A man has been sentenced to life in prison after attacking his girlfriend, Ellen Marshall, who tragically died from severe burns almost two years after he set her alight.
Leigh Pateman, 45, was originally sentenced to 17 years and 10 months for grievous bodily harm, but after Ellen passed away on March 11, 2023, from injuries sustained during the attack, he admitted to her murder.
The attack occurred on April 22, 2021, when Pateman, in the midst of an argument, poured petrol on Ellen and set her on fire.
Emergency services were called to their home in Firbeck Avenue, Skegness, where they found Ellen severely burned, with 80% of her body covered in full-thickness burns.
The court heard that Ellen, aged 43 at the time, had lost her fingers and experienced limited movement after the attack, requiring numerous skin grafts.
Despite her resilience, her chance of survival was slim, and she passed away from pneumonia, a long-term consequence of her burns.
READ ALSO: Woman’s Body Found Dismembered in Suitcase After Boyfriend Sends ‘Concerning’ Texts
Pateman had initially told police that he was “messing about” by flicking a lighter to “scare her,” but things quickly escalated. After Ellen caught fire, Pateman fled the scene on his bike, leaving her to suffer.
The court was told that Pateman had a history of alcohol dependence, drug use, and a mixed personality disorder.
He had previously threatened to set Ellen on fire, which he later followed through on.
Ellen’s daughter, Paige Clarke, shared an emotional victim impact statement in which she described how her mother’s physical appearance had drastically changed and how her strength never wavered, despite the immense pain she endured.
Pateman was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years and 145 days. Judge Simon Hirst condemned Pateman’s actions, stating that the attack was not a “sudden outburst” but a result of ongoing abuse.
Detective Inspector Andy McWatt of Lincolnshire Police described the attack as “shocking and barbaric” and expressed hope that the sentence would provide some sense of closure to Ellen’s family.