Lawrence Bierton
Lawrence Bierton (born 1960) is an English convicted serial killer.[1] In 1996, he was convicted of the double murder of two elderly sisters in Rotherham. In 2023 he was convicted of a third murder he committed while released on licence.[2]
First crime
[edit]On 25 June 1995, 79-year-old Aileen Dudill and her 72-year-old sister Elsie Gregory discovered their gardeners, Lawrence Bierton and Michael Pluck, stealing from them. Bierton and Pluck reacted by bludgeoning and suffocating the sisters to death.[3][4] Bierton and Pluck then piled the sisters' living room furniture over the bodies and set it all on fire.[5]
Bierton and Pluck were both jailed for life at Sheffield Crown Court in 1996.[6]
Release and reimprisonment
[edit]Michael Pluck died in HMP Rye Hill on 13 February 2012[5] after failed appeals in 2002 and 2010.[7]
Bierton was released from prison on licence in 2017. He was recalled to prison in 2018 but was released on licence again in 2020.[8]
On 9 November 2021, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Bierton battered his 73-year-old neighbour Pauline Quinn to death with her own coffee table.[9] The cause of death was traumatic head injuries.[10] His abuse of drug and alcohol was considered by the prosecution to be a contributing factor.[11]
In January 2023, the Probation Service released their review of the case.[12] The local MP for Bassetlaw Brendan Clarke-Smith called for a public inquiry.[13] On 20 December 2023, Bierton received a whole life sentence.[14][15] The Probation Service apologised to the families for its failings.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ Hamilton, Kirsty (8 April 2022). "Lawrence Bierton: Bassetlaw MP calls for independent inquiry after double murderer strikes again in Worksop". Worksop Guardian.
- ^ "Killer guilty of third murder will never be released". BBC News. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Convicted double-killer facing whole life order for third murder to be sentenced". Express & Star. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Cumber, Robert (20 December 2023). "Lawrence Bierton: 'Monster' murdered woman after jail sentence for killing Rotherham sisters". The Star.
- ^ a b Jackson, Sam (1 April 2022). "Lawrence Bierton: Worksop man killed elderly sisters in 'brutal' attack in 1995 - and 26 years later he has murdered again". Worksop Guardian.
- ^ Turner, Phil (20 October 2010). "Convicted killer bids for freedom - A man jailed for the brutal murder of two elderly Rotherham sisters could have his convictions quashed next month". Rotherham Advertiser.
- ^ Upton, Michael (18 November 2010). "Sisters' killer back in court". Rotherham Advertiser.
- ^ "Double killer battered neighbour to death while on licence, jury told". BBC News. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Lawrence Bierton: Killer guilty of third murder will never be released". BBC News. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Double killer used severe force in attack, court told". BBC News. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Double killer affected by alcohol during neighbour attack, court told". BBC News. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Sherdley, Rebecca (5 January 2023). "Serious review completed after double killer struck again". Nottinghamshire Live. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Statement: Sentencing of Lawrence Bierton for the murder of Mrs Pauline Quinn". Brendan Clarke-Smith. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Media, P. A. (20 December 2023). "Triple killer receives whole-life order for Nottinghamshire murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Triple killer given whole-life order for 'senseless' murder of neighbour". The Independent. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Probation Service apologises after murderer killed again while on licence". The Independent. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.