and law abiding citizens we need to educate the young on the devastation which can be caused by these senseless acts of violence, which as proved by Robert’s death, can happen to anyone at any time and anywhere.

I have had the privilege of being Robert’s wife but I am devastated that my life has to carry on without him.”

Factory supervisor Robert Wilson, 53, was killed in a brutal attack - described as one of the worst ever seen by officers - outside the Thornton and Ross pharmaceutical plant in Huddersfield on January 16 2020.

Mr Wilson had gone outside to investigate youths hanging around the factory when he was attacked by Earnshaw and Gaukroger.

The two teenagers passed a 20 inch sword between them and slashed and chopped at their victim, at one point trying to decapitate him.

Detective chief inspector Marc Bowes, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “It is no exaggeration to say the level of violence used by these males in the attacks was absolutely barbaric.

“They both acted in a manner which many of us would struggle to comprehend and committed acts which were among the worst that I and other members of my investigation team have witnessed in our policing careers. Thankfully such acts are very rare occurrences in today’s society.”

He added: “We can’t begin to imagine the appalling impact Mr Wilson’s murder has had on his family. Their courage and dignity in coping with such a traumatic event has been immense.”

-> West Yorkshire factory supervisor hacked to death with more than 100 blows from samurai sword