‘All I want is for him to leave me alone’
A “MANIPULATIVE, abusive and controlling” man who “ambushed” his exgirlfriend and stabbed her to death with a kitchen knife after she ended their relationship has been handed a life sentence.
Paul Crowther, 36, from Batley, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of “talented” university student Bethany Fields after being diagnosed with schizophrenia following her death.
Judge Tom Bayliss QC described Crowther as a “very dangerous man indeed” as he ordered him to be detained in hospital as part of his minimum sentence of 12 years.
Judge Bayliss told Leeds Crown Court that Miss Fields, of Bramley, Leeds, described the defendant as “manipulative, abusive and controlling”.
He said: “She told police that the abuse, which was initially low key, began to intensify.”
The court heard that Crowther had suffered from mental health issues for a number of years and had been detained in hospital several times after threatening suicide, having thoughts about killing others and hearing voices.
Judge Bayliss said: “Bethany Fields did what she could to help him with his mental health issues but it all became too much for her to cope with and she ended their relationship.”
The court heard that, following the split, Crowther saw the psychiatric liaison team at Dewsbury District Hospital on three occasions, where he said he wanted to attack others and kill himself, but was not detained.
He sent a “constant” barrage of abuse and threats to Miss Fields and others, and the 21-year-old environmental geography student reported Crowther’s behaviour to the police.
Judge Bayliss said she told police: “He has an obsession with killing someone and what it would feel like. I genuinely don’t know what to do. I am scared and frightened of what he will do and it’s made me fearful for others.”
“’All I want,’ said Bethany Fields on 19 August, ‘is for him to leave me alone.’”
The court heard that Miss Fields worked for an organisation that pro
He has an obsession
with killing ... I am scared and frightened
of what he will do