Man jailed for murder of mother's partner in Salford

A man who killed his mother's partner in Salford has been jailed today (05/09/25).

Jack Naylor (16/12/2002), of Irvine Avenue, Boothstown, has been handed 16 years in prison after being found guilty of the murder of Thomas Gomm following a two-week trial in June 2025. 

A jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court found Naylor guilty of murdering Thomas Gomm, as well as and a racially aggravated public order against an emergency worker. 

On Sunday 15 December 2024 Naylor was at his home address on Irvine Avenue with his mum and Thomas to celebrate his own birthday.

They were drinking alcohol, but after a while Naylor began to shout and behave aggressively.

He then tried to assault his mum before she left the address to go to her friend’s house on Leigh Road, as Thomas had told Naylor to “leave her alone”. 

Shortly after, Naylor followed his mum to the address on Leigh Road. He had blood on his hands and clothing, and he banged on the door to be let inside.

The friend was at the address on Leigh Road and let him inside. Naylor told her to “be a good girl or you’ll get what Thomas got but worse”.

She fled the address and went to another address. It was at this point that police were called to Leigh Road.

Naylor’s mum barricaded herself in a bedroom which Naylor caused damage to in order to enter the room.

Shortly after, following enquiries, police then attended Irvine Avenue and found Thomas inside the address, seriously injured having been assaulted. Thomas was treated at the address and taken to hospital.

Naylor was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Thomas and further arrested on suspicion of assaulting two emergency workers and racially aggravated public order due to the circumstances of his arrest.

Two days later, on 17 December, Thomas sadly succumbed to his injuries and died in hospital. A murder investigation was immediately launched, and Naylor was further arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was charged with murder, assaulting two emergency workers and racial Public Order

Naylor pleaded not guilty to all charges and stood trial at Minshull Street, Crown Court where he continued to deny the charges.

The jury found Naylor guilty of Thomas’ murder and racial public order.

DCI Mark Davis of Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team said: “Thomas sadly lost his life in the run up to Christmas, what is meant to be a happy time spent with friends and family was tarnished in a night of tragedy. 

“Naylor deserves to be behind bars for his selfish acts and for the pain he has inflicted, not only on Thomas, but also on his family and friends, and sadly, “Thomas will never get to return home to his loved ones. 

“I hope this sentence sends a clear message to those that think they can cause harm and take the lives of others. We will not tolerate this, and we will ensure you answer to justice.” 

Thomas's family said: “No sentence can bring Thomas back, but we feel that the jury made the right decision and we take comfort in that. Not a day goes by without thinking of Thomas, he will be in our hearts forever.

"We want to thank DS Smeeton, the prosecution barristers and the investigation team who have worked really hard to secure this outcome.

"The support during the trial has been really amazing, from everyone involved.”