Evil man’s chilling words to friends after killing ‘beautiful’ mum Amy-Leanne Stringfellow

Amy-Leanne Stringfellow, aged 26, was stabbed in her neck with a sword, strangled and battered with a broken bottle by a man who was on bail at the time over a previous attack.

Amy-Leanne, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, was killed at the home of Doncaster man Terence Papworth, with whom she had been in a relationship, in June 2020.

Doncaster Coroner’s Court heard how 45-year-old Papworth – who died in prison last year while waiting to stand trial over Amy-Leanne’s murder – was on bail at the time of the fatal attack after being charged with assaulting her on an earlier occasion.

The inquest heard how he was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and assaulting Amy-Leanne the month before she died.

He was charged and bailed by magistrates to appear in court again in July, 2020.

His bail conditions included having no contact with Amy-Leanne but the inquest heard how the pair continued to see each other.

The inquest was told Amy-Leanne appeared to have gone willingly to builder Papworth’s home on June 5, 2020, after telling her family she was going away to Bridlington for the weekend with a former army friend.

Many of her relatives were in tears yesterday as pathologist Charles Wilson outlined the horrific catalogue of injuries she suffered in a ‘sustained, forceful multi-modal assault’.

Amy-Leanne’s mother, Jacqueline Fareham, said in a statement read to the inquest that her daughter had wanted to be in the army since she was 10 years old and described how she was ‘so proud’ of her achievements as both a soldier and a mother.

Ms Fareham said her daughter was ‘fearless and self-assured’.

She said her daughter left the military after developing post-natal depression following the birth of her daughter, retrained as a personal trainer and became a successful bodybuilder.

Ms Fareham said that she had felt her daughter was ‘slipping away’ as she became much more distant from her family after she met Papworth shortly after splitting from the father of her child.

DC Mark Briggs, of South Yorkshire Police, told the inquest that Papworth left his home after killing Amy-Leanne and admitted what he had done to a number of people before handing himself in to the police that night.

Mr Briggs said Papworth told one person: “I just stood there and let the life drain out of her.”

Assistant coroner Louise Slater recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing.

She said Amy-Leanne was ‘very much loved and cherished by her family and will not be forgotten’.

Ms Slater added: “She excelled during her time with the armed services. Perhaps more important, and not to be forgotten, she was a dedicated mum.”

Papworth died in Leeds Prison in November 2020.

South Yorkshire Police said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to Amy-Leanne’s death.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is looking at the involvement of the police in the run-up to the murder.

LATEST: ‘Avoid the area’: Air ambulance lands and police close road after early-morning crash

POLICE South Yorkshire Police awarded £1 million to steer young people away from violence

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.