The British man who killed a Vernon woman earlier this year in the United Kingdom has been handed a life sentence with a minimum of 23-and-a-half years in prison.
Jack Sepple was sentenced Monday, Oct. 10, in Chelmsford Crown Court for killing Ashley Wadsworth on Feb. 1, 2022.
Wadsworth was stabbed and strangled by Sepple in an attack in his home. She had moved to England to be with Sepple but, according to Essex Police, two of Wadsworth鈥檚 friends received text messages on Feb. 1 saying she needed help and wanted to leave.
The texts asked the friends to come and get her from Sepple鈥檚 home, but, later, the friends received messages saying everything was 鈥渟orted.鈥�
Concerned for their friend鈥檚 safety, the pair went to the Chelmsford address where Ashley was staying. Despite hearing movement within the property, they got no response and decided to call 999.
Officers arrived just minutes later at 4:15 p.m. and forced entry to the property.
After making their way to the bedroom, they found Sepple on his mobile phone alongside Wadsworth鈥檚 body.
Hidden behind a radiator in the one-bedroom property, forensic officers recovered a blood-stained knife.
Sepple calmly told officers he had strangled and stabbed Wadsworth, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The texts saying everything had been 鈥渟orted鈥� were discovered by investigators to have been sent after Wadsworth鈥檚 death.
On Thanksgiving Monday in Canada, Wadsworth鈥檚 family thanked dedicated detectives for securing justice.
鈥淭oday, Ashley鈥檚 family and friends can know that justice has been served,鈥� said Det. Supt. Scott Egerton, the detective who led the case against the accused.
鈥淛ack Sepple admitted murdering Ashley Wadsworth, their daughter, their sister, their aunt, their friend, and will now serve a life sentence.
鈥淲hen Ashley came to the UK to be with him, her family could never have imagined the horror they鈥檝e been faced with.
鈥淎t just 19, Ashley had a bright future ahead of her. She had dreams and passions she wanted to pursue and these would have been a reality had it not been for Sepple; he took all that away from her.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the dedication of my investigation team. Their focus and determination meant that the evidence against Jack Sepple was so overwhelming that he had no choice other than to admit his guilt.鈥�
Egerton continued he was proud of the dedication of his investigative team, but his thoughts on Monday were entirely with Wadsworth鈥檚 family and friends.
鈥淣othing will bring Ashley back, but I hope they find some comfort afforded by the sentence,鈥� he said.
鈥淎s a force, domestic abuse is a key priority and our officers work tirelessly every day to keep victims of domestic abuse safe. We are proud of our Domestic Abuse Problem Solving Team who work alongside partners to support victims and challenge perpetrators.
鈥淚 would urge anyone who is, or has been, or knows someone who is subject to domestic abuse, to come forward and make a report. We will listen to you and support you.
鈥淲e will help you find your voice.鈥�
Tributes to Wadsworth from her family can be read .
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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