Man admits murdering biker

(Reuters)

A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of a biker who was gunned down on a motorway as he returned home from a Hell's Angels festival.

Sean Creighton, a 44-year-old from Coventry, admitted the murder of Gerry Tobin at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, but his plea could not be reported until today for legal reasons.

Creighton had previously denied murder, but changed his plea to guilty ahead of the trial of six other men accused of killing Mr Tobin on the M40 in August last year.

Creighton, who also admitted two firearms charges, was remanded in custody yesterday and will be sentenced at the end of the trial, which is expected to last for up to six weeks.

Meanwhile, a jury was sworn in today and is expected to begin hearing evidence in the case on Monday afternoon.

Mr Justice Treacy, who lifted a restriction prohibiting the media from reporting Creighton's pleas, warned jurors not to conduct their own investigations into the killing of Mr Tobin.

Mr Tobin, from Mottingham, south-east London, was shot in the back of the head on 12 August last year.

The trial of six men, who all deny murdering the 35-year-old, is expected to last up to six weeks.

Karl Garside, 45, pleaded not guilty to murder during a previous hearing in February, while Simon Turner, 41, Dane Garside, 42, Malcolm Bull, 53, Dean Taylor, 47, and 46-year-old Ian Cameron entered their not guilty pleas last December.

The exact addresses of the defendants, who are from Coventry, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes, cannot be published for legal reasons.

All six men also face a charge of possessing a shotgun, while Turner and Dane Garside are further charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

During the selection of potential jurors yesterday, Mr Justice Treacy, asked whether any of them had ever been a member of, or knew members of, any organised bikers' group.

Prospective jurors were also asked whether they had ever attended the Bulldog Bash bikers' festival or a similar event organised by a group known as the Outlaws.

Mr Tobin, a mechanic, was returning home from the Bulldog Bash when he was shot near junction 12 of the M40.