Ewan Ireland, 18, stabbed Peter Duncan, 52, in Old Eldon Square, Newcastle, after stealing a ‘quantity of screwdrivers’ from a nearby Poundland earlier that day
The teenager who murdered a lawyer with a stolen screwdriver outside Greggs after he stopped to allow him through a door can be pictured for the first time today.
Ewan Ireland, 18, stabbed Peter Duncan, 52, in Old Eldon Square, Newcastle, after stealing a ‘quantity of screwdrivers’ from a nearby Poundland earlier that day.
Leeds Crown Court heard Mr Duncan was ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ and the brutal attack happened when the youth ‘took exception’ to the lawyer ‘raising his arm’ at the entrance of the shopping centre.
The teenage attacker can be pictured and named today as he turns 18.
Ireland pleaded guilty to murder, theft and possession of an offensive weapon via video link from HMP Wetherby last month.
At the hearing, prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said Mr Duncan and his killer came into contact with each other by chance at the entrance to the shopping centre, when they were walking in opposite directions.
Ireland had stolen the screwdrivers and was looking for another youth with whom he had previously argued about cigarettes.
Mr Wardlaw said: ‘The deceased raised his arm to let the defendant get past.
‘It is captured on CCTV footage. The defendant took exception to that, took hold of the deceased and a struggle ensued.’
Mr Duncan managed to push the teenager off, at which point the youth stabbed him once in the heart.
He managed to walk a short distance away before he collapsed to the floor.
The teenage attacker can be named today as he turns 18
The lawyer and devoted father was rushed to hospital at 6.20pm on August 14 but later died.
A previous hearing was told at the time of the murder Ireland was on bail for affray and had 17 previous convictions for 31 offences between 2017 and 2019.
These included an incident where he grabbed a knife during a family argument and an occasion where the threatened a driver with a blade after he was challenged about drinking alcohol on the bus. At the time of the murder, Ireland was on bail for affray.
Peter Duncan was stabbed to death with a screwdriver in Newcastle city centre on August 14
CCTV camera tracked the youth’s movements through the city centre on August 14 and the murder weapon was found later.
Two other teenagers, aged 14 and 17 were also arrested at the scene after being apprehended by members of the public. They remain under investigation.
Mr Duncan was a lawyer and had worked as legal counsel for companies within the offshore industry.
He was most recently employed by Royal IHC Limited based in Newcastle, just a short distance away from where he was killed.
Prior to that he had worked for almost eight years at DeepOcean UK after studying Law at Northumbria University.
His family previously described him as a ‘devoted father and husband’.
Paying tribute to him, a statement said: ‘Peter was a kind and caring man who was always first to help others. He was loved by all who knew him.
‘His death will leave such a huge hole in our lives and he will be deeply missed by us all. Words can’t quite describe what life will be like without him.’
Ireland pleaded guilty to murder, theft and possession of an offensive weapon via video link from HMP Wetherby last month
‘He had so much of his life left to live and he’ll be in our hearts and thoughts every day.’
Ireland wore headphones for the case which was linked to Leeds Crown Court where the judge and prosecution barrister were sitting, and to Newcastle Crown Court where his defence barrister was present.
He will be sentenced in December after psychiatric and psychological reports are prepared.
Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told him: ‘The appropriate form and length of your sentence will be decided at the start of December when the necessary reports have been prepared and served on the prosecution and defence.’
Officers are pictured monitoring the scene in Old Eldon Square, Newcastle the day after the murder