Man jailed for ‘savage’ murder of mum of two
AMAN was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for the “savage” murder of a mother of two and former RAF servicewoman.
Brian Manship, 38, lured Sarah Hassall to his flat after they met in a pub before stabbing her 22 times in a “savage, sustained and merciless” attack.
“Much-loved” veteran Ms Hassall, also 38, was found wrapped up in a curtain after concerned neighbours called the police and forced entry to the flat while Manship escaped by jumping out of a first-floor window.
Firearms officers found him hours later hiding in undergrowth near his Pontypridd flat.
Describing it as a “senseless loss of life”, Judge Keith Thomas sentenced Manship to a minimum of 20 years in prison at Swansea Crown Court.
Ms Hassall’s widower Graham, addressing Manship in a statement to the court, said: “Not only did you exploit a vulnerable person, you went on to kill her in the most horrible way possible... She pleaded for you to let her go. I live with those thoughts and visions every single day.
“I have no doubt her last thought was her very young children she left behind. The time of writing this is the eve of our son’s ninth birthday. He cried for her wearing her coat, which shows her diminutive size.”
AMAN who admitted murdering a former servicewoman and mum-of-two in his house has been sentenced to life.
Brian David Manship must serve a minimum of 20 years after being sentenced by Judge Keith Thomas at Swansea Crown Court.
The judge described it as a “tragic and senseless loss of life”.
The body of 38-year-old Sarah Hassall, who served with both the RAF and the British Army, was found in the defendant’s terrace house in Pontypridd, on the morning of October 6 last year.
On January 17, Manship pleaded guilty to her murder when he appeared at the crown court for a brief hearing. The 38 year old, of Llys Graig Y Wion, Pontypridd, had been remanded into custody for sentencing yesterday.
Prosecutor Andrew Jones told the court Manship carried out a “savage, sustained and merciless” attack, where he stabbed her 22 times to her upper body in a furious attack at the first-floor flat.
After Manship murdered Ms Hassall, the court heard he wrapped her body up in a curtain and escaped through a first-floor window, wearing his victim’s blood-stained jeans.
He then ran off and hid in the woods and was later found by armed police officers ten hours after he murdered her.
The court has been told that neighbours heard screams going on for around an hour.
Ms Hassall was heard pleading for her life, and one neighbour saw her mouthing the words “help me, help me”, the court heard.
They court also heard from defence solicitor Peter Rouch QC, who said they were two individuals with drink and drug problems, who had met earlier at a pub, before the attack.
A statement read out on behalf of Manship by Mr Rouch said he was “deeply remorseful and sorry” for his actions.
It said: “There is not a day goes by I don’t think of what I did.
“I will have to live with the guilt for the rest of my life. I can only imagine what Sarah’s family must be going through.
“I wish I could go back and change it, but I can’t and it sickens me.”
In his closing remarks, “Judge Thomas said: “Sarah Hassall was 38 years old when she was murdered. She was a much-loved mother, sister and wife.
“Sadly she found it difficult to adapt to civilisation after leaving the army. She turned to drink as a way of dealing with her issues and her life spiralled downwards.
“It seems you met in a pub in Pontypridd and you went to a bar together. You picked up a bottle of vodka and went back to your flat. Shortly after 7am it appears Sarah was trying to arrange a taxi to leave.
“At 7.45am a neighbour could hear crashing and smashing and her saying ‘Get off me, leave me alone’.
“He saw her from a window looking distressed and dishevelled and injured, mouthing the words ‘help me’, and you screaming ‘get the **** back in here.’
“Police were unable to gain access to the flat until 8.54am, when she was fatally injured and you had fled through the window. She had been subject to a sustained assault throughout various rooms of the flat.
“You began hitting her repeatedly with your fists and thereafter used two separate knives.
“You inflicted 22 stab wounds and seven slash wounds.
“I have no doubt you intended to kill Ms Hassall.”
Originally from Chelmsford in Essex, she had served with both the RAF and the Royal Engineers for 14 years, before moving to Wales.
Following her death a member of her family released a tribute which said: “Her career was dominated by her commitment to mountain search and rescue – Sarah represented her units at both rock-climbing competitions and competitive running.
“Sarah left the army in 2010 to embark on, and excel at, even greater challenges – raising two young boys, Owain and Evan.
“Sarah was my best friend and touched many more lives along the way. We all now mourn her passing, grateful for the short time we had in her company.”