Killer slit mum's throat in posh village after she ended fling over age gap
A killer has been jailed for life after cycling 17 miles and stabbing a mum of three to death.
John Jessop, 26, had been in a brief relationship with mum-of-three Clair Ablewhite, 47, after meeting online, but she became concerned over their age difference, police said.
Clair had moved into a cottage in the upmarket village of Colston Bassett a month after her marriage had ended.
Jessop cycled around 17 miles from his home in Newark, Nottinghamshire, and was caught on CCTV before entering the mum's home, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Clair, who ran a dog-walking business from her home, was described by friends and clients as “sociable, well-liked, who would stop and talk to anyone”.
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John Jessop was jailed today at Nottingham Crown Court for 17 years and 8 months (Raymonds Press)Jessop pleaded guilty to murder at a previous hearing and was sentenced today to life with a minimum term of 17 years and eight months.
The court was told Jessop inflicted a "brutal and relentless" attack on Clair on February 25 last year, "causing catastrophic injuries which finally led to her death".
Nottinghamshire Police said the affair had lasted less than six months and had ended six days earlier, citing age difference being the main reason.
During sentencing, the judge said: "It is clear from the messages you sent, you were perplexed by that. You did not understand why that happened and could not understand. On February 15, you were saying, 'what's going on? Don't mess me around."
This is the moment Jessop was arrested by police (Raymonds Press)The court heard how Jessop cycled to Clair's on February 19. The prosecution told the court how Jessop set off on his bike to Clair's on February 19 with the intent to kill.
Clair was found by her father after a pal raised concerns about her welfare.
Her father Graham Tinkley, 74, told the court: "To this day I wake up in the night; panic attacks. I see Clair in my dreams. I see blood gushing from her throat trying to resuscitate her dead body."
While Clair's body was found, Jessop was having a pint with friends at the pub, police said today.
This image shows Jessop cycling from Newark to Colston Bassett (Raymonds Press)Clair was found dead after she had suffered stab wounds to the neck and chest. Her phone was also missing.
The killer had left hardly any DNA at the scene, apart from shoeprints marked in blood inside the address.
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However, a massive break in the case happened when Jessop was identified as a suspect through CCTV provided by Clair's neighbour.
The neighbour was on holiday in France at the time and had caught Jessop on his CCTV camera as well as the audio of the attack.
Jessop was seen buying a pasty before the murder (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE/UNPIXS)He flew back to the UK to help the police with their investigation.
The shoeprints left at the scene matched the Adidas trainers Jessop was wearing at the time and police were able to identify his bike from a faulty reflector.
Police also managed to recover Clair's mobile, and despite it being severely water damaged, were able to recover the WhatsApp messages between her and Jessop.
Before the murder, Jessop was spotted buying a pasty from a shop on CCTV, which later helped police match him at the scene.
And following her death, two of Clair's sons paid tribute to her, describing her as "one in a million".
Police cordoned off the road in Colston Bassett after Clair was found dead (Raymonds Press)Dan Ablewhite, 28, shared a touching image of him smiling with his mum on Facebook, and wrote: "I love you so much mum.
"I just want to see that beautiful big smile and give you a hug and tell you how much you mean to us all.
"You really was one in a million, rest in peace, sleep tight, remember and dream about all the good times we had together."
His brother Sam posted a poignant picture with Clair, writing: "Mum we all miss you so much.
"You really was one in a million. Words cannot describe how hard my life will be without seeing that beautiful big smile you had.
"Rest in peace, Sleep tight and remember all the good times we had together.
"All 3 of us brothers will do everything we can to put a proud little smile on your face up there."
Police used this image to track Jessop's journey the night he killed Clair (Raymonds Press)Commenting on the inquiry, Detective Inspector Mel Crutchley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "One of my lines of inquiry was to task officers to obtain witness accounts from Clair's family and friends.
"This allowed the team to understand the relationships she had, any known issues that could have contributed to her death and her known movements prior to the murder."
Officers said the victim had been using a dating website and had communicated with Jessop via social media and WhatsApp.
Data from Jessop’s phone also showed that he installed Google Maps, which was subsequently deleted the day before the murder.
Police were then able to build a CCTV picture of Jessop leaving his Newark address and travelling to Colston Bassett by bike.
Jessop pleaded guilty (Raymonds Press)Det Insp Crutchley added: "He (Jessop) was identified as being known to Clair via social media and had been in an intimate relationship with her from September 2021 which had ended on February 19, 2022.
"The contact ceased mainly due to concern over the age difference, and it was evident from the communication that he had been at her Colston Bassett address during the six weeks she had resided there.
"The neighbour played a major part in helping with our investigation by providing that first CCTV image of the killer and I would like to thank him personally for travelling home from France to help us bring Clair's killer to justice.
"It is also a timely reminder for people to think about who they interact with online and to ensure their safety is protected from violent and predatory people like Jessop.
A neighbour captured Jessop on their CCTV (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE/UNPIXS)"Throughout this investigation, Jessop has shown no remorse for what he did to Clair. He has consistently provided 'no comment' in the interview and offered up no apology.
"The attack he inflicted on Clair was brutal and relentless, causing catastrophic injuries which finally led to her death.
"At the same time that Clair's dad discovers his daughter's body and tries to provide CPR - Jessop is enjoying his first pint in a pub in Newark with mates.
"He has taken away a loving, caring, and outgoing mum, daughter, sister, and friend to many.
John Jessop cycling between Newark and Colston Bassett (PA)"Today's sentence will never bring back Clair, but it does mean that Jessop will spend a considerable part of his life behind prison bars, and I hope this gives her family some comfort."
*For confidential support, call the 24-hourNational Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.ukIf you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse)can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
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