Plymouth, UK — A man who relentlessly stalked and harassed his estranged wife for six months before brutally murdering her has been sentenced to life in prison.
Paul Butler, 53, was handed a minimum term of 27 years behind bars for the “frenzied, brutal” killing of Claire Chick, a 48-year-old university lecturer, in January.
Butler ambushed Ms. Chick outside her Plymouth home, wearing a camouflage hoodie, and stabbed her more than 20 times. Her new partner, Paul Maxwell, witnessed the horrific attack and was also threatened by Butler, who shouted, “I’ll f***ing do you too,” as he chased him from the scene.
After fleeing, Butler went to a nearby McDonald’s and confessed to a friend, saying, “I am pretty certain I have ended her. I loved her so much. I meant to get him, but f*** him. I killed her. I tried to get him, but he ran.”
In a powerful victim impact statement delivered in court, Mr. Maxwell described the emotional devastation the murder has caused. “I loved Claire. She was beautiful, funny, and kind,” he said. “No punishment can undo what has been done. Nothing can bring back the life of Claire, but today there is some small amount of justice—that the person responsible will answer for their crime.”
Claire’s father, Alan Butler, also addressed the court, describing the killer as a “nasty narcissist” who had “brutally killed the most beautiful human being and robbed the world of a high achiever.”
His voice heavy with emotion, he added, “You have murdered my daughter, taken her future, broken my heart, and will go straight to hell. I can never forgive you for what you have done.”
He further condemned the broader societal issue of male violence against women, stating, “There are too many men who take the lives of women because they can’t have what they want. They are evil. He is evil.”
The case has reignited calls for stronger protections for women. Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, emphasized the urgent need for improved measures to combat violence against women and girls.
The court heard that Claire had made six separate police reports about Butler’s escalating behaviour. He had been arrested three times for assault, harassment, and stalking. Despite being on bail and prohibited from contacting her, Butler persisted in his campaign of intimidation, including placing a tracking device on her car.
Prosecutor Jo Martin KC revealed that Claire and Butler became neighbours in 2021 and married in June 2024. However, the relationship quickly soured. Claire had doubts before the wedding and told friends the honeymoon marked the end of their marriage. She expressed regret, saying, “Everything was about him.”
On August 23, she told Butler she wanted to live alone. He reacted with a barrage of emotional manipulation, threats of violence and suicide, and jealousy-fueled outbursts.
“He would tell her he loved her, make threats of violence, and threaten suicide,” said Ms. Martin. “He also expressed feelings of jealousy and thought she was seeing someone else.”
In her final police statement, filed the day before her death, Claire chillingly warned, “I only feel that Butler will kill me if further action is not taken. I am in fear of leaving my house.”
She had also contacted her solicitor that same day to report Butler’s breach of bail conditions, expressing frustration at the lack of action taken by the police.
Notably, the day before the murder, Butler updated his Facebook profile to “Stangray Strangler.” When a friend alerted Claire, she responded, “I just wish he would get on with it and put me out of my misery.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating the police’s handling of Claire’s prior reports.
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew confirmed the force is cooperating fully and has already reviewed all active stalking cases.
“New policies have been implemented to ensure we provide greater focus on safeguarding victims, targeting perpetrators at the earliest opportunity, and encouraging reporting,” he said.
Sentencing Butler, Judge Robert Linford said the murder stemmed from a toxic mix of “obsession and control.” He told Butler,
“You did not just hurt and kill Claire; you have caused untold harm and misery to her family and friends. The loss of Claire has left an irreplaceable void in the lives of so many people. You are responsible for all this suffering—and you alone.”
