Murderer who stabbed partner 17 times in Telford flat has sentence extended
Paul Beddoes will now spend a minimum of 15 years behind bars for the murder of Lynn McNally.
A murderer who stabbed his partner 17 times has had his minimum sentence increased over concerns his punishment was too lenient.
Paul Beddoes, 45, was branded a "danger to women" and his life sentence was increased from a minimum of 11 years 243 days imprisonment to 15 years.
Beddoes murdered his partner Lynn McNally, 46, at their home in Mullinder Drive, Ketley Bank, in February, stabbing her repeatedly with at least two knives.
At the time, Beddoes was addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.
He admitted stabbing Miss McNally to his neighbours the morning following the attack.
His sentence was re-examined after it was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, for being too low.
“This was a brutal and frenzied attack which resulted in the death of Beddoes’ partner," he said.
"The offender is a danger to women, and I am pleased the court has seen fit to increase the prison term.”
Beddoes, who was unemployed, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court in August, where he was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 11 years imprisonment.
The court heard that he had a £60-a-day drug habit, and that the couple had lived a chaotic life because of their addiction.
Beddoes at first pleaded not guilty to murder on the basis of his diminished responsibility due to having a history of mental illness.
But a psychiatric report suggested that it was Beddoes' illicit drug taking and not his history of paranoid schizophrenia that led to the attack.
He was taken to Redwoods Centre, in Shrewsbury, on February 20 after he was found on a railway bridge at Oakengates, threatening to harm himself.
After an assessment with three professionals, he was allowed home later that day with advice to "engage” with the mental health crisis team, which he failed to do.
Miss McNally was found dead the next day.
He changed his not-guilty plea to guilty before his hearing could begin.
Judge Michael Chambers QC originally sentenced him at Stafford Crown Court.
"This is a serious and tragic case as are all cases of murder," he said.
Detective Inspector Mark Bellamy, from West Mercia Police's Major Investigation Unit, was the senior investigating officer in the case.
He said: "We felt the original sentence he was given was too lenient and did not do the severity of the case justice so took the decision to immediately appeal and are pleased that today our appeal has been upheld.
"Domestic abuse remains a priority and we hope this demonstrates our commitment.
"We have specially trained officers working across West Mercia Police who will do everything possible to safeguard those who are vulnerable.
"Our thoughts remain with Lynn's family and friends as they continue to come to terms with her death and I hope that today's sentence will provide a small sense of closure for her family."
