Woman killed by violent ex-boyfriend

A young woman who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend while he was on parole for an earlier attack on her died of unlawful killing, an inquest jury ruled.

Nursing assistant Nicola Sutton, 22, was knifed to death by Barry Stone, 31, a month after he was freed from jail for a violent attack which left her with fractured ribs.

Mr Stone had served six months of an 18-month term imposed by Warrington Crown Court in February 2006.

After he killed Nicola, from Warrington, Cheshire, Mr Stone went on the run but was eventually located and charged with murder.

In December 2007 he killed himself while in prison on remand.

Following a five-day inquest at Warrington Town Hall the jury returned a narrative verdict of unlawful killing, Cheshire Police said yesterday.

During the hearings, Miss Sutton's mother, Lynn Sutton, 52, fought back tears as she gave evidence saying how Mr Stone came across as a pleasant man when she first met him in 2003.

But she said Mr Stone was in fact "grooming" her daughter from the moment they met, then embarked on a campaign of abuse for three-and-a-half years, ending in the death of her outgoing daughter.

Mrs Sutton, a trained nurse, said she could tell her daughter was being beaten and that she lost weight and became withdrawn and secretive.

The jury heard Mr Stone regularly beat Miss Sutton, causing numerous injuries including broken ribs and black eyes.

Mrs Sutton told the jurors: "He would flip unexpectedly for no apparent reason. She knew if she spoke to any of his friends he would flip and she knew when it was about to happen."

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg described Mr Stone as a "Jekyll and Hyde character".

As well as striking Miss Sutton, Mr Stone campaigned to intimidate her so that she would not report him to police.

The mother said their windows were smashed with bricks a number of times, and graffiti appeared around Warrington reading "Nicola Sutton is a grass".

A friend of the murdered woman told the inquest Stone once followed them to Ibiza, where they had gone to escape his regular abuse.

Cheshire Police said they helped Miss Sutton and her family by offering advice and support, including CCTV cameras at their home after Mr Stone smashed the windows.

The force said the offer of a safe house to Nicola and her mother was declined. But a panic button was installed at their home and police also intercepted his letters from prison. Speaking after the verdict, Superintendent John Armstrong said: "This is the most tragic of cases.

"Nicola lost her life at the hands of a violent and abusive man who subsequently took his own life, escaping justice for the murder he had committed.

"Our thoughts and feelings are with Nicola's family."

He added: "Inevitably questions may be asked whether the police and other agencies could have done more to protect Nicola from Stone."