Claire Button given life sentence for murdering 5-year-old son
Claire Button has been sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 9 years, for the murder of her five-year-old autistic son, Lincoln Button, in South Ockendon
Last updated 17th Oct 2025
A mother has been given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 9 years, after being found guilty of the murder of her autistic son who died at home in South Ockendon last December.
Claire Button killed 5-year-old Lincoln Button at their home in Windstar Drive on the afternoon of Sunday 15 December, 2024.
She was also found injured, and was taken to hospital, but later discharged.
The jury were told the 35-year-old had been suffering with her mental health, and that voices had told her to kill Lincoln and herself. They found her guilty yesterday after hearing evidence of her deteriorating mental state.
The judge said the case was one of the most difficult she had dealt with in 30 years.
She explained: "He Lincoln would sometimes want to go out 10 to 15 times per day to ride his scooter, and on the day of the incident had a meltdown at a supermarket where he was "obsessed" with the sliding doors."
The judge said when Button returned to the family's flat with Lincoln she decided to end her own life and his.
In sentencing today at Basildon Crown Court she described Button as someone who was “very unwell”, and added:
“Not one person in the case said anything negative about her.”
The court heard how Claire Button’s mental health began to decline over the summer holidays of 2024, and “spiralled” over the winter break.
She told professionals she had been hearing voices, but the judge said:
“The voices she spoke of were clearly her own thoughts. I accept that she was desperate.”
The judge strongly criticised the emergency services, calling their response “not good enough.”
Claire had reportedly been told there was a 10-hour wait for an ambulance, and the court heard she experienced a “lack of help from 999.”
“Had it not been for her husband returning home when he did… she would have died,” the judge said.
“She said she was meant to go with her son.”
The judge concluded:
“There is only one sentence for murder, and that is life.”
“This sentencing brings no pleasure to anyone involved.”
In mitigation, Claire Button’s defence team described her as having “exemplary” prior conduct and said she had gone “above and beyond” for her son.
They said her mental illness “impaired her ability to exercise rational judgement,” and argued that with a faster emergency response:
“There may have been a different set of circumstances.”
**Tributes paid to Lincoln**
At the time of his death, Lincoln's family released a tribute, describing him as a “beautiful young soul who will be missed every day.
'Link’ was a cherished, loved, sweet, beautiful young soul who was adored by all."
Lincoln was a Year 1 pupil at Bonnygate Primary School, in South Ockendon.
In a statement, the school described him as "A cheeky, smiley, happy boy who was loved fondly by our Bonnygate family." It added:
“His love for school, laughter and cuddles will be remembered and missed dearly."