MAN WHO MURDERED SOMERSET MOTHER GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE
A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of Sarah Ashwell, a mother of two from Wells.Antanas Jankauskas, formerly residing in Wookey, appeared at Bristol Crown Court where he was convicted of ending her life on November 6 of the previous year.
The court heard how Sarah Ashwell was subjected to a "savage and sustained attack" in her home on South Street.
Her mother, Linda Joice, delivered a heartfelt statement expressing devastation and heartbreak: "Bill and I are devastated and heartbroken that our daughter and only child, Sarah, has gone.
Knowing I will never see her again, talk to her on the phone, or share normal things a mother and daughter share, is terrible." Sarah's death was described as horrendous and unbearable to think about, especially for her children, who lost their mother at a young age.
The court detailed how Sarah was strangled and fatally wounded with a knife, with evidence showing she had struggled with drug use for many years and was in a relationship with Jankauskas.
CCTV footage revealed Jankauskas arriving in Wells by bicycle and loitering near her home on the night of the murder.
His DNA was found underneath her fingernails, and blood on her door handle.
The pathologist indicated she was vulnerable and possibly immobile at the time of her death, with metabolites of cocaine, heroin, and a small amount of alcohol present in her blood.
Witness testimony also noted Sarah was intoxicated and distressed the day before she died, saying she 'didn't feel safe' at home.
Despite no murder weapon or blood-stained clothing found, police attempted to recover evidence by draining the nearby moat.
Jankauskas initially denied involvement but later accepted he killed her, claiming he had no memory of the incident.
He had been seen in the area and had a history of controlling and violent behavior towards Sarah, including incidents where she was hit.
The court sentenced him to life with a minimum of 14 years and 10 months imprisonment, emphasizing the brutal nature of the attack and the fact that Sarah was under the influence of drugs, and a knife was used.
Judge Blair QC stated: "There is only one punishment for murder and that is a life sentence.
For the rest of your life, you will remain under supervision and always be subject to recall to prison even after you are released." The judge also highlighted aggravating factors like her drug use, vulnerability, and the use of a knife, which brought the maximum sentence to 17.5 years before discounting for his guilty plea.
Jankauskas lived on-site in a caravan and had a life with four children in Lithuania, aged between four and 21.
His relationship with Sarah was about two years, during which she tried to stop drug use while he claimed he had not habitually taken Class A drugs.
The court revealed that Sarah’s friends and family described her as caring and loving, despite her ongoing struggles with addiction.
Overall, the case painted a picture of a brutal, unprovoked attack on a vulnerable woman, with Jankauskas now serving a life sentence, confirming justice for Sarah Ashwell.
