Lying in a hospital bed, Graham Cox told police: "I'm terrified. I was locked up." Earlier, the 37-year-old told staff at a community support hub: "I can't go back there, he'll kill me." Beaten, starving and penniless, he was a shell of his former self. Graham - wearing dirty clothes and with an unkempt beard - had escaped from a flat through a window, having been held there without food for two weeks. He saw his chance and took it. Now he was pleading for help. Tragically, less than two weeks later he was found dead under a blanket on the sofa at a former friend's home.
The Friendship That Turned Deadly
Ashley Crowder, 36, lied to police, telling them: "I was about to phone the ambulance. I've just gone and checked on him." In reality, he had emptied Graham's bank account, attacked him and held him hostage. As Crowder went on trial charged with Graham's murder; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and four counts of theft, a tragic story of a vulnerable man exploited by an opportunist drug addict intent on scoring emerged.
Graham and Crowder had been friends for 20 years. Both struggled with addiction. Graham was a well-known face on the Manchester music scene as a talented DJ and producer. He suffered with ill health and had a number of medical issues. In 2023, he was admitted to Salford Royal with an abscess on his spine. While there, he raised concerns about a pal who had stolen his bank card and used his money to buy drugs. Graham claimed he had stolen his house keys, meaning he couldn't get into his home. He told staff the 'friend' had attacked him a number of times over the past few weeks.
Warnings Ignored
"Graham has mentioned that he is scared to contact the police as he is frightened of the retaliation he will get," ward sister Jennifer Burke wrote in August that year. Just before his discharge from hospital on August 16, Graham was seen by occupational therapist Pauline Woods. She wrote: "Patient stated that things are very difficult currently. Patient then continuing 'Im worried to say anything because I don't know where this will go'. Patient explained that he feels worried of returning to this area as he is unable to escape this individual."
Months later, Graham was admitted to the stroke unit at Royal Bolton. He showed a member of staff messages from Crowder. One read: "You will get me the money today." Another added: "Don't f*** me over again." Graham pleaded with staff to stop Crowder visiting him, telling them through tears: "Please don't let him in." Prior to his discharge, Graham's social worker called Crowder telling him to return his keys. Crowder hung up. When Graham returned home, he discovered his radiators and boilers had been stolen. His home was a mess. At that point, he moved in with Crowder. The abuse got far, far worse.
The Escape
Graham first went to the UCAN - Urban Care And Neighbourhood - centre in Farnworth, Bolton, on February 1, 2024. The facility provides free support with employment and training; money and benefits; housing; and wellbeing. While there, he asked for an ambulance and said he needed to speak to the police. He didn't elaborate, but did say he had just got out of hospital and had no food. Graham left later that day.
On February 22, he went to the centre again. CCTV footage shown to Bolton Crown Court jurors showed Graham looking thin, wearing baggy clothes. He had a bushy beard and his hair had grown to shoulder length. He had bruises, black eyes and cuts to his face. Centre worker Jed Leck told the trial Graham said he had met an old friend - Ashley Crowder. "The friend had advised him that he didn't look well," Mr Leck said. "Ashley took Graham home. Graham told me he ran him a bath and fed him. Graham said the following morning he felt safe and Ashley had been nice to him to begin with. Ashley had asked Graham for some money and said he would go and get some more food. The following day Ashley had asked Graham for some more money to go and get some more food. However, Graham told Ashley he had no more money. This is when Ashley changed and started to batter him. I was quite taken aback when he told me he had been there for 14 days."
Mr Leck said Graham's clothes were 'really dirty'. He was wearing a dressing gown and tracksuit pants. "I believe all his clothes were quite dirty and had been worn for some time," Mr Leck added. "He was just in a bad condition. He was in a dirty condition. He was black and blue with cuts, which isn't what we saw of Graham."
Bolton councillor Melanie Livesey also saw Graham. She said he was 'visibly shaking from head to toe', adding: "His first words were 'I'm really sorry to bother you. I've been kidnapped. I've not had nothing to eat or drink for 14 days'. He looked scared, tired and in pain. We gave him six mince pies. He ate them all immediately. It was evident he was starving." Coun Livesey said Graham told her: "My friend... my friend did it." "What friend?," she asked. "Ash Crowder," Graham replied. "My thoughts were 'what the bloody hell has happened to you?'," Coun Livesey added. Graham, jurors heard, said: "I can't go back there, he will kill me."
