Michael Doherty

Michael Doherty

38, Male Custodial - 33y 2026-01-01

Batley, West Yorkshire

Offender ID: 3c9e197b-e022-4930-8518-25b87bd993e9

Offence Summary

Convicted rapist who murdered 21-year-old Courtney Angus in a sexually motivated attack after she rejected him, and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years.

Full Description

Michael Doherty, 38, also known as Michael Moore, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to the murder of 21-year-old Courtney Angus.

The court heard that Doherty murdered Ms Angus in a sadistic and sexually motivated attack at his home in Norfolk Street, Batley, after she rejected his advances. He inflicted 76 injuries on her, sexually assaulted her, cut off parts of her body which he left on the mantelpiece, and took indecent images of her. The cause of death was pressure on the neck from strangling, combined with head injuries from blunt force trauma.

Doherty had a history of violence towards women who rejected him. In 2013, he was convicted of raping a stranger on her way home from a nightclub and was jailed for five years. After his release, he entered a brief relationship with another woman and torched her car when she ended the relationship.

Prosecutor Craig Hassall KC told the court that Ms Angus had moved into Doherty's house days before her death in July 2025 but was clear she did not want a relationship. On the day of the murder, Doherty texted her threatening to kill himself and expressing his attraction to her. Ms Angus replied that she did not want a relationship and had not led him on.

After the murder, Doherty sent a message to a friend saying he had killed someone. The following day, he went on a shoplifting spree in Batley and Dewsbury before being arrested by police, to whom he admitted there was a dead body in his house.

In mitigation, defence counsel Richard Wright KC said Doherty had been in a highly intoxicated state and had a complicated mental health picture at the time. Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, noted that this was not the first time Doherty had reacted violently towards females who resisted him, and described the images on his phone as showing the extent of his depravity.

Doherty also pleaded guilty to theft and three counts of threatening a person with a blade. The case was prosecuted by West Yorkshire Police.

Location

City: Batley

County: West Yorkshire

Address: Norfolk Street

Case Details

Police Force: West Yorkshire Police

Sentence Length: 33 years (Custodial)

Expected Release: January 2048
Guideline: two-thirds served for sentences ≥4 years; half otherwise (England & Wales). Estimates only.

Full Sentence End: January 2059
If served in full. Estimates only.

Name heritage (predicted origin)

Country: Ireland

Confidence: 90%

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to West Yorkshire Police for their tireless dedication in bringing this offender to justice. Your commitment and hard work truly help keep our communities safe, and we are deeply grateful.

Source: yorkshirepost.co.uk

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