A man who brutally killed a chef and used his bank card to buy alcohol and scratchcards has been jailed for at least 16 years for his murder.
Guilty verdict and sentencing
Adam Rowson, 26, was found guilty of murdering Alexis De Naray on April 8 following a 12-day trial and was sentenced today at Stafford Crown Court. Jailing him for life on Wednesday, Judge Avik Mukherjee said Rowson, of no fixed abode, had believed he had killed Mr De Naray when he “callously” used his card and “freely spent his money on anything that pleased you” until he was stopped by the bank.
The murder and investigation
The jury heard how Rowson murdered Mr De Naray, who was 45, in Shrewsbury last summer. His body was found in an abandoned building near the Shelton water tower on 27 June 2025. A West Mercia Police investigation quickly found that Rowson had been the last person to see Alexis alive and used the victim’s bank card to buy alcohol and scratchcards.
Detective Inspector Joanne Delahay, who led the investigation, said: “Alexis died as a result of a vicious and prolonged assault at the hands of Rowson. I’m pleased that he has been found guilty today and will now face a substantial amount of time in prison. Our thoughts remain with Alexis’ family and friends, who have been incredibly strong throughout this ordeal.”
Victim's background
During the trial, the court heard Mr De Naray had trained at the Prue Leith Cooking School and worked in several high-end kitchens in London. Prosecutor Sally Howes KC said the victim was a “well-educated man” from a Greek family. “Having attended the Prue Leith Cooking School, he worked as a head chef in a number of restaurants in London,” she said.
Mr De Naray's father reported his son as missing on June 24, and police received a 101 call from Rowson three days later saying he had found a body in the abandoned house.
