Plymouth Teen Accused of Murdering Young Man in Marina in What Prosecutors Allege to Be a Homophobic Attack

On 24 January 2026, 19-year-old Layton Randle allegedly arranged for a young man to travel to a Plymouth marina before beating him and pushing him into the water, prosecutors have told a jury. The body of 24-year-old Drew Perham was found the next day, and Randle was subsequently charged with murder on 27 January.

During Randle's murder trial, prosecutors alleged that the attack had a homophobic element after the teen repeatedly referred to Perham as 'gay boy' in his recorded selfie video after the incident. Prosecutors have also pointed to Snapchat messages allegedly sent by Randle to friends, where he referred to Perham as a 'dirty little gay b*****d.'

Teen Allegedly Took Victim to Marina

Pawson-Pounds KC told the jury that Randle had been out with friends and acquaintances and had booked a room at the New Continental Hotel for himself and his friend Harry Griffiths.

Prosecutors allege that Randle arranged for Perham to travel with him and others to the marina.

The court heard that the meeting subsequently turned violent, with Randle accused of beating Mr Perham and pushing him into the cold water. Prosecutors allege that hostility towards Perham's sexual orientation was a motive for the attack.

Randle Discussed the Attack Afterwards

Prosecutors allege that Randle later returned to the scene to collect drugs he had purchased earlier before going home. He later recorded a selfie video, which prosecutors say detailed his account of what happened.

According to the prosecution's account of the video, Randle said he had met Perham previously and referred to him as a 'gay boy.'

In the video, Randle said Perham had thrown condoms at his face, adding that he initially ignored the incident before pretending to be friendly with him. He allegedly added that he had 'tricked' Perham into coming to his hotel.

Prosecutors allege that, after arriving by car, Randle and Griffiths took Perham in the opposite direction before getting him out of the vehicle. Randle is then accused of repeatedly assaulting Perham before pushing him into the marina.

Body Found After Extensive Search

The court heard that police were called shortly after midnight on January 25 following a report that Perham had been assaulted at the docks and pushed into the water.

An officer subsequently found Perham's mobile phone and watch on a pontoon at King Point Marina at around 1:30 AM. His trainers were later discovered in the water at approximately 6:00 AM as the search for him continued.

Police divers eventually located Perham's body on the seabed at around 11:30 AM on January 25, roughly 34 hours after CCTV footage allegedly showed him entering the water between 1:33 AM and 1:35 AM.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Perham died from drowning. The prosecution also told the jury that he had suffered three fractured ribs, as well as bruising and cuts to his face. Some of the bruising was said to be consistent with an attempt to pull himself from the water onto a nearby pontoon.

Randle denies murdering Perham and has offered to plead guilty to manslaughter. The allegations made by the prosecution have not been proven.