Latest news with #MissWelby
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Old Etonian attacked ex-girlfriend who ‘belittled' him in front of friends
An Old Etonian threatened to throw his former partner down a well at his family's country estate after claiming she 'belittled' him in front of her friends. Douglas Clifton Brown, 56, repeatedly punched Camilla Welby as he drove her to a remote location after they left a drinks party in August 2023. Clifton Brown, a cousin of Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the North Cotswolds MP, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the attempted murder. Sentencing him, Judge Alice Robinson told him he carried out the assault after becoming enraged when his ex-girlfriend 'underplayed' the part he had played in her daughter's wedding. After leaving the gathering at a friend's house, Clifton Brown drove past the turning for Miss Welby's home and said he would 'drop her off at the next village and she could walk home in the dark'. She refused to get out of the car, however, and he started driving again, Norwich Crown Court heard. 'On the way you were angry, shouted and repeatedly struck her in the face,' the judge said, noting that Miss Welby's nose was broken and her eye sockets were bruised. Addressing Clifton Brown, she said: 'You said you were going to take her (Miss Welby) to a disused well at High House, throw her in it then yourself.' The High House Estate, now a wedding venue near Congham in Norfolk, has been in his family for generations. The judge said Clifford Brown had 'recently topped up the water in the well, it was in a remote wooded location'. Once they arrived at the estate, Clifton Brown drove to the well and stepped out of the car. Miss Welby told the court she was in 'complete terror that she was about to be killed'. The court heard she was able to grab her scarf and wind it round Clifton Brown's neck to get him off her. The judge described the incident as an 'angry, drunken and petulant, albeit extreme, reaction to the perceived slight from Ms Welby earlier in the evening and likely a build-up of antagonism during your relationship'. The judge said that on the day of the incident, 'everything was fine until she (Miss Welby) got in the car'. 'You accused her of belittling you in front of your friends when describing her daughter's wedding and felt she had underplayed your role,' she said. 'Although what precipitated the argument may have been trivial, your reaction was not.' The court was told Clifton Brown and Miss Welby had been in a relationship for about 15 years until he broke it off with her while on holiday in Greece in the summer of 2023. Upon their return, Miss Welby 'wanted an amicable separation' and said Clifton Brown could stay at her home for two months while he found a place to stay. The judge said that she accepted Clifton Brown's ADHD 'may have played a part in the offending by impairing your ability to exercise appropriate judgment'. Clifton Brown was found guilty of attempted murder at an earlier trial, and had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill. The judge said Clifton Brown would be entitled to be released on licence after serving two thirds of his 24-year sentence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
02-04-2025
- Telegraph
Old Etonian attacked ex-girlfriend who ‘belittled' him in front of friends
An Old Etonian threatened to throw his former partner down a well at his family's country estate after claiming she 'belittled' him in front of her friends. Douglas Clifton Brown, 56, repeatedly punched Camilla Welby as he drove her to a remote location after they left a drinks party in August 2023. Clifton Brown, a cousin of Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the North Cotswolds MP, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the attempted murder. Sentencing him, Judge Alice Robinson told him he carried out the assault after becoming enraged when his ex-girlfriend 'underplayed' the part he had played in her daughter's wedding. After leaving the gathering at a friend's house, Clifton Brown drove past the turning for Miss Welby's home and said he would 'drop her off at the next village and she could walk home in the dark'. She refused to get out of the car, however, and he started driving again, Norwich Crown Court heard. 'On the way you were angry, shouted and repeatedly struck her in the face,' the judge said, noting that Miss Welby's nose was broken and her eye sockets were bruised. Addressing Clifton Brown, she said: 'You said you were going to take her (Miss Welby) to a disused well at High House, throw her in it then yourself.' The High House Estate, now a wedding venue near Congham in Norfolk, has been in his family for generations. The judge said Clifford Brown had 'recently topped up the water in the well, it was in a remote wooded location'. Once they arrived at the estate, Clifton Brown drove to the well and stepped out of the car. Miss Welby told the court she was in 'complete terror that she was about to be killed'. The court heard she was able to grab her scarf and wind it round Clifton Brown's neck to get him off her. The judge described the incident as an 'angry, drunken and petulant, albeit extreme, reaction to the perceived slight from Ms Welby earlier in the evening and likely a build-up of antagonism during your relationship'. The judge said that on the day of the incident, 'everything was fine until she (Miss Welby) got in the car'. 'You accused her of belittling you in front of your friends when describing her daughter's wedding and felt she had underplayed your role,' she said. 'Although what precipitated the argument may have been trivial, your reaction was not.' The court was told Clifton Brown and Miss Welby had been in a relationship for about 15 years until he broke it off with her while on holiday in Greece in the summer of 2023. Upon their return, Miss Welby 'wanted an amicable separation' and said Clifton Brown could stay at her home for two months while he found a place to stay. The judge said that she accepted Clifton Brown's ADHD 'may have played a part in the offending by impairing your ability to exercise appropriate judgment'. Clifton Brown was found guilty of attempted murder at an earlier trial, and had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill. The judge said Clifton Brown would be entitled to be released on licence after serving two thirds of his 24-year sentence.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Old Etonian who threatened to throw woman in disused well at family estate is jailed
An Old Etonian who threatened to throw his ex-partner down a disused well has been jailed for 24 years for attempted murder. Douglas Clifton Brown, 56, attacked Camilla Welby and put her in "complete terror that she was about to be killed", a court heard. Judge Alice Robinson, sentencing him at Norwich Crown Court, said Clifton Brown became angry about a perceived slight while driving after drinks at a friend's house. He was supposed to be taking her home, but instead drove past the turning for Miss Welby's house. The judge said Clifton Brown, from Congham, in , told Miss Welby he would "drop her off at the next village and she could walk home in the dark", but then started driving again after he "tried unsuccessfully to get her out of the car". "On the way, you were angry, shouted and repeatedly struck her in the face," the judge said, noting that Miss Welby's nose was broken and her eye sockets were bruised. She told Clifton Brown: "You said you were going to take her (Miss Welby) to a disused well at High House, throw her in it, then yourself." The High House Estate has been in his family for generations and is now a wedding venue. The judge said the defendant had "recently topped up the water in the well. It was in a remote wooded location". Clifton Brown drove right up to the well, got out of the car, and Miss Welby was in "complete terror that she was about to be killed", the judge said. She said Miss Welby was able to grab her scarf and wind it round Clifton Brown's neck to get him off her. Read more from Sky News: The judge described the incident as an "angry, drunken and petulant, albeit extreme, reaction to the perceived slight from Ms Welby earlier in the evening and likely a build-up of antagonism during your relationship". "I accept that the impulsivity associated with ADHD may have played a part in the offending by impairing your ability to exercise appropriate judgment," she said. Clifton Brown was found guilty of attempted murder after an earlier trial and had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill.
