Leigh Pateman, 45, was initially sentenced to 17 years and 10 months for grievous bodily harm with intent, but later pleaded guilty to the murder of Ellen Marshall, who passed away from her injuries on March 11, 2023.
Emergency services responded to the couple’s home in Skegness on the evening of April 22, 2021, after Pateman poured petrol onto Ms. Marshall’s lap during an argument and ignited it.
Appearing via video link from prison, Pateman was handed a minimum sentence of 23 years and 145 days by Judge Simon Hirst at Lincoln Crown Court.
The court heard that Pateman had told police he was “messing about” by flicking his lighter to “scare her,” but instead, she caught fire and he fled the scene on his bicycle.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene were met with thick black smoke and found Ms. Marshall on the floor, making a “gurgling” sound. Prosecutor Sarah Knight described the 43-year-old mother-of-four’s injuries as “profoundly serious,” with 80% of her body severely burned, resulting in skin grafts and the loss of fingers.
Ms. Marshall’s chance of survival was less than 50%, and she later died of pneumonia, which was linked to the long-term effects of her burns.
Pateman’s background, including a history of alcohol dependence and drug use, was mentioned during the trial. A witness testified that Pateman had threatened to set Ms. Marshall on fire just days before the attack, though she dismissed it as a joke.
In a victim impact statement, Ms. Marshall’s daughter, Paige Clarke, spoke of the emotional toll the attack had on her family, highlighting her mother’s strength despite her suffering. “My mum deserved better,” Clarke said. “She lost all her independence, and her body just could not take it anymore.”
Pateman’s defense attorney, Katherine Goddard KC, expressed remorse on his behalf, acknowledging the devastating consequences of his actions.
Judge Hirst described the attack as not a “sudden outburst of temper,” but rather part of a pattern of abusive behavior. He emphasized the mandatory life sentence for those convicted of murder.
Detective Inspector Andy McWatt from Lincolnshire Police called the attack “shocking and barbaric,” expressing hope that the family could now find some closure after enduring nearly two years of watching Ms. Marshall suffer.
