U.K. man sentenced to life in prison for murder of Canadian teenager

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A British man has been sentenced to life in jail for the homicide of a Canadian teenager who moved to England final yr after assembly him on-line.

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Essex Police stated Monday that Jack Sepple will spend a minimal 23 1/2 years in jail for the loss of life of Ashley Wadsworth of Vernon, B.C.

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Wadsworth, 19, was stabbed and strangled throughout a sustained assault within the 23-year-old’s dwelling on Feb. 1, police stated.

Sepple pleaded responsible to Wadsworth’s homicide final month.

Det. Supt. Scott Egerton stated in an announcement the proof in opposition to him was “so overwhelming” that he had no selection aside from to confess his guilt.

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“My ideas in the present day are solely with Ashley’s family and friends. Nothing will convey Ashley again, however I hope they discover some consolation afforded by the sentence,” Egerton stated.

In an announcement shared by police, her mom Christy Gendron described Wadsworth as an attractive and sensible younger lady, whose “love of and thirst for journey” introduced her to the U.Okay.

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“You had been the spine of our little household,” her mom stated.

Wadsworth’s Fb web page confirmed she moved to England final November. She posted photographs of what she described as an “superb journey to London” with Sepple simply weeks earlier than she was killed.

Police stated Monday that on the day of the assault, two of the teenager’s mates obtained texts saying she wanted assist and needed to go away Sepple’s dwelling. The texts requested the pair to come back get her, however had been adopted by messages saying every little thing was “sorted.”

Involved for his or her mates security, the buddies went to the tackle. They heard motion within the one-bedroom dwelling however received not response in order that they known as police, the assertion stated.

Officers arrived minutes later and compelled their method into the property. They discovered Sepple within the bed room on his cell phone, subsequent to Wadsworth’s physique.

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“Sepple calmly advised officers the had strangled and stabbed Ashley,” the assertion stated.

Forensic investigators discovered a bloodstained knife behind a radiator within the lounge of the property, it stated.

“Sadly, regardless of the very best efforts of our officers and medics, Ashley, who had moved to the U.Okay. from Canada to be with Sepple, was pronounced lifeless on the scene.”

An post-mortem discovered she had been stabbed greater than 90 occasions and had bruising on her neck in step with strangulation, police stated.

Throughout the investigation, officers found the messages telling her mates that every little thing was “sorted” had been despatched after her loss of life, police stated.

Sepple was jailed for all times at Chelmsford Crown Courtroom Monday.

Gendron’s assertion stated her daughter had an ethical and non secular compass “second to none” and all the time appeared out for others.

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“Whenever you helped somebody, they knew they had been liked,” she stated.

Ashley’s father Kenneth Wadsworth additionally issued an announcement by way of police saying she advised him she needed to take a yr off to go to Sepple then come dwelling and go to varsity.

Her father described her as a vibrant scholar who was fast to be taught every little thing, from strolling at seven months to enjoying sports activities.

“I wasn’t eager on you going to England, being away from everybody, however you’re such a robust individual and knew what you needed in life,” he stated.

The assertion says he thinks about why she stayed with Sepple.

“It performs on my thoughts; on the identical time, I do know you’re such a form and loving individual and would have simply needed to assist him with every little thing that was happening.”

The police division stated home abuse is a key precedence and urged anybody who’s affected by it, or is aware of some topic to abuse, to come back ahead and make a report.