Farmer Jailed for Murdering Lodger, Hiding Dismembered Body in Concrete-Filled Barrel for Six Years

06th August, 2026 | UK News

A 73-year-old farmer and former butcher has been sentenced to life imprisonment after murdering his lodger, dismembering his body and concealing the remains in a concrete-filled barrel for nearly six years.

Christopher Wright was found guilty in July of murdering 55-year-old Richard Dyson, as well as conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, preventing a lawful burial and firearms-related offences.

On Thursday, a UK court sentenced Wright to life in prison with a minimum term of 33 years and 353 days before he can be considered for parole.

According to investigators, Mr Dyson lived in vehicles on Wright’s property in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, where he also carried out odd jobs for the farmer.

Police said the relationship between the two men deteriorated after Wright, an antique firearms collector, accused Mr Dyson of stealing some of his possessions and selling them.

Mr Dyson was reported missing by his daughter on 25 November 2019, but his family spent years without knowing what had happened to him.

The case eventually took a major turn when detectives uncovered evidence of previous disputes between the pair over allegedly stolen firearms, prompting a deeper investigation.

Authorities later discovered that Wright had killed Mr Dyson, dismembered his body and hidden the remains inside a barrel filled with concrete in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

Following his conviction, prosecutors described the case as a calculated effort to evade justice, while investigators said the sentence brings an end to years of uncertainty for Mr Dyson’s family, who had waited nearly six years for answers about his disappearance.