Father beaten to death on way home from gig

Andrew Crawford had been at the 02 Academy to watch heavy metal band Motorhead with his cousin and a friend on Thursday night.

But by the early hours of the following day his 18-year-old son had lost his father and a murder probe was under way.

Mr Crawford, 44, who lived in Pudsey, had left the concert with his cousin when they were involved in a confrontation with two other men on Dudley Way, near Leeds Cathedral, at around 11.10pm.

Mr Crawford was struck to the head several times and punched to the ground. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with serious head injuries but died shortly after 2am yesterday.

His cousin, who was also assaulted, suffered facial injuries.

Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET), yesterday returned to the area where Mr Crawford had been attacked near St Anne's Cathedral to appeal for information.

He said: "This is an extremely serious incident and officers are following a number of positive enquiries to trace the people responsible. These enquiries include a thorough examination of Leedswatch and other CCTV cameras in the 02 Academy, along with working with the club's security staff.

"I am convinced that members of the public will have vital information which can assist our enquiries.

"I would encourage anyone in the Dudley Way, St Anne's Road or Cookridge Street areas at the time of the incident who saw the altercation or people running from the scene to contact us."

Police are investigating the possibility that Mr Crawford's death may be linked to an earlier incident inside the O2 Academy in Cookridge Street.

Mr Crawford's friend had his hair set on fire during the gig by someone nearby as he stood about six or seven rows from the stage at around 8.30pm.

He escaped injury but was upset and decided to go home after speaking to security about the incident.

It is believed that after leaving the O2 Academy, Mr Crawford and his cousin may have thought they spotted two men responsible for setting their friend's hair alight about 400 yards from the venue and the confrontation followed on Dudley Way.

Following the incident, the two men fled into St Anne's Street and then left into Cookridge Street.

Det Supt Taylor added: "We know that there was an incident in the 02 Academy where a man had his hair set on fire at 8.20pm. We know the incident happened at the back of the cathedral at around 11pm.

"We believe that Andrew and his cousin thought that the men involved in the incident at the back of the cathedral were involved in the earlier incident but we cannot be sure about that at this stage. There were two separate incidents which may or may not be linked."

Mr Crawford was said to have been be a quiet man who worked hard and "kept himself to himself". The music fan had been a regular concert-goer since his youth and police said he had never been involved in any trouble.

Divorced, he lived by himself in Wesley View, Pudsey, and had a partner.

Det Supt Taylor said: "I spoke to his mum and his aunty this morning. His mum is very shocked and getting lots of support from her family. She desperately wants us to trace the people responsible for her son's death."

A police cordon remained in place yesterday along the pavement and a row of parked cars at the back of the cathedral as officers questioned motorists driving out of The Light shopping centre car park.

Anyone with information is urged to contact West Yorkshire Police via 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.