A man who murdered a fellow resident at a sheltered housing complex threatened the victim before the attack that he would “do time” for her because “she was getting on his nerves.”
Stephen Ansbro was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing and slashing Jane Collinson 60 times with a bread knife in March at the complex where they resided in Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Who is Stephen Ansbro?
Stephen Ansbro murdered Jane Collinson at a sheltered accommodation facility in County Durham back in March. He was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars.
Mrs Collinson had previously complained to accommodation management about Ansbro, according to the evidence presented at Newcastle Crown Court.
Mrs Collinson advised the resident’s son in one letter that Ansboro was getting “too close” to Ansbro.
According to prosecutor Mark McKone KC, a witness later informed police that after learning of the letter, Ansbro claimed “he would do time for her and he would kill her because she was getting on his nerves.”
The 60-year-old attempted to conceal the murder by fastening Mrs Collinson’s door from the outside.
He even sliced his own neck to suggest that the 59-year-old had attacked him.
Before he can be considered for parole, he must serve at least 18 years in prison, plus four years and nine months for sexual offences he committed against a minor in the 1990s and a child cruelty offence.
Ansbro, who used an electric wheelchair, was at Mrs Collinson’s flat for seven hours on the night of the event.
He inflicted 59 slash wounds on her with a 20cm-long knife, stabbed her once and slapping and hitting her. Mrs Collinson nearly lost two fingers fighting herself before dying from blood loss.
Her husband, Garth Collinson, stated in a victim statement that meeting his wife in 2014 transformed his life for the better and that he became part of her extended family.
They had located their dream home, which they intended to purchase, and they had planned their future together.
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Her kids stated she was the heart of their family and that they “still feel numb” five months after her death.
Peter Moulson KC, defending, said Ansbro, who has 62 previous convictions, including two for robbery, had demonstrated his remorse with his guilty pleas.
