Friend helped Bexley killer escape and hide in brothel

On Friday (August 2) Tony Curant was jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years for murdering his partner Leila Young at their home on Penhill Road, Bexley, in January. 

Curant repeatedly stabbed the mother of his children as their terrified kids hid in the room next door. 

He then phoned his friend, Richard Ray, and told him “I’ve just killed my missus”, the court heard. 

Ray picked Curant up and drove him to a brothel in Dartford where Curant hid for several days. 

Ray later told police he was “f***ing close” to flashing down a police car and telling them what had happened but “bottled it and went to KFC instead”. 

He will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice in the coming days. 

'Biggest bully’ 

At Wood Green Crown Court prosecutor Louise Oakley said that in the days before her death 33-year-old Leila described Curant as “the biggest bully she had ever met” and said their relationship was over.   

In December 2023 it became clear that Leila was in the “depths of despair” and accused Curant of raping her and beating her up in front of their kids.  

At around 4pm on January 17 Curant phoned 999 and said Leila had been stabbed and was “basically dead”.  

When emergency services arrived Curant answered the door and told them Leila was upstairs. They found Leila in a pool of blood in their bedroom, Ms Oakley said.  

Leila told paramedics: “Please save me. I can’t feel my body. Tony done it.”  

Their children were found in the next room. When they were found they asked “is mum still alive” and told officers their dad had taken their phones so they couldn’t call for help.  

Leila died in hospital a week later, on January 23. 

The scene of the murder on Penhill Road (Image: NQ)

‘I’ve killed my missus’ 

As emergency services ran into their home on Penhill Road, Curant took the opportunity to flea.   

He phoned Ray and told him: “I’ve killed my missus.”   

Ray claimed he didn’t think this was true and that Curant was just “off his f***ing nut”. 

Ray picked Curant up on Blackfen Drive, stopped at Tesco for cigarettes and alcohol, drove past the scene on Penhill Road, then dropped Curant off in Dartford.    

During that time Ray texted another friend asking if he could drop Curant off at his house. 

He sent the friend a screenshot of a news article titled “woman fighting for life after Bexley stabbing” alongside a message saying “no bullshit” with a smiling and laughing emoji, prosecutor Ms Oakley said. 

The friend said no and Curant was instead housed in a brothel in Dartford until he was arrested on January 20.  

During that time Ray picked up drugs on behalf of Curant, Ms Oakley said. 

When Ray was arrested he told police he almost flashed a police car and to tell them what was going on but was “s***ing himself” so bottled it and went to KFC instead. 

Richard Ray who has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice (Image: Met Police)

‘Our family has been shattered’ 

In a victim impact statement, Caroline Young said: “My beautiful daughter Leila was brutally taken from us all by the father of her children and the man she trusted. The man she tried to hard to help.  

“Leila was not just my daughter. She was my best friend who I spoke to every day and laughed like I did with no other.”  

Caroline said Leila was the life and soul of their family, bringing them all together.  

“Our family has been shattered by this senseless act of violence. Joy and laughter has been replaced by tears and grief,” she said.  

Caroline told the court her daughter was unrecognisable due to her injuries and she held her hand as she died in hospital a week later on January 23. 

She said: “I cannot think of the words I would want to say to Tony Curant. I am so full of anger I cannot describe. I want to know why you did this to my beautiful daughter.  

“None of this makes any sense to me. I feel I am still living a nightmare but one I can never wake up from.” 

Tony Curant, who murdered his partner Leila Young in Bexley (Image: Met Police)

Life with a minimum of 21 years  

Sentencing Curant, Judge Aaronberg described the circumstances of the murder as “utterly horrific”.  

He said that since the age of 18 Curant had made most of his money by selling drugs and had a tendancy to act violency as he frequently abused drink and drugs.  

“She must have been completely terrified. You used a knife ferociously, repeatedly stabbing her. You did this knowing your chuildren were close by. They were traumatised by your conduct,” Judge Aaronberg said.  

He sentenced 33-year-old Curant to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.  

Ray, 34, from Swanley, will be sentenced this week.