Man jailed for more than 16 years for murder of Kimberley Deakin

A man from Dorset has been jailed for 16 years and three months for the murder of Kimberley Deakin, who was killed in Stoke-on-Trent last November.

Lewis Crofts, 30, of Broadstone, stabbed Kimberley, his ex-partner multiple times to the face, neck, and chest and police were called to her home in Leigh Street, Burslem, by a neighbour just before 4.40pm on 6 November. Kimberley, 29, sadly died just under two hours later at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Witnesses reported a man speeding away from the scene in Kimberley’s Vauxhall Corsa and a police alert was issued to all forces to trace the vehicle. Police in Northampton located the vehicle that evening and Crofts was the sole occupant. There were blood stains on his hands, on his clothes and inside the vehicle.

Crofts was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court this afternoon (Tuesday 4 May).

He admitted to killing Kimberley at her home on Leigh Street on 6 November 2020 at an earlier hearing.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Cheryl Hannan, said: “Crofts’ actions took away Kimberley from a large, close, loving family and many friends. He has also taken away a doting mother from a young daughter which will have far reaching affects for many years to come.

“I hope today’s sentencing now gives some sense of justice and allows all that knew her to move forward with grieving for their loss.”

Kimberley’s mother and her partner, Davina Kirkland and Wayne Parker, said: “The day my baby girl was taken away from us was the hardest thing that we have ever had to face. We all miss her terribly and I hope that the justice served today will help her rest in peace.”

Kimberley’s father and step-mother, John and Vicki Deakin, said: “Kim was my family’s rock. There will never be enough justice but we know she will be looking down at us all thinking ‘that’s my family and I’m proud of each and every one of them’.”