A former child actor who appeared in a TV advert for milk in the 1980s has been given a life sentence for murder.
Kevin Spaine wore a Liverpool football kit in the commercial for the Milk Marketing Board in 1989 and uttered the famous line “Accrington Stanley, who are they?”
He was convicted on Tuesday of killing Learoy Venner by repeatedly punching and kicking him in an assault at a flat in Anfield, Liverpool, in July 2022.
Spaine, 43, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years at Liverpool crown court. The court was told the former child actor’s life descended into crime and using drugs.
Since 1999, his criminal record includes convictions for dealing heroin and crack cocaine, wounding, and assault with intent to rob.
In the milk advert, Spaine’s character, whose face is never in shot, asks another boy: “Have you got any lemonade?” The other boy, played by Carl Rice, replies: “If you want.”
As Rice pours himself a glass of milk, Spaine reacts by saying: “Milk? Eurgh.”
Rice tells him: “It’s what [the former Liverpool forward] Ian Rush drinks. He said if I don’t drink lots of milk, when I grow up I’m only going to be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley.”
Spaine then delivers the familiar line “Accrington Stanley, who are they?” and Rice responds with “exactly”.
John Harrison KC, appearing on behalf of Spaine, told the court his client was formerly a “very promising young footballer”. Harrison said in his mitigation: “This defendant’s life has been ruined and dominated by the abuse of illegal drugs. He has a very long history of criminal offending.
“We know he’s been in this situation for 20 years or more, but he wasn’t always like that. Mr Spaine was a very promising young footballer, and he appeared in a very famous advertisement on the television – an advert for milk involving Accrington Stanley.”
Harrison added: “Shortly afterwards, he sinks into a life of criminality. Twenty years later, he is convicted of murder. It’s not an unfamiliar spiral to the court, but it is a tragic one.”
Rice has gone to a successful acting career including roles in Coronation Street and the comedy drama series Brassic.
