Callum Strachan is in prison serving a life sentence after being convicted of the murder of Alan Sutton, a father-of-two, in Monk Bretton, Barnsley, on 1 September 2024. On 1 May 2026, Sheffield Crown Court sentenced Strachan, 23, to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years — meaning he will be at least 47 before he can be considered for parole.
Who Is Callum Strachan?
Callum Strachan is a 23-year-old man from Monk Bretton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He was 22 at the time of the murder. Strachan has a history of violent behaviour stretching back years, including assaulting his mother and former partner. He was later diagnosed with a personality disorder. At the time of Alan Sutton’s murder, Strachan was already under investigation for a separate serious knife attack that took place on 15 June 2024.
The Murder of Alan Sutton
On the afternoon of 1 September 2024, Alan Sutton, 41, and two of his neighbours confronted Strachan at his home on Burton Road, Monk Bretton, regarding anti-social behaviour. Strachan made threats to stab and attack people in the street, including his own partner who was inside the house. When the three men walked away, CCTV captured a brief moment of apparent calm on the street.
Strachan then went back into his house via the back door, retrieved two kitchen knives, and emerged running around the corner in pursuit of the men who had left. The closest man to him when he rounded the corner was Alan Sutton. Strachan stabbed Alan in the chest, causing him to fall to the ground. He then stepped over the fallen man, threatened the other two neighbours with his knives, and turned back to stab Alan again — this time through the neck. Despite the efforts of a woman nearby who attempted to save his life, Alan Sutton died at the scene.
Alan Sutton was described by his family as “a kind, caring, happy-go-lucky man with a heart of pure gold.” He would have become a grandfather had he lived. His mother, Amanda Galfsky, told the court: “Alan was my firstborn son. Knowing he will never walk through my front door and say ‘ey up mam’ with a big smile on his face ever again has broken my heart.”
After the murder, Strachan hid the knives under a cutlery tray, left the house with his partner, and flagged down a police car, lying to officers about his involvement.
Previous Violent Offending
Just months before the murder, on 15 June 2024, Strachan arranged to meet another man after the man had texted his girlfriend. Rather than a one-on-one confrontation, Strachan brought an accomplice and between them they were armed with a baseball bat and a machete. They chased the victim down and beat him with the bat before Strachan stabbed him four times, inflicting life-threatening injuries. He was under police investigation for this attack at the time of the murder.
Strachan’s wider history of violence included headbutting and beating his mother because she refused to lend him money, and assaulting a former partner. On the day of Alan Sutton’s murder, he had also threatened to stab his then-girlfriend.
Trial and Conviction
Callum Strachan pleaded not guilty to murder at Sheffield Crown Court. He claimed he had simply run around the corner with knives outstretched and had collided with Alan Sutton, insisting he “did not even know I stabbed him.” The jury rejected his account unanimously and found him guilty of murder.
He was also sentenced on 1 May 2026 for the June 2024 knife attack on the other victim. The sentencing judge, His Honour Judge Graham Reeds KC, said: “You had a choice. You could have chosen to stay in your house with your door locked. Or you could have chosen to go out with weapons to confront them. You chose the latter.”
The Life Sentence
Callum Strachan received a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years. The minimum term is longer than he has been alive. He will be 47 years old before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board. Even then, release is not guaranteed — the Parole Board must be satisfied that he no longer poses a risk to the public.
Judge Reeds told Strachan: “From the evidence I have heard, I have no doubt you are someone who regularly loses his temper and makes threats to stab people. There is no evidence that you needed to defend yourself from Alan that day. He was simply there, with his shopping bag. He had done nothing to you. It was simply the result of your temper. You are obviously dangerous.”
The judge added that it was a real possibility Strachan could spend the rest of his life in prison. Strachan, who appeared at the sentencing via video link, appeared unfazed throughout the hearing. If you have a family member in custody, Prison Guide has information on how to book a prison visit and how to send money to a prisoner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Callum Strachan in prison?
Callum Strachan is in prison because he was convicted of the murder of Alan Sutton, a father-of-two, in Monk Bretton, Barnsley on 1 September 2024. He ran out of his house with two kitchen knives and stabbed Mr Sutton twice, killing him at the scene. He also received a concurrent sentence for a separate knife attack that took place in June 2024.
How long is Callum Strachan’s prison sentence?
Callum Strachan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years at Sheffield Crown Court on 1 May 2026. He will be at least 47 years old before he can be considered for parole. The judge noted it was possible he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Who did Callum Strachan kill?
Callum Strachan killed Alan Sutton, a 41-year-old father-of-two from Monk Bretton, Barnsley. Alan was with two neighbours who had gone to confront Strachan about anti-social behaviour. He was not the intended target of any dispute with Strachan but was simply the closest person when Strachan emerged from his house armed with two knives.
Did Callum Strachan plead guilty?
No. Callum Strachan pleaded not guilty to murder and denied stabbing Alan Sutton intentionally, claiming the stabbing was accidental. The jury at Sheffield Crown Court rejected his account unanimously and returned a guilty verdict. Strachan also had a separate knife attack conviction arising from an incident in June 2024.
When was Callum Strachan sentenced?
Callum Strachan was sentenced on 1 May 2026 at Sheffield Crown Court. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years for the murder of Alan Sutton, along with concurrent sentences for the separate June 2024 knife attack. The sentencing judge was His Honour Judge Graham Reeds KC.
