Latest news with #PlymouthCrownCourt
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Kingsbridge man charged with murder of woman pleads not guilty
A man charged with murdering a woman in Devon has pleaded not Sutton, 30, of West Charleton Court, Kingsbridge, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday charged with the murder of Aimee 22-year-old died on the A379 Embankment Road in Kingsbridge in the early hours of Wednesday 23 April.A trial date has been set for 20 October at Plymouth Crown Court.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Man who sexually abused vulnerable women jailed
A "sexual predator" who abused five vulnerable women over a 12-year period has been Wilkinson, 53, of Drake Gardens in Tavistock, Devon, was found guilty of 21 separate offences against the women and was sentenced to 30 years in prison and five years on licence during a hearing at Plymouth Crown was charged with multiple counts of rape, serious sexual assault, physical assault and strangulation on five women, four of whom were described as "especially vulnerable", between 2012 and Robert Linford said Wilkinson's offences, which were carried out in the Tavistock area, "dredged the depths of depravity". The judge added: "You were a sexual predator who selected and abused women."Wilkinson must also sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life. 'Vulnerable, frightened and exhausted' Devon and Cornwall Police said Wilkinson was arrested in October 2023 following a report he had sexually abused a woman on numerous force said after extensive investigative work, officers identified four more of Wilkinson's court heard victim impact statements from some of the women Wilkinson abused, with one saying she never wanted to see his face said: "He hurt me, he frightened me and he forced me to do things I did not want to do."Another said she suffered repeated nightmares and flashbacks of her abuser and said she felt "vulnerable, frightened and exhausted".In mitigation, the court heard Wilkinson had an intellectual disability which results in him living a "basic" sentencing, Judge Linford said Wilkinson knew right from wrong despite his disability."It does not need me to say that these offences dredge the depths of depravity," the judge said. Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer DC Craig Ferguson paid tribute to the victims, recognising the bravery they had shown during the "lengthy, complex and difficult" said: "The offences in this case were harrowing with vulnerable people being targeted and abused in their homes where they should have been able to feel safe and secure."He added that the offending had been "some of the worst and most disturbing" he had dealt with in his 21-year police career.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Inmate who took HMP Dartmoor prison officer hostage sentenced
An inmate armed with a plastic prison knife who took a Dartmoor prison officer hostage has been Patterson handcuffed the warder and held him for three hours during the attack at HMP Dartmoor in July 37, admitted false imprisonment, assaulting an emergency worker and possessing an offensive weapon in Matthew Turner jailed him to a total of 22 months, which he must serve on top of his current extended sentence. Plymouth Crown Court heard how Patterson had earlier barricaded himself in his cell because he feared other inmates were going to kill him and make it look like was moved to a segregation unit but falsely imprisoned the prison officer as he was being taken out for officer was released after three hours and suffered reddening to his neck and was off work for two weeks. The court was told Patterson suffered from anxiety and depression as well as paranoia caused by his substance abuse which included taking had been jailed for 11 years at Exeter Crown Court for wounding with intent in October 2020 for an attack on a dog walker in Paignton and was serving that sentence at the Devon jail.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- The Sun
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. 5 5 5
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Camo-clad stalker who knifed ex dead when she started new romance learns his fate
A twisted former doorman was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years after he knifed his estranged wife to death when he refused to accept their relationship was over. Paul Antony Butler, 53, stabbed university lecturer Claire Chick, 48, in a frenzied attack outside her home following a six-month campaign of stalking and harassment. Plymouth Crown Court heard the mother-of-two's murder was the culmination of months of harassment and violence at the hands of Butler. Jo Martin KC, prosecuting, said Plymouth University lecturer Ms Chick made six statements to the police about the defendant's conduct and he had been arrested three times for assault, harassment and stalking. At one point desperate Ms Chick text a friend saying: "I wish he would just get on with it and put me out of my misery." Despite being on bail and banned from going near her, 6ft 5in Butler continued to stalk his 5ft 2in wife and even put a tracking device on her car, Ms Martin said. When he learned she had formed a new relationship, he went to her flat wearing a camouflaged hooded top and waited for her to come out of the building. He then attacked her in the street, stabbing her more than 20 times with a large kitchen knife he had bought hours earlier from a supermarket. A passing motorist described Butler as "really going for it," Ms Martin said. Butler - who changed his Facebook status to "Stangray Strangler" in reference to Stangray Avenue where he lived - then fled the scene but not before chasing Ms Chick's new partner, Paul Maxwell, who had returned from a regular evening run and witnessed the murderous assault, shouting at him: "I'll f***ing do you too." Ms Chick was taken to Derriford Hospital but declared dead an hour after the attack. The court heard they became neighbours in 2021 after Ms Chick moved into the street following the end of her first marriage. By the following summer they were a couple, and they married in June 2024. "Prior to the wedding she expressed some doubts, and the honeymoon was the end of the relationship," Ms Martin said. "They had a huge argument. She told friends she regretted getting married and everything was about him. "On August 23 she told him she wanted to live alone. He made it clear he would make her change her mind. He would tell her he loved her, make threats of violence and threaten suicide. He also expressed feelings of jealousy and thought she was seeing someone. He told her he was seeing other people in order to provoke jealousy." With his escalating behaviour, Ms Chick contacted the police - telling officers in her final statement the day before she was killed: "I only feel that Butler will kill me if further action is not taken. I am in fear of leaving my house." Ms Martin 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." Ms Martin read out the victim impact statement from Ms Chick's father who spoke of how he heard the awful news that his "beautiful daughter" was "brutally and savagely murdered" by an "evil person who took her life". He described her as "generous and full of fun" "a good person who had a purpose to her life", with an "infectious laugh". He wrote of his concerns for her when she called him in September 2024 following her separation from Butler where she said in her own words that "she was in a living hell". He said she told him she had called the police for help "several times", explaining to them that she was being followed and spied on. He said it "broke my heart over and over again" to hear the stress and torment in her voice. He said Butler has "brutally killed the most beautiful human being" and had damaged so many lives, of her children, her grandchildren, friends and family. He told Butler he had "murdered my daughter and broken my heart... and you will go straight to hell". At a previous hearing, Butler, of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a bladed article.
