British man who fled the UK and remained a fugitive in North Cyprus for two year after stabbing a young father 17 times jailed for life

A man who fled the UK and remained a fugitive in North Cyprus for two year after stabbing a young father 17 times, has been jailed for life. 

Charles Riddington of Orpington who appeared at the Old Bailey court last week was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years for killing 24-year-old George Barker, from South Darenth, in November 2016.

After fleeing the country, a warrant was issued for Riddington’s arrest as he was now a fugitive in Europe with detectives issued a European Arrest Warrant.

The wanted man who was living under an alias on a Namibian passport, was arrested in North Cyprus last August, deported to the south and then taken back to the UK to face charges of murder.

In November 2016, Riddington stabbed Barker outside a gym in Bexley. Witnesses told detectives from the Metropolitan Police they had heard Riddington accuse Mr Barker of “going behind his back” before punching him repeatedly, drawing a knife and stabbing him in the head and body. He then chased Barker through the gym and continued his brutal attack. Barker died at the scene.

George Barker had just become a father before he was murdered.