Man admits murder of mum-of-seven who disappeared 28 years ago

11 September 2026 , 20:57

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Man admits murder of mum-of-seven who disappeared 28 years ago

A man has admitted murdering a mum-of-seven nearly 30 years ago.

Trevor Dunkley, 66, killed Patricia Lashley, who disappeared near her home in Dudley, West Midlands, in September 1998.

He showed no emotion in the dock at Wolverhampton Crown Court as his barrister, Balbir Singh, told Judge Michael Chambers KC that the charges had been brought following a confession in a police interview.

Asked by the judge if Patricia’s body had been found, Mr Singh answered: ‘No, because this is 28 years ago and the body was put into the cellar downstairs. It decomposed. When he was moving about nine months to a year later the skeleton was disposed of into the bins.’

Several members of Patricia’s family were present in court to see Dunkley, who police believe knew Ms Lashley, enter his guilty pleas to charges of murder and preventing a lawful burial.

Both charges admitted by Dunkley covered a time period between September 22 and September 28 1998.

Partricia’s relatives watched on as Judge Chambers told the killer he had shown ‘courage’ in pleading guilty, despite the decades they have spent waiting for justice.

Police have said Patricia, who was known locally as Pat or Jade, lived at an address in Hall Street, Dudley, had links to London, Wales, Newcastle and Scotland, and also used the names Vanessa and Tricia, as well as the surname Bradford.

Dunkley, appearing in the dock wearing round-rimmed glasses and a grey sweater, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on November 6.

Mr Singh told the court Dunkley had told police about disposing of Patricia’s body months after killing her, at a time ‘when there was no evidence in reality of what had happened’.

Addressing Dunkley at the end of the hearing, Judge Chambers said: ‘You have had the courage to plead guilty to these matters and will get appropriate credit (for pleading guilty) in due course.

‘I am required to set the minimum term that you will have to serve before the Parole Board consider your case.

‘As you are aware, the sentence for murder is life imprisonment.

‘I am going to order a pre-sentence report. It’s in your interests to co-operate with the preparation of that report.

‘In the meantime you must remain in custody.’

Sophia Martinez

World Affairs Correspondent