An ambulance was called and Graham was rushed to hospital. Interviewed by police, he said: "I was locked up. Make up things that aren't true just to get after me. I had an opportunity. I'm scared stiff. I'm terrified, to be honest with you. I can't stress that enough." He said he was going to help me because I was struggling after my stroke. My flat had been broken into, it was a complete mess. Asked if that was Crowder, Graham said: "Yes. I have known him for about 20 years. Ex-friend should I say. He made me ring telephone banking and transfer it. He physically stopped me from leaving. He has got a short fuse. I can't stress enough how scared I am. He batters me." Graham said he had to 'drink out of the sink' in the bathroom and had not eaten for 14 days. He said he had no key and the door was locked. He added: "I'm scared for my life, I'm telling you." Later that afternoon, he was discharged. Graham got a taxi back to his own flat. It was the last time he was seen on CCTV.
Discovery of Death
On the evening of March 2, Graham's friend John Mahon went to visit Crowder. There, he saw Graham 'lifeless'. He wasn't moving. Mr Mahon left and called his girlfriend, who called for an ambulance. Unfortunately, she gave the wrong address. Three days later, on March 5, police received a call from a neighbour saying they believed there was a 'dead man' at a flat on Barton Walk. "What it is?," Crowder asked police who knocked on his door. "My mate's passed away. I was about to phone the ambulance. I've just gone and checked on him. Do you want to come in?" Inside, officers found Graham dead. He was on his side on a sofa, with a blanket covering his body and part of his face visible.
Crowder told them: "He's had a bleed on the brain. He's had a blood clot. He fell the other day on the cabinet I am sitting on. He's not been able to walk. He's been really unwell... bleed on the brain." Crowder told officers he had been 'looking after' Graham for a number of weeks. "When did you last leave him?," he was asked. Crowder replied: "I left him in here on Sunday... I came in here last night at tea time and thought he was asleep, so I just left him to it. I've just come to let my dog out now, about 15 minutes ago, and he's still in the same position." Paramedics said Graham was 'cold'. Rigor mortis had set in. Crowder was arrested on suspicion of murder. He refused to answer questions, but made it clear Graham was free and able to leave the flat. He was released on bail while police waited for the results of pathological tests. It was then police discovered a history of financial abuse.
Financial Exploitation
Records showed that in February 2024, Graham received payments from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) totalling £1,193.48. He went on to make payments to Sharon Brown - Crowder's mother - and another woman, totalling £1,193. That cash was immediately withdrawn. On February 8, Graham called his bank and asked for the total amount from DWP, £299, to be transferred to 'S Brown'. During the call, another voice could be heard in the background as Graham said: "It's quite urgent." The money was transferred, leaving Graham with just 8p in his account. CCTV showed Ms Brown withdrawing an unknown amount of cash that afternoon. On February 13, the DWP transferred £381 into Graham's account. During another call, Graham asked for £200 to be paid into another person's account. Later that afternoon, he called his bank again and asked for £150 to be transferred to the same account. In messages between Crowder and his mum, he said: "Mum it's Ash, can you please do me a favour til Friday and give me £20... direct debt taken out of Graham's account and I aint got any money until Friday." His mum replied: "You're a f*****g pain."
A further DWP payment of £285 was made to Graham's account on February 19. In another call, he asked his bank to transfer £280 to 'S Brown', which left him with £6.60. He then asked for £6 to be sent to another person, leaving him with just 60p in his account. One of the last payments by DWP to Graham was on February 27, to the tune of £228. An hour later, Graham called the bank and asked for the money to be transferred to Ms Brown.
It was later found Graham died as a result of sustained 'blunt force physical assaults'. Crowder was rearrested in November 2025. He emphatically denied mistreating, assaulting or stealing from him, saying he had treated him with nothing but kindness. In a packed courtroom at Bolton Crown Court, Crowder denied murder; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and four counts of theft. As Graham's family watched on, Crowder continuously moved seats in the dock, loudly complained and stared at his victim's loved ones. He was ordered by judge Nicholas Clarke KC to refrain from looking at them in the public gallery. Later in the trial, Crowder sat to the furthest edge of the large dock, nearest to the jury. He repeatedly took his shoes off and appeared to fall asleep on numerous occasions. He did not give evidence, but his barrister said in his defence closing speech that he was 'the only person' prepared to care for Graham. Following a four-week trial, jurors convicted him of murder; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and four counts of theft. He will be sentenced on June 29.
