A violent criminal has today (Friday 19 June) been sentenced to a Whole Life Order following two murders and the attempted murder of a GMP detective.

David Taylor (26/04/1962), of Oak Avenue, County Durham, was sentenced today at Leeds Crown Court for the murders of Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin in 2022, and Kyle Bevan, who he killed in HMP Wakefield in November 2025 alongside two other inmates.

He additionally attempted to murder a GMP detective in prison in 2024, during a premeditated attack while in prison awaiting trial for Alisha’s murder.

On 2 February 2022, Alisha was reported as a missing person from Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Officers were alerted after Alisha’s grandmother phoned to report no one had seen or heard from Alisha for a couple of weeks.

Initial enquiries found that Alisha appeared to travel from Manchester to Durham and then back to Manchester.

Alisha was last seen travelling in a Volkswagen Passat with Taylor. They had been together for a number of days at that point, having first met towards the end of 2021, after being put in contact by a mutual friend.

Alisha was first picked up by Taylor on 14 January 2022, where they travelled to Durham, before heading to Chapel-en-le-frith campsite and then back to Durham on 20 January.

Taylor and Alisha travel back to Chapel-en-le-frith on 22 January 2022 in the same vehicle.

Sadly, it was during this time we believe Alisha to have been murdered. Alisha has not been seen since and her body has never been recovered.

We are continuing to make enquiries to ensure Alisha’s body is recovered, and to be able to give her the proper burial that she deserves.

Taylor was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder in March 2022.

Taylor initially denied murdering Alisha but later pleaded guilty in February this year (2026).

As part of our enquiries into Alisha’s murder, two of our officers visited Taylor for a meeting on 23 July 2024.

Taylor had requested an interview with our officers while he was in custody at HMP Frankland, stating that he had information that would help us locate Alisha.

Seconds after they came back from a break during the interview, Taylor lunged at the officers with a makeshift shank.

One of our officers – DC Bratby – received a serious injury that narrowly missed his heart.

Despite receiving this potentially life-threatening injury, DC Bratby and his fellow officer were able to fend off Taylor before he was restrained by prison officers. Both officers have since resumed their duties within GMP’s Major Incident Team.

Taylor was found guilty of the attempted murder of the detective at Manchester Crown Court in December 2025.

Today (19 June), marks the culmination of complex and thorough investigations that has seen the involvement of three police forces.

West Yorkshire Police managed the investigation for the prison murder, while GMP assisted Durham Police following the prison stabbing of DC Bratby.

For more information on the conviction of the murder of Kyle Bevan: Three Guilty of Murdering Kyle Bevan in Wakefield Prison | West Yorkshire Police

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Naismith, from our Major Investigation Team, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts go out to Alisha’s family and friends for what they have been put through, and continue to go through, with their loss of Alisha.

“We have sadly never recovered her body and there is one person who knows where she is. Ensuring that Alisha receives a dignified and proper burial is something that we will continue to do our best to achieve.

“As part of that investigation, Taylor deliberately lured our officers into speaking with him, claiming he had information on Alisha’s whereabouts. This was nothing more than a sinister ploy to attack them.

“We are very fortunate that our officer did not lose his life during this vile attack, and it is testament to his bravery that he was able to still discharge his duties and ensure that Taylor was subdued.

“Every single day officers across the country put their lives at risk for the public, sacrificing so much as part of their work. It is not something that should ever be normalised, nor forgotten.

“Following today’s result, Taylor has now been convicted of three heinous crimes and will be behind bars for the rest of his life.

“While the court proceedings for these three investigations have concluded, we are still actively appealing for information as we seek to provide Alisha with a dignified burial.

“I would urge anyone with any amount of information – whether it’s big or small – to please get in touch with us.”

Superintendent Chris Smiles, of Durham Constabulary, said: “Taylor is an extremely violent offender and his attack on a police officer who was simply trying to uncover the truth about what happened to Alisha and get justice for her family – was totally unacceptable.

“It is a testament to the bravery of the officer who despite having been stabbed in the chest was still able to restrain him.

“Officers should be able to serve and protect the public without being attacked. Thankfully, Taylor is now facing the consequences of what he has done.

“Our thoughts go out to all those affected by his despicable actions.”

Anyone with information can contact the police through 101 or via our LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1689 of 02/02/2022.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.