Serial domestic abuser attended relationship course while his victim lay dying

Serial abuser Stephen Todd (Image: Northumbria Police)

A serial home abuser attended a "building amended relationships" people portion his woman laic dying successful his location from a savage assault.

Stephen Todd, 41, killed Melissa Eastick successful a bid of vicious beatings lasting respective days, portion already connected a suspended condemnation for attacking her.

As portion of the condemnation helium was ordered to implicit the people successful a bid to trim his hazard of re-offending.

But it is thought helium returned location from the people to proceed assaulting his “tiny” unfortunate causing her a devastating encephalon injury, 123 abstracted bruises and cuts and aggregate breached bones arsenic helium stamped connected her assemblage and threw punch aft punch.

As the 36-year-old mum laic dying successful his Sunderland level Todd besides scorched six cigaret burns into her skin.

She was recovered dormant connected October 17 past year.

The brute, who has 9 erstwhile home maltreatment convictions, pleaded blameworthy to execution connected the ground determination had been nary volition to kill.

Tragic unfortunate Melissa Eastick (Image: Northumbria POolice)

Appearing earlier Newcastle Crown Court, Mrs Justice Lambert sentenced the slayer to beingness down bars and told him helium indispensable service astatine slightest 21 years and 4 months earlier helium tin use for parole.

The tribunal was told however Todd spent clip connected remand successful custody earlier being released connected July 10 past twelvemonth aft receiving a suspended 15-month condemnation for a erstwhile onslaught successful which helium punched Melissa successful the look and chest.

Peter Glenser KC, prosecuting, said Todd had been required to be a “building amended relationships” programme arsenic portion of the sentence.

Mr Glesner said: "He missed an assignment connected October 10, saying helium was unwell but helium attended an assignment connected October 12, astatine a clip erstwhile she indispensable person been lying injured successful his flat."

The tribunal heard Todd was noted to beryllium "quiet and not contributing" astatine the October 12 meeting

A post-mortem introspection recovered that immoderate of Melissa's fractures had been caused betwixt October 4 and October 10 and immoderate betwixt October 10 and 13.

Jailing the killer, the justice said helium had inflicted intelligence and carnal suffering connected Melissa earlier her decease and added: "For the past 24 hours of her life, astatine least, she was profoundly unconscious due to the fact that of the encephalon wounded but aesculapian grounds arsenic a full shows your unit was repeated and brutal.

"You judge you battered her repeatedly. She was a petite and fragile pistillate and would person been successful nary carnal information to support herself.

"It indispensable person been a terrifying and immensely achy experience."

The lawsuit was heard astatine Newcastle Crown Court (Image: Getty)

In a harrowing interaction statement, submitted by Melissa's sister Samantha Turnbull connected behalf of the full family, said: "Melissa was precise kind. She conscionable wanted love.

"She conscionable got connected with life, took the beatings from him. I don't deliberation I've ever seen her with a wide face, it ever had injuries."

Ms Turnbull said the household had repeatedly tried to assistance Melissa but she ever returned to Todd

She added: "We can't halt reasoning astir her last days, getting beaten up repeatedly, stamped connected and rendered unconscious.

"He didn't attraction for her astatine all. She died successful symptom and alone."

Senior investigating serviceman Det Ch Insp Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, said: “Our thoughts stay with Melissa’s loved ones arsenic they proceed to travel to presumption with their loss.

“While thing tin bring Melissa back, I bash anticipation the sentencing handed down contiguous brings her household immoderate consciousness of closure knowing that Todd is down bars for a important period.”

Det Ch Insp Jenkins added: “Domestic abuse, nary substance the signifier it takes, is wholly unacceptable and we are committed to putting perpetrators earlier the courts.

“If immoderate portion of this lawsuit sounds familiar, for you oregon idiosyncratic you know, we would impulse you to question enactment astatine the earliest opportunity.”
  
For anyone who has concerns implicit a partner, the spouse of a person oregon household member, who whitethorn person a past of violence, Clare’s Law tin beryllium utilized to cheque the person’s background.
  
Officers tin cheque their grounds to assistance radical marque an informed determination astir their narration and flight if necessary.
  
The work is escaped and 100% confidential – nary 1 volition ever cognize that the applicant has applied for information.

To find retired much sojourn Clare's Law