Killer’s sick list of celebrity targets including Simon Cowell and Kate Moss revealed as he’s jailed for book dealer’s murder

A MURDERER'S sick kill list has been revealed showing celebrity targets including Simon Cowell, Kate Moss, Rio Ferdinand and Jeffrey Archer.

Michael Danaher, 50, was today found guilty and jailed for life with a minimum of 34 years for stabbing Adrian Greenwood to death before making off with a £50,000 first edition of The Wind In The Willows published in 1908.

During the investigation the detectives found the list of high profile ransom targets including, businessmen, models and sportsmen.

Over the four week trial the jury heard Danaher compiled a list of wealthy people to rob and kidnap along with some ordinary members of the public.

The targets were all listed in a document titled "Enterprises" which also noted Eamonn Holmes, Michael Parkinson, Katie Hopkins, Alan Sugar and Greg Dyke.

He even listed his method of capture or target by listing things such as "stun", "crate delivery" and "daughter" before also highlighting his "expected take".

Alongside the name Adrian Greenwood in that column is the two word phrase "rare books".

The jury deliberated for just an hour before returning the unanimous verdict - while Danaher looked on expressionless.

The killer stabbed Mr Greenwood 33 times, inflicting wounds to his back, chest and neck and broke the historian's arm by stamping on him, before scouring his home for items to steal.

Mr Greenwood's body was found on April 7 by his cleaning lady.

During the trial, Oliver Saxby QC, for the prosecution, told the jury he had wounds which suggested possible torture and said he also had blunt force injuries.

The handle of a kitchen knife was found at the scene but no blade was attached to it.

Mr Greenwood's mobile phone was missing but a police search traced its movements through Oxford to Peterborough on the day of the murder.

Number plate recognition technology revealed the only car which travelled that route on that day was a Citreon Picasso belonging to Danaher, of Adrians Court, Peterborough.

Danaher claimed he had acted in self-defence after Mr Greenwood had attacked HIM with a knife at his home on the day of the murder.

Oxford Crown Court heard the killer concocted a "make-believe tale" to explain the cuts on his fingers and face to his 15-year-old son, who may have been present as he put the rare Kenneth Grahame classic up for auction on eBay the following evening, prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC said.

Mr Saxby said: "His dad made up some story about being attacked in Southend by two men half his age ... What he said to his son was that he had been the victim of a theft, while also the victim of some kind of assault."

The 15-year-old told police: "At first he said there was a knife hanging out of his cheek. Then he managed to get it out and fend off the others."

This was "utter fiction", Mr Saxby said, claiming the injuries were caused by grappling with Mr Greenwood, 42, as the historian fought for his life after being stabbed by Danaher 33 times in the hallway of his four-storey home in Iffley Road, Oxford.

Remembering seeing his father the following day, the 15-year-old told police: "His back was hurting, his ribs were hurting, his chest was hurting. He had dried blood and there was a scab on his cheek."

Asked what it looked like he replied: "Not a lot, to be honest, because he has a beard and that kind of covers it."

The court heard that Danaher stole the book, along with Mr Greenwood's mobile, wallet, laptop, camcorder and Nikon camera during the attack in in April.

Danaher, the son of Irish immigrants, took redundancy from engine manufacturer Perkins in Peterborough a few years ago.

But he lost the lot in an investment scam and began plotting to rob wealthy individuals.

He was found guilty of murder after the jury rejected his claims he had acted in self defence.

In his evidence Danaher had told jurors Mr Greenwood became angry when someone he was expecting to come and visit him did not appear.

He said: "He got irate and said 'you obese tosser'. He would not let me get my bag and pushed me I fell down the hallway."

He added he managed to get hold of the knife and swung it in self-defence but did not intentionally stab Mr Greenwood at his Oxford home.

When asked why he took some of Mr Greenwood's belongings he said: "I was shocked and angry, I wanted to make him pay for attacking me so I took some of his belongings.

"I put the book in my bag and also a camera. I was just angry with him."

Unemployed Danaher, separated from his wife with whom he has two sons, had been planning the raid for four months.

Mr Greenwood's name was allegedly found alongside celebrities including supermodel Kate Moss and author Jeffrey Archer in a "clinical" spreadsheet list Danaher had compiled containing high-profile targets for theft, robbery and ransom demands.

Danaher had also searched online for the homes of TV presenters Eamonn Holmes and Michael Parkinson, footballer Rio Ferdinand and music mogul Simon Cowell, and botched an attempt to enter the North London home of Wonga investor Adrian Beecroft two weeks prior.

However, Danaher laid the blame for the attack and the list on his computer at the feet of a mysterious man who he would not identify after claiming he had been threatened.

Danaher admitted travelling to the Beecroft home in North London on the day of the attack but said he gave the unknown man a lift to buy a new car.