Leigh Pateman admits murder of Ellen Marshall, who died two years after setting her on fire

A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of a woman who died two years after setting her on fire.

Leigh Pateman, 45, caused “significant burns” to Ellen Marshall, who was 42 at the time, after pouring petrol on her and setting the fuel on fire during an argument in April 2021.

He previously admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and was sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison in March 2022 after the attack in Skegness. Lincolnshire.

Ms Marshall suffered between 80 and 90 per cent burns to the upper half of her body in the attack and spent the rest of her life in hospitals and care homes.

She eventually died from her injuries in March 2023 and Pateman was charged with murder.

He pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday and will be sentenced on December 2.

Judge Simon Hirst told the defendant, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Garth: ‘You know that the sentence I have to impose on you will be life imprisonment.

“What I need to determine, and will be assisted by counsel, is the minimum term you must serve.”

Lincolnshire Police said the murder charge was approved after consultation with police Crown prosecutor.

The case has similarities to that of Steven Craig, who was convicted of murder in 2022 about the death of a woman who died 21 years after he set her on fire with gasoline in 1998.

He was sentenced to one another 15 years in prison – in addition to the 18 he had already served for the attack – after his victim, Jacqueline Kirk, died in 2019 due to medical complications.

Detective Inspector Andy McWatt said: “This was a truly shocking and barbaric attack. I can’t imagine how much fear she must have felt, and how painful the rest of Ellen’s life was.

“Her family have had to watch someone they love suffer horrific injuries for almost two years. I hope they can feel some measure of certainty that her killer will now be convicted of that crime.”