Steven Lawrence murder suspect jailed over serious crime order breach

A former suspect in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has found himself behind bars after displaying a 'flagrant disregard' for the law and breaching a court order.

Jamie Acourt, 48, refused to answer questions about the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence, who was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, 30 years ago, on April 22 1993.

Having been released last November, Acourt was put back in prison in October after breaching a serious criminal behaviour order, The Mirror reports.

Acourt was one of five men arrested over the racially-motivated attack. 

Two of them, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were handed life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

Acourt, who spent more than two years on the run living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, was released from prison last November after serving half of his nine-year sentence over the drugs plot.

His brother Neil Acourt, who was also arrested over Mr Lawrence's murder, was jailed for more than six years over the same conspiracy, which saw some 750kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated street value of about £3 million moved between London and South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

The fifth suspect in Mr Lawrence's murder, Luke Knight, has remained free.

In January 2021 Acourt was ordered to pay back £90,000 or face another year added to his jail sentence, by a judge at Kingston Crown Court.

In October 2022 police asked a judge to impose a default prison sentence over his failure to pay the confiscation order.

Pc David Bracken said at the time: 'Mr Acourt has not paid anything or shown any willingness to pay anything.

'Obviously, he's going to be released soon and there has been no goodwill on his part.'

In regards to his latest offences, Acourt had failed to tell police he was driving a white transit van on 12 separate occasions between 11 August and 21 October in Hounslow, West London. 

Acourt pleaded guilty, along with driving without insurance at Westminster Magistrates' Court and was jailed for six months.

He also had six points put on his licence, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed.

Acourt was handed a jail sentence for the offences 'because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders', court documents seen by Sky News show.

Last June, Acourt and his brother Neil were confronted by a BBC journalist over allegations by a sixth suspect, Matthew White, of their involvement in the racist killing that shocked Britain.

Stephen Lawrence: The racist murder that marked Britain

Jamie Acourt and his brother Neil were teenagers when Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.

Two of the other suspects, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of murder in 2012 and jailed for life following a DNA breakthrough. 

But the Acourt brothers have never been convicted.

At the time of Stephen's death, the Acourts described themselves as the Krays, modelling themselves on the brothers who dominated London's criminal underworld in the 1960s.

The gang they were in is believed to have been responsible for a string of violent attacks, invariably featuring knives.

Luke Knight was named as the fifth suspect by the Daily Mail. He has never been charged and denies being involved. 

The case has brought great shame on the Metropolitan Police. Stephen's parents Doreen and Neville Lawrence have continued to campaign for justice for their son and have shone a light on racism and corruption in the Met.

Footage shows Neil Acourt initially responding with 'f*** off' to reporter Daniel De Simone, who asks him: 'Why did Matthew White say he saw you attack Stephen Lawrence?'

Mr De Simone continues: 'Matthew White says you actually stabbed Stephen Lawrence. Did you stab Stephen Lawrence? Have you got no comment at all? Did he lead you across the road that night?'

In a second clip, Jamie Acourt is asked: 'Are you part of the group that attacked Stephen Lawrence?' and 'Where you there when Stephen Lawrence was attacked?'

Both men can be seen hurriedly walking away from the reporter, who continues to follow them with his camera and ends the clip by saying: 'Neil Acourt fleeing rather than answering questions. Absolutely no comment at all. It's 30 years since Stephen Lawrence was killed and he is still out, and he is still not answering questions.'

Only two of the five suspects have been brought to justice - but after the 2012 murder trial of Dobson and Norris, trial judge Mr Justice Treacy said: 'On the evidence before the court, there are still three or four other killers of Stephen Lawrence at large.' 

Stephen's friend Duwayne Brooks was clear that he saw a group of six white youths cross the road and 'engulf' Stephen, who was hit on the head with a bat and stabbed, leaving a ten-inch knife wound in his neck. 

Dobson and Norris were finally convicted in 2012 of murdering Stephen, 18, at a bus stop in south-east London in April 1993. 

Dobson was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and two months, while Norris received a minimum of 14 years and three months and will be eligible for parole next year.

Two of the other gang members, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, have served time in prison for drug dealing in the intervening years but the final suspect, Luke Knight, has not been convicted of any offence. 

All five men were named by The Daily Mail as Stephen's killers. 

The betrayal of Stephen 30 years ago and how Scotland Yard has spent years and £50million trying to put them right

Scotland Yard spent years battling to right the wrongs committed in the first months of the inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's murder.

More than £50million was spent as seven investigations and countless reviews poured over every possible lead, clue and piece of evidence.

Meanwhile, a landmark public inquiry led to changes in 'double jeopardy' laws which barred suspects being tried for the same crime twice.

In the 1993 murder inquiry detectives failed to act quickly on tip-offs made within days identifying the key five suspects. Four days after the stabbing surveillance officers stood by as a young man left the Acourts' family home carrying clothing covered in a black bin liner.

Over the next six years, police faced a private prosecution, inquest and public inquiry into their failure to bring the men to justice. 

Two further murder inquiries were launched, however in 2004 prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to put anyone in the dock.

A bold decision two years later to submit every exhibit for a full forensic review by a private firm led to a breakthrough. 

In 2007 experts at LGC Forensics began working through 30 items of clothing seized from the homes of the suspects. 

The discovery of tiny flakes of Stephen's blood and fibres from his clothes ultimately led to Gary Dobson and David Norris being arrested in 2011 and charged with his murder. On January 3, 2012, they were found guilty and jailed for life.

Police vowed to continue fighting to bring the remaining three suspects to justice. 

In 2016 police released CCTV of a man seen close to the murder scene and appealed for help identifying a woman whose bag strap was found nearby.

It led to 30 calls from the public but despite extensive inquiries any new leads came to nothing.