Sky News
02-04-2025
- Sky News
Old Etonian who threatened to throw woman in disused well at family estate is jailed
An Old Etonian who threatened to throw his ex-partner down a disused well has been jailed for 24 years for attempted murder. Douglas Clifton Brown, 56, attacked Camilla Welby and put her in "complete terror that she was about to be killed", a court heard. Judge Alice Robinson, sentencing him at Norwich Crown Court, said Clifton Brown became angry about a perceived slight while driving after drinks at a friend's house. He was supposed to be taking her home, but instead drove past the turning for Miss Welby's house. The judge said Clifton Brown, from Congham, in Norfolk, told Miss Welby he would "drop her off at the next village and she could walk home in the dark", but then started driving again after he "tried unsuccessfully to get her out of the car". "On the way, you were angry, shouted and repeatedly struck her in the face," the judge said, noting that Miss Welby's nose was broken and her eye sockets were bruised. She told Clifton Brown: "You said you were going to take her (Miss Welby) to a disused well at High House, throw her in it, then yourself." The High House Estate has been in his family for generations and is now a wedding venue. The judge said the defendant had "recently topped up the water in the well. It was in a remote wooded location". Clifton Brown drove right up to the well, got out of the car, and Miss Welby was in "complete terror that she was about to be killed", the judge said. She said Miss Welby was able to grab her scarf and wind it round Clifton Brown's neck to get him off her. The judge described the incident as an "angry, drunken and petulant, albeit extreme, reaction to the perceived slight from Ms Welby earlier in the evening and likely a build-up of antagonism during your relationship". "I accept that the impulsivity associated with ADHD may have played a part in the offending by impairing your ability to exercise appropriate judgment," she said. Clifton Brown was found guilty of attempted murder after an earlier trial and had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- The Independent
Old Etonian who threatened to throw ex-partner down well is jailed for 24 years
An Old Etonian who threatened to throw his former partner down a well at his family's country estate has been jailed for 24 years for attempted murder. Douglas Clifton Brown, 56, argued with Camilla Welby in the car after drinks at a friend's house and then attacked her in August 2023. Judge Alice Robinson, sentencing at Norwich Crown Court, said Clifton Brown became angry about a perceived slight and drove past the turning for Miss Welby's house when he was supposed to be driving her home. The judge said the defendant, of Congham, Norfolk, told Miss Welby he would 'drop her off at the next village and she could walk home in the dark', but then started driving again after he 'tried unsuccessfully to get her out of the car'. 'On the way you were angry, shouted and repeatedly struck her in the face,' the judge said, noting that Miss Welby's nose was broken and her eye sockets were bruised. She told Clifton Brown: 'You said you were going to take her (Miss Welby) to a disused well at High House, throw her in it then yourself.' The High House Estate, now a wedding venue and near Congham, has been in his family for generations. The judge said the defendant had 'recently topped up the water in the well, it was in a remote wooded location'. She said the journey to the estate took up to 40 minutes and Clifton Brown drove right up to the well, got out of the car and Miss Welby was in 'complete terror that she was about to be killed'. She said Miss Welby was able to grab her scarf and wind it round Clifton Brown's neck to get him off her. The judge described the incident as an 'angry, drunken and petulant, albeit extreme, reaction to the perceived slight from Ms Welby earlier in the evening and likely a build-up of antagonism during your relationship'. 'I accept that the impulsivity associated with ADHD may have played a part in the offending by impairing your ability to exercise appropriate judgment,' she said. She said that in mid-2023 Clifton Brown and Miss Welby had been in a relationship for around 15 years. Clifton Brown told Miss Welby, while on holiday in Greece that summer, that the relationship was over, the judge said. She said Miss Welby 'wanted an amicable separation' and said Clifton Brown could stay at her home for two months while he found a place to stay. The judge said that on the day of the incident 'everything was fine until she (Miss Welby) got in the car'. 'You accused her of belittling you in front of your friends when describing her daughter's wedding and felt she had underplayed your role,' she said. 'Although what precipitated the argument may have been trivial, your reaction was not.' Clifton Brown was found guilty of attempted murder after an earlier trial, and had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill. The judge said Clifton Brown would be entitled to be released on licence after serving two thirds of his 24-year sentence.
