Plymouth man jailed for minimum 27 years for murder of Claire Chick
53 year old Paul Butler has been sentenced for stabbing his ex-partner
Last updated 25th Apr 2025
A Plymouth man has today (Friday 25th April) been told he'll spend a minimum of 27 years behind bars after stabbing to death his ex partner - with police still being investigated after the victim had made six statements to police in the months leading up to her death.
Paul Butler, 53, of Stangray Avenue, had even called himself the 'strangray strangler' online - later telling police he was a 'monster'.
Judge Robert Linford said: "You did not just kill Claire, you have caused untold misery to her family and her friends."
He reflected on what he called the 'frenzied and deliberately murderous attack' which was not a 'spur of the moment' attack but followed 'significant planning'.
The court was told Claire Chick, 48, had 'felt safe' with the defendant at first and she was a 'happy, bubble, ambitious, driven, wonderful person' as well as an 'exceptional' worker at Plymouth University - who 'loved her two daughters and was besotted by her five grandchildren'.
Mr Butler appeared at Plymouth Crown Court wearing a white T-shirt, after he'd pleaded guilty on March 18 to murder and possession of a bladed article.
The court heard the pair first met in the Summer of 2022, when she moved in next door - before they married two years later.
Soon after the end of the honeymoon Claire had told friends she 'regretted' the marriage and 'everything was all about him' and she had tried to end the relationship - something which was met with a cycle of threats, violence and remorse from the defendant.
By September 2024 Mr Butler had moved into his former house and Ms Chick had started talking about a divorce with a legal advisor.
The court was told he 'expressed feelings of jealousy' and she had felt guilt for his overdose and 'told friends she found it difficult to fully leave him,' and they embarked on couple counselling.
In one argument the court was told Butler had bragged he was thinking about killing an ex-partner.
On September 26, Ms Chick gave the first of what would become six police statements 'expressing the sense of control she felt he was having over her - and her fear of his behaviour'.
The court heard she was 'struggling to cope' and by November a rental friend of her property said Butler was 'obsessing about Claire' and she would later tell friends she was 'really struggling with Paul's behaviour' as he would post online updates about her activity and was 'increasingly stalking her'.
Butler was also open about tracking her car - using a device - and Claire was worried she was unable to get a divorce or sell the house and felt 'he had made her life hell'.
The court was told she had requested Butler leave her alone, but he believed she was in a new relationship at the time and would try to 'peer in' to see what they were up to - even later confronting her, something Claire reflected in witness statement number five to police.
The court heard Butler continued to 'stalk and harass Claire' and 'had eyes on Claire' because of his 'clear dislike of the new relationship. whilst he remained active on internet dating sites.
On January 21st, 2025, she signed her sixth police statement - the day before her death - saying 'I feel he will kill me' as she added she felt fearful of leaving her home, and friends were scared to come and see her.
Claire had moved on January 18 to a new address and Butler had followed the removal truck to see where it was.
Butler also posted messages online saying things like 'don't mess with a friend who has nothing to lose' and told friends he was 'jealous of her'.
The court was told Butler also changed his profile to 'Strangray Strangler' and she replied when told about that 'I wish he'd just get on and do it and put me out of my misery' as she prepared to update police about it during a pre-arranged appointment.
The court was shown Butler on CCTV before he bought three kitchen knives which he placed in his rucksack - later telling police he'd got rid of the two smaller knives but kept the big one, saying it was to maybe threatenor slash the tyres of Claire's new partner.
At 8.49pm, on the night of her death, Claire sent a selfie to a friend of herself relaxing with a glass of wine - and soon afterwards her partner, who was on a run at the time, had sent a message saying he would pop in.
Before the new partner arrived, Butler could be seen walking back to her apartment block on CCTV, carrying a knife and 'calmly' walking towards her before repeatedly 'thrusting' it at her with more than 20 blows.
An eye-witness said 'the man was really going for it' as the new partner arrived and heard a scream, thinking it was students at first, later attempting CPR.
The court was told Butler afterwards went to a shop and bought scotch and tried to book a hotel room - and when a friend messaged asking 'how he was' the response was 'better than Claire' and 'I meant to get him but F&*' up - adding he was now trying to 'OD as better than a life sentence'.
