A CONTROLLING and jealous husband who brutally stamped and punched his wife to death has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years. 

Shaun Dyson viciously attacked his partner Lucy Rushton, causing her to suffer 37 fractures to her ribs and 70 bruises. 

The 28-year-old, of Bury Hill Close, Anna Valley, changed his plea to one of guilty during a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

He had previously admitted manslaughter but denied murdering Lucy-Anne.

Sentencing Dyson today, Judge Choudhury described the assault as 'breathtaking in its brutality' as he served Dyson with a life sentence, that he would be forced to serve 17 years imprisonment. 

Mr Justice Choudhury said: "Lucy Rushton was your wife. She was the mother of five children. You were the father of her two youngest children. In the early hours of June 23 this year you took Lucy's life by kicking and stamping on her to death. She was only 30 years old."

Andover Advertiser:

He continued: "Your jealous, controlling and violent nature, which demanded that Lucy could not be with other men, all the while conducting a secret affair yourself, culminated that night in an attack that is breathtaking in its brutality.

"You kicked, punched and stamped on Lucy innumerable times, whilst she was lying on the floor, unarmed, inebriated and half-naked. Such was the extreme force used to attack Lucy that she suffered 37 fractures to her ribs, over 70 bruises, a broken sternum, internal blood loss, and the tearing of the very ligaments which kept her intestines in place.

"The pathologist concluded that the attack was such that Lucy did not suffer a sudden death, but a "miserable, wretched and drawn out death."

Officers were called to a house in Suffolk Road, Andover, in the early hours of Sunday, June 23.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, Lucy-Anne was pronounced dead at the scene.

Andover Advertiser: Pictured: Lucy Rushton Pictured: Lucy Rushton

Andover Advertiser: Pictured: Shaun Dyson on his wedding day to Lucy Pictured: Shaun Dyson on his wedding day to Lucy

A post-mortem found that the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, including to her face, neck, torso and limbs. She had also sustained significant internal injuries.

Today (Friday 20 December), Dyson was jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.

Detective Inspector Adam Edwards said: “Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the family of Lucy-Anne Rushton.

“Not only have they had to endure what happened that night, but they have had to relive their experience in court.

“I would like to praise their courage and hope that today’s sentence helps them to rebuild their lives.

“The trial heard that Shaun Dyson had been violent towards the victim previously, and his behaviour culminated in the brutal murder of Lucy-Anne.

“Tackling offenders of domestic abuse is a key priority for Hampshire Constabulary, and I hope that today’s sentence gives victims some confidence to come forward and talk to us.”

More to follow.