Evil ex who knifed mum to death after she went to cops SIX times about his stalking including on day she died is jailed
A STALKER who stabbed his ex to death after she went to police about him six times including on the day she died has been jailed.
Claire Chick, 48, was suffered 23 knife wounds after Paul Butler ambushed her outside her home in Plymouth, Devon, in January.
Tragically the mum-of-two could not be saved and was declared dead in hospital the following morning.
Claire, who worked as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth, had gone to the police six times to make a statement in the months leading up to her death due to her ex-husband's stalking campaign.
On the day she was murdered, the mum told police: "I only feel that Butler will kill me if further action is not taken. I am in fear of leaving my house."
Butler was arrested three times for assault, harassment and stalking but refused to stop harassing Claire.
He has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years after he previously pleaded guilty to murder.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said Butler had carried out a "frenzied, brutal, murderous" attack.
Plymouth Crown Court heard the 53-year-old, who also admitted possessing a knife, first got with Claire in 2021 after they met as neighbours.
The pair married in June 2024 but split just two months later due to Butler's behaviour.
The former doorman then launched a terrifying stalking campaign against Claire after refusing to accept the break up.
After she started a new relationship with Paul Maxwell, Butler was seen on CCTV buying three knives from Sainsbury's.
He also changed his name on Facebook to Stangray Strangler after his road name and put a tracker on the mum's car to follow her.
On one of these occasions, she messaged her daughter saying: "I wish he would just get on with it and put me out of my misery".
Jo Martin KC, prosecuting, said: "After the relationship was over there was constant texting, the tracking of her car, placing the restriction on the sale of her house, threatening suicide.
"She felt that he had made her life hell. She did repeatedly tell him to leave her alone and she felt violated by him.
"Then on the day of her murder, going to her workplace to watch her. She believed he would murder her."
Despite being on bail and banned from going near her, Butler went to her home dressed in a camo hoodie and lay in wait for Claire.
When she left, the thug ambushed her - stabbing her more than 20 times with one of the knives he bought.
She was found seriously injured in West Hoe Road, Plymouth, at around 8.55pm on January 22.
Butler fled the scene but not before chasing Claire's new partner, who had returned from a regular evening run and witnessed the murder.
The killer shouted at him: "I'll f***ing do you too."
An inquest heard Claire died after suffering multiple stab wounds.
Claire's eldest daughter Bethany Hancock-Baxter said her mum's murder had left a "huge void".
She said: "I want this evil man to listen to me. I want you to know what you have done to us as a family.
"Despite all the hate I have for you, I cannot bring myself to do what you did to my mum - that's because I am not evil like you."
Devon and Cornwall conducts 'urgent' review of stalking cases
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew added: 'My thoughts and condolences are with Claire's family and friends over the devastating impact this abhorrent crime committed by Paul Butler has had on them. I also acknowledge the details of this case heard by the court today are horrific and I know the anguish and pain will stay with Claire's family.
'The Force made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to our previous contact with Claire.
'We are committed to fully co-operating with an ongoing independent investigation by the IOPC. It would be inappropriate to comment in more detail at this stage to ensure we do not compromise the investigation.
'Having met some of Claire's family following her tragic death, the Force has conducted an urgent review of all our active stalking investigations.
'This has resulted in immediate changes to our stalking and harassment procedures. New policies have been implemented to ensure we provide greater focus on safeguarding victims, targeting perpetrators at the earliest opportunity and encouraging reporting.
'One of our priorities is to ensure we continue to improve how we investigate stalking and harassment, focusing on dealing proactively with dangerous perpetrators and giving greater confidence to victims of this harmful and dangerous crime.'
While Claire's dad Alan Butler described Butler as a "nasty narcissist".
He added: "You have brutally killed the most beautiful human being and robbed the world of a high achiever.
"You have murdered my daughter, taken her future, broken my heart and will go straight to hell.
"I can never forgive you for what you have done. I rage with anger with what you have done.
"There are too many men who take the lives of women because they can't have what they want. They are evil, he is evil."
Following Claire's death, Devon and Cornwall Police made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact.
"Our investigation into Claire Chick's contact with Devon and Cornwall Police prior to her murder in January is ongoing," an IOPC spokesman said.
"Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Ms Chick's family and we are keeping them updated on the progress of our investigation."
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night
Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244
Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428
If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
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