The next day he caught a train to Liskeard and police arrived at the Premier Inn that night and found his room barricaded from the inside - telling police he'd taken an overdose. Butler was transported to Derriford Hospital - saying 'I had no defence, she trusted me and loved me and I cannot believe I've done this'. Adding: "I am a monster" and "I've just seen hell, I'm going to hell this is what I've got to look forward to."
He also sought to minimise his stalking of Claire in later police conversations.
Victim Impact Statements
Bethany, Claire's eldest daughter, told the court her mum's death had left a 'huge void' and she feels 'angry, upset and completely lost' but pledged 'I will make sure her legacy lives on'.
She spoke directly to Butler - saying 'I want this evil man to listen to it from me' as she relayed how close she was with her mother and how they talked every day.
She asked: "How can you do that to someone you claim to love?"
She told the court that 'even saying your name fills me with anger', before adding 'the anger I have for you is nothing I've ever experienced in my life' but 'I couldn't bring myself to do that to you - what you did to my mum - I am not evil'.
She reflected on the pain of being asked by her youngest child 'how did she die?'
Claire's youngest daughter Lydia told the court the family should have been sat in court with their mum listening to Butler being sentenced for stalking and she was a 'caring loving person'.
Paul's partner told the court the loss of Claire has left the world feeling 'empty and cruel without Claire in it'.
The independent office for police conduct continues to investigate what happened in realation to prior police force conduct with the deceased.
In mitigation the court was told Butler 'whether misguided, believed they could get back together' and highlighted how he'd come to court to 'face the music'.
Police response
Detective Inspector Chris Lithgow, Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said: “I welcome the significant sentence handed to Paul Butler today.
"Butler brutally murdered Claire Chick outside her own home in a violent and cowardly attack.
“It is testament to the thorough and comprehensive investigation by detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team that Butler pleaded guilty to this offence and today he starts a minimum term of 27 years in prison. I would like to thank those witnesses at the scene and the numerous other people who assisted police in this investigation.
“Claire Chick was dearly loved, adored and admired by many and her family have demonstrated enormous courage and dignity. I would like to thank and commend Claire’s family who have shown nothing but strength and restrain throughout this difficult process. I hope that the conclusion of the case today will help them heal and move forward, but my thoughts and sympathies remain with them.”
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew added: “My thoughts and condolences are with Claire’s family and friends over the devastating impact this abhorrent crime committed by Paul Butler has had on them. I also acknowledge the details of this case heard by the court today are horrific and I know the anguish and pain will stay with Claire’s family.
“The Force made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to our previous contact with Claire.
“We are committed to fully co-operating with an ongoing independent investigation by the IOPC. It would be inappropriate to comment in more detail at this stage to ensure we do not compromise the investigation.
“Having met some of Claire’s family following her tragic death, the Force has conducted an urgent review of all our active stalking investigations.
“This has resulted in immediate changes to our stalking and harassment procedures. New policies have been implemented to ensure we provide greater focus on safeguarding victims, targeting perpetrators at the earliest opportunity and encouraging reporting.
“One of our priorities is to ensure we continue to improve how we investigate stalking and harassment, focusing on dealing proactively with dangerous perpetrators and giving greater confidence to victims of this harmful and dangerous crime.”
PCC statement
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “The brutal murder of Claire Chick is a tragedy and my thoughts are with Claire’s family, friends, colleagues, and everyone affected by this horrific crime.
“The statistics on violence against women and girls are truly shocking – on average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every five days in England and Wales. One in five women will be stalked in her lifetime, and one in four will experience domestic abuse. These are our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.
“Many women feel unable to report to police for fear of not being believed, being trivialised, or coming to serious harm – or worse – as a result of coming forward.
“That’s why we need new, robust, radical strategies to give women and girls the confidence that we can, and will, prevent violence and abuse from happening, intervene before offences escalate to a dangerous level, and catch perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“I will continue to work with the Chief Constable, local authorities, victim services and national government to ensure we protect the most vulnerable and stop this harm at its roots.
“We all have a part to play in keeping the people we know and love safe. If you are concerned about the behaviour of someone you know, there are systems in place to help, including Sarah’s Law and Claire’s Law.
“My Victim Care website (victimcare-dc.org) has information on how to get help, and if you are experiencing domestic abuse you can get in touch with support services through this website even if you haven’t reported to police.”