Latest news with #LordMulholland
Sky News
27-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
Mark Keel: Domestic abuser jailed for 'cowardly and evil' murder of Glasgow woman
A serial domestic abuser who brutally murdered his partner in a "cowardly and evil" attack has been jailed for at least 22 years. Warning: This article includes details of domestic abuse that readers may find distressing. Mark Keel, 33, left victim Maxine Clark, 36, with 51 separate injuries following the fatal assault at her home in Glasgow's Riddrie area on 27 June 2024. A court heard Ms Clark's injuries included brain damage, blunt force bruising and lacerations to her face and head, and a fractured jaw from Keel stomping on her while she lay on the ground. She also sustained a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, fractured ribs, and haemorrhages to her mouth, tongue and areas surrounding her heart. Such was the force of Keel's attack, the imprint of the soles of his shoes were found on Ms Clark's leg. Lord Mulholland said Keel "brutally and savagely" attacked a "defenceless woman". The judge added: "Ultimately the injuries you inflicted caused cardiorespiratory arrest. The injuries were caused by multiple blows such as punches and kicks and stamps. "The force used by you to inflict these injuries was such that impact spatter blood spots were recovered on the headboard of the bed." Lord Mulholland noted Keel's history of domestic abuse with three previous partners and stated at the time of the murder, he was subject to a Community Payback Order (CPO) and Restriction of Liberty Order (RLO) for an earlier conviction. Ms Clark, who was an only child, had also been seen with black eyes and "grab marks" to her neck. Lord Mulholland rebuked Keel for failing to get medical help for Ms Clark as she lay dying. The judge stated: "To the contrary, you pretended that she had suffered an allergic reaction and there was no need to call an ambulance. "When G4S staff attended at your home address to fit a tag on your leg, you told them to come back later. "When you eventually called an ambulance, you told them that she had a swollen tongue and was struggling to breathe. "This call was the best part of at least half a day after you had savagely beaten her. What you did to this defenceless woman was cowardly and evil. They were the actions of a brute." At the High Court in Glasgow last month, Keel pleaded guilty to Ms Clark's murder. He was handed a life sentence with at least 22 years behind bars when he returned to the dock on Tuesday. Lord Mulholland warned Keel he may never be freed, stating: "You will only be released if you are considered by the parole board to pose no risk to the public, particularly women, and that is a long way off, if ever." Following the court case, Detective Sergeant Ian Evans branded Keel a "violent individual". He added: "Women are safer now that he has been convicted for his crimes. "Maxine was a beloved mum and daughter. Maxine's family miss her every day and they still feel her loss profoundly. "I hope they find some solace in knowing Keel is no longer able to inflict his brutal and violent behaviour on any other women."
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Sex offender travelled 150 miles to rape girl
A convicted sex offender who travelled from England to Scotland to rape a young girl has been given a life sentence. Wayne Phillipson, 48, contacted the 12 year-old on Snapchat and later met her in a park in West Lothian, having travelled 150 miles from Consett, in County Durham. The vulnerable child was left so traumatised she has yet to return to school more than three years after what police called a "horrendous ordeal". At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Mulholland imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction and told Philipson he must serve a minimum of seven years behind bars. More stories from Edinburgh, Fife & East More stories from Scotland The attacker - previously guilty of offences against children - was convicted of rape and communicating indecently with the girl in September 2021 following an earlier trial in Livingston. The judge told Philipson: "You groomed, manipulated and exploited her by false pretences about yourself which culminated in sending her obscene messages. "This escalated her into your web of deceit. You travelled from Durham to West Lothian where you waited on her in a local park." "You have shown no remorse whatsoever - it is clear to me that you are a danger to young girls." The judge said a phone call between the pair played at the trial was "degrading and humiliating" towards the victim. Lord Mulholland: "I am satisfied that an Order for Lifelong Restriction should be made in your case." Det Insp Craig Higgins at the Child and Adult Protection Unit in Livingston described Philipson as a "dangerous sexual predator" who would now face "the consequences of his actions." He added: "I commend the girl for her strength in reporting his offending and throughout the legal proceedings and hope that this can bring her and her family closure as they continue to move forward with their life." Katrina Parkes, Scotland's procurator fiscal for high court sexual offending, added that she hoped the verdict would give "some comfort" to the victim and her family. Phillipson - who admitted breaching bail after evidence was completed at the trial - was told it would be up to the parole board if he was ever released. He was previously jailed in 2023 for eight and-a-half years in connection with a series of child sex offences. Phillipson used Snapchat and an app called Wink to befriend 12 to 14-year-old children across the country and get them to send indecent images. He was homeless and travelled across the country attempting to meet children, before ultimately being arrested in Wrexham in June 2022. Upon arrest, his mobile phone was found to contain in excess of 100 indecent images and North Wales Police were able to evidence contact with 29 children across the UK.
