John Jessop jailed for murder of ex and mother of three Clair Ablewhite in Nottinghamshire
A man who stabbed a mother of three to death in a “brutal and relentless” attack in her home less than a week after their relationship ended has been jailed for life.
John Jessop, 26, cycled 17 miles to the home of Clair Ablewhite, 47, and murdered her last February.
He stopped to buy a pasty on the way from his home in Newark, Nottinghamshire, and had a drink with friends after killing her.
Clair Ablewhite was described as a ‘loving, caring and outgoing mum’. Pic: Nottinghamshire Police
Jessop admitted murder at a previous hearing and was sentenced today at Nottingham Crown Court. He will serve a minimum of 17 years and eight months.
He attacked Ms Ablewhite at her home in the village of Colston Bassett on 25 February, six days after the pair had broken up due to their age difference, Nottinghamshire Police said.
They had met online six months before.
Jessop punched her repeatedly and stabbed her in the neck and chest before cycling back home.
Ms Ablewhite’s father found her body after a friend raised concerns about her welfare.
Jessop has shown ‘no remorse’. Pic: Nottinghamshire Police
As her father tried to revive her, Jessop was “enjoying his first pint in a pub in Newark with mates”, Detective Inspector Mel Crutchley said.
He said Jessop “showed no remorse” throughout their investigation and “consistently provided ‘no comment’ in interview and offered up no apology”.
Det Insp Crutchley added: “He has taken away a loving, caring and outgoing mum, daughter, sister, and friend to many.
“Today’s sentence will never bring back Clair, but it does mean that Jessop will spend a considerable part of his life behind prison bars, and I hope this gives her family some comfort.”
Jessop was identified with the help of a neighbour’s CCTV. Pic: Nottinghamshire Police
Neighbour had CCTV of attacker
Ms Ablewhite’s neighbour provided the CCTV footage that allowed Jessop to be identified as a suspect.
Det Insp Crutchley said officers obtained witness accounts from Clair’s family and friends which “allowed the team to understand the relationships she had, any known issues that could have contributed to her death and her known movements prior to the murder”.
Officers said Ms Ablewhite had been using a dating website and had communicated with Jessop via social media and WhatsApp.
‘A timely reminder for people to think about who they interact with online’
Det Insp Crutchley said Jessop “was identified as being known to Clair via social media” and was in a relationship with her from September 2021 until 19 February last year.
“The contact ceased mainly due to concern over the age difference, and it was evident from the communication that he had been at her Colston Bassett address during the six weeks she had resided there,” he said.
“The neighbour played a major part in helping with our investigation by providing that first CCTV image of the killer and I would like to thank him personally for travelling home from France to help us bring Clair’s killer to justice.
“It is also a timely reminder for people to think about who they interact with online and to ensure their safety is protected from violent and predatory people like Jessop.”
A police officer who was driving a van that followed two teenagers shortly before they died in an e-bike crash will not be prosecuted.
The deaths of Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, sparked riots in the Ely area of Cardiff in May 2023.
The officer was facing a dangerous driving allegation but prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.
A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) statement said: “We fully understand that this will be disappointing news for the families of both boys and will offer a meeting with them to explain our reasoning further.”
Rumours on social media that the teenagers were being pursued by police were initially denied.
South Wales Police said none of its vehicles were in Snowden Road at the time of the crash.
But police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) later confirmed it was investigating after video appeared to show them being followed by a van – without blue lights or a siren – minutes before the incident.
Other footage, however, showed the van turn off and it wasn’t following the boys at the time of the collision.
A key factor under consideration was whether there was any point at which the actions of the officers in the van “constituted a pursuit”.
CCTV showed a police van following the bike moments before it crashed
Read more:
Timeline of events before fatal Cardiff crash
The driver and passenger of the marked police van were previously issued with gross misconduct notices.
A second investigation was also opened by the IOPC into issues including police management of the crash scene and treatment of the families.
Riots broke out in the Ely area after the boys’ death. Pic: PA
Pic: PA
A riot of several hours broke out after the boys’ deaths, with cars set alight and fireworks and other missiles thrown at police.
Eleven officers needed hospital treatment and 31 people were eventually charged.
The decision not to charge the police officer driving the van can be challenged under the victims’ right of review scheme.
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