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Adam Lewis, 18, jailed for torture and murder of girlfriend | Adam Lewis, 18, jailed for torture and murder of girlfriend |
(5 months later) | |
A "sadistic" teenager who tortured and murdered his girlfriend in a frenzied attack has been jailed for at least 22 years. | A "sadistic" teenager who tortured and murdered his girlfriend in a frenzied attack has been jailed for at least 22 years. |
Adam Lewis, 18, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Liverpool crown court for the murder of Hannah Windsor, 17. | Adam Lewis, 18, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Liverpool crown court for the murder of Hannah Windsor, 17. |
Hannah was tied to a tree, sexually assaulted, strangled and attacked with a knife by Lewis, who was from Moreton, Wirral. | Hannah was tied to a tree, sexually assaulted, strangled and attacked with a knife by Lewis, who was from Moreton, Wirral. |
Mr Justice Holroyde told him: "Only you know what you did to Hannah and in what order you did it. | Mr Justice Holroyde told him: "Only you know what you did to Hannah and in what order you did it. |
"It is, however, clear that you deliberately inflicted cruel injuries upon her which must have caused her immense pain and suffering." | "It is, however, clear that you deliberately inflicted cruel injuries upon her which must have caused her immense pain and suffering." |
Lewis, who has learning difficulties and a low IQ, showed no emotion as the judge told him the pathologist's report into Hannah's death made "chilling reading". | Lewis, who has learning difficulties and a low IQ, showed no emotion as the judge told him the pathologist's report into Hannah's death made "chilling reading". |
He added: "Adam Lewis, that was a prolonged, merciless and terrible attack, which must have been agonisingly painful for Hannah Windsor before she died. | He added: "Adam Lewis, that was a prolonged, merciless and terrible attack, which must have been agonisingly painful for Hannah Windsor before she died. |
"You must have known what dreadful pain you were causing her." | "You must have known what dreadful pain you were causing her." |
The judge said Lewis showed "dreadful cruelty" and added: "I am quite sure that your murder of Hannah Windsor involved both a sexual and sadistic element." | The judge said Lewis showed "dreadful cruelty" and added: "I am quite sure that your murder of Hannah Windsor involved both a sexual and sadistic element." |
Members of Hannah's family sobbed as they followed proceedings from the public gallery. | Members of Hannah's family sobbed as they followed proceedings from the public gallery. |
The judge said: "In every crime of murder, one life is taken but many others are damaged. | The judge said: "In every crime of murder, one life is taken but many others are damaged. |
"I have read and taken account of statements by both of Hannah's parents. They, and other members of her family and friends, have suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of what you did." | "I have read and taken account of statements by both of Hannah's parents. They, and other members of her family and friends, have suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of what you did." |
The partially clothed body of Hannah, who was living in a hostel for homeless young people at the time of her death, was found hidden under leaves and dirt in woodland at Bidston Hill, Wirral, on 19 May 19. | The partially clothed body of Hannah, who was living in a hostel for homeless young people at the time of her death, was found hidden under leaves and dirt in woodland at Bidston Hill, Wirral, on 19 May 19. |
She had been restrained and tied to a tree, sexually assaulted, stabbed repeatedly and suffered other multiple knife wounds to her chest, abdomen and back, the court heard. | She had been restrained and tied to a tree, sexually assaulted, stabbed repeatedly and suffered other multiple knife wounds to her chest, abdomen and back, the court heard. |
Her mouth had been covered with surgical tape and she was strangled with a combination of Lewis's hands and a ligature. | Her mouth had been covered with surgical tape and she was strangled with a combination of Lewis's hands and a ligature. |
There were also severe wounds in her genital area and evidence of sexual assaults. | There were also severe wounds in her genital area and evidence of sexual assaults. |
Lewis had denied murdering his girlfriend but changed his plea to guilty on Monday, shortly before his trial was due to begin. | Lewis had denied murdering his girlfriend but changed his plea to guilty on Monday, shortly before his trial was due to begin. |
He also admitted two counts of sexual assault against his victim, two counts of burglary and one count of arson. | He also admitted two counts of sexual assault against his victim, two counts of burglary and one count of arson. |
In addition to life with a minimum term of 22 years for Hannah's murder, Lewis was sentenced to five years and six months for each sexual assault, to be served concurrently. | In addition to life with a minimum term of 22 years for Hannah's murder, Lewis was sentenced to five years and six months for each sexual assault, to be served concurrently. |
He was also jailed for three years and four months for the arson and two years and six months for the burglaries, both also concurrent sentences. | He was also jailed for three years and four months for the arson and two years and six months for the burglaries, both also concurrent sentences. |
Hannah and Lewis had both been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They met when they were pupils at a Wirral special school. | Hannah and Lewis had both been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They met when they were pupils at a Wirral special school. |
After leaving school they were in a relationship for seven months before splitting up and then reuniting about six weeks before he killed her, the court heard. | After leaving school they were in a relationship for seven months before splitting up and then reuniting about six weeks before he killed her, the court heard. |
In the days leading up to Hannah's death, Lewis was hiding from police after a burglary during which he started a fire. | In the days leading up to Hannah's death, Lewis was hiding from police after a burglary during which he started a fire. |
He was sleeping in a tent in a woodland clearing at Bidston Hill, a beauty spot on the outskirts of Birkenhead. | He was sleeping in a tent in a woodland clearing at Bidston Hill, a beauty spot on the outskirts of Birkenhead. |
Police became aware that Hannah knew where Lewis was hiding and warned her not to go to see him. | Police became aware that Hannah knew where Lewis was hiding and warned her not to go to see him. |
"Tragically, it seems Hannah was determined to ignore the advice she had been given by police and was intending to visit the defendant at his campsite," Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, earlier told the court. | "Tragically, it seems Hannah was determined to ignore the advice she had been given by police and was intending to visit the defendant at his campsite," Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, earlier told the court. |
Hannah was carrying a note from a detective which contained a phone number for her local police station. | Hannah was carrying a note from a detective which contained a phone number for her local police station. |
The note was later found torn up at Lewis's campsite, Flewitt said. | The note was later found torn up at Lewis's campsite, Flewitt said. |
"It may be that the presence of this torn note around the campsite indicated to the defendant that she had been speaking to police and may in part explain why he attacked and killed her," the barrister told the court. | "It may be that the presence of this torn note around the campsite indicated to the defendant that she had been speaking to police and may in part explain why he attacked and killed her," the barrister told the court. |
Two days after Hannah disappeared, Lewis was found by police, sleeping rough at a railway station. | Two days after Hannah disappeared, Lewis was found by police, sleeping rough at a railway station. |
A search of the police national computer revealed he was wanted for burglary and arson and he was arrested before being released on bail. | A search of the police national computer revealed he was wanted for burglary and arson and he was arrested before being released on bail. |
While on bail he told his sister he had killed Hannah and his grandfather contacted police. | While on bail he told his sister he had killed Hannah and his grandfather contacted police. |
Lewis was re-arrested and taken to Bidston Hill where he directed police to an area near where Hannah's body was found. | Lewis was re-arrested and taken to Bidston Hill where he directed police to an area near where Hannah's body was found. |
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