NOTTINGHAM WOMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR ELDERLY MAN'S MURDER
Sarah Hansford, aged 44, murdered Barry Spooner by stabbing him over 30 times in his home on Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, in late May 2023.
Despite Mr Spooner's act of kindness in taking her in after she claimed to be homeless, Hansford exploited his trust and used persuasion, threats, aggression, and violence to strip him of around £20,000 from his life savings.
She had a history of violence and breaches of restraining orders, having previously been sentenced to 39 months in prison for offences related to violence against her elderly grandfather.
She was assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm and medium risk to the public, but the risk assessment was not shared with other agencies, and crucial protective measures such as a Public Protection Notice (PPN) were not enacted.
Despite multiple warnings and concerns raised over her presence and exploitation of Mr Spooner, no effective action was taken to prevent the tragedy.
Hansford was later jailed for life at Nottingham Crown Court in December 2023.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
20,000 from his life savings. She had a history of violence and breaches of restraining orders, having previously been sentenced to 39 months in prison for offences related to violence against her elderly grandfather. She was assessed as...
Prison sentence
39 months
She had a history of violence and breaches of restraining orders, having previously been sentenced to 39 months in prison for offences related to violence against her elderly grandfather
Prison sentence
for life
Hansford was later jailed for life at Nottingham Crown Court in December 2023
