Man who killed estranged wife loses appeal bid

A man who was jailed for life for murdering his estranged wife after months of stalking and harassing her has lost a bid to have his sentence reduced.

Paul Antony Butler was sentenced to at least 27 years in prison in April last year after admitting stabbing university lecturer Claire Chick more than 20 times with a kitchen knife outside her home in Plymouth in January 2025.

Butler had subjected Chick to months of harassment, stalking and violence, and she had made six statements about him to the police before her murder.

In written submissions Butler told the Court of Appeal on Tuesday he believed the sentence was "excessively harsh", but the appeal bid was dismissed.

Judge Kristina Montgomery KC, sitting with Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Picken, said there were "numerous aggravating features" in the case, concluding: "There are no arguable grounds for saying that the sentence was manifestly excessive."

Butler did not attend the hearing in person and was not represented.

Plymouth Crown Court heard that Butler and Chick, a lecturer in nursing at the University of Plymouth, became neighbours in 2021, were a couple the following year, and married in 2024.

Butler was later arrested three times for assault, harassment and stalking of her, including for placing a tracking device on her car.

With his escalating behaviour, Chick told police 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."

After learning Chick had formed a new relationship, Butler 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 and also chased her new partner.

Butler was arrested the following day at a hotel in Liskeard and told police: "She trusted me and she loved me and I can't believe I have done this.

"She has children and grandchildren – I have destroyed so many lives. I don't care about me."

He added: "I am a monster. I have just seen hell, I am going to hell. This is what I am going to look forward to."

More than a dozen officers were served with misconduct or gross misconduct notices in January over Devon and Cornwall Police's contact with Chick.

They included 15 police officers, two police staff members and one former officer, who were involved in logging information, risk assessments and safeguarding decisions made about Chick from September 2024 until just before her death.

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