Every third day, in our #EveryThreeDays campaign, I write about a woman killed by a man. Previously in this campaign, which started on the 2nd of May 2021, we have remembered 51 women, the last being Jennie Leeman, who was shot by her estranged husband ten years ago in September 2011.
Today we remember Helen Lancaster, who her husband killed in September 2015.
Helen, 54, worked as a Primary School teacher, and she shared the house with her husband David, 60. Sadly, their relationship broke down over the years, and a dispute broke out over a house that David purchased with money he had inherited. Finding out that Helen had commenced a new relationship with another man, Lancaster attacked Helen at their home in Tewksbury with a sledgehammer and smothered her with a pillow.
He then went on the run, making a choice after reaching Burnham on Sea to give himself up to the police. Lancaster pleaded guilty to murder at Bristol Crown Court in February 2016 with the Judge, Neil Ford sentencing him to life in prison and a minimum to be served of 11 years, 9 months. The Judge said:
“Your relationship had been in difficulty for some time.You suspected she had been having an affair with another man. On 20 August your suspicions were confirmed and you confronted Helen. I have no doubt that you began to contemplate the benefit of killing your wife. Helen had revealed to friends that you had accused her of stealing your inheritance.
You said you had been driven to commit murder by the way your wife had treated you and your daughter. You also said what you had done was less serious than what your wife had done to you and Amy. You have effectively deprived your daughter Amy of both her parents.”
Helen Lancaster
#EveryThreeDays
Authored by Steph @PlaceSteph
