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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Peter Hennessy

Bestwood neighbours 'over the moon' as man convicted of murdering mum

Bestwood residents say their community is "over the moon" after Matthew Farmer was found guilty of his ex-partner's brutal murder.

Stacey Clay, 39, who had been in a relationship with Farmer for 15 years before they broke up, was killed by him after he hid in her garden with knife he had purchased at his work at a Tesco Extra store.

Nottingham Crown Court was told that Farmer winked and smiled at police after stabbing the mother of his children 21 times at her home in Andover Road on May 19, 2021.

He was given a life sentence for her murder with a minimum term to serve of 29 years before an application can be made for parole.

One Andover Road resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I've been following the case.

"I'm absolutely over the moon he's going to go to jail because of it. Justice has been done, definitely.

"It's despicable what he did. You just can't believe that one person could do that to another.

"She would have been scared, terrified when it was happening. I hope he goes down and stays down for the rest of his life."

Forensics in Bestwood, Andover Road (Nottingham Post)

"I was in the house when all the police arrived," said another Andover Road resident.

"I only saw all the commotion afterwards when I went outside. Obviously I didn't know at that point exactly what had gone on.

"I think we were all hoping for him to be found guilty, and expecting it as well.

"It doesn't change what he did. Her family still have to grieve. It's just really sad."

Meanwhile, Max Haleforth, 33, who has lived in Bestwood for the past two years, said: "To even think about doing something like that is horrific, actually doing it is crazy.

"I don't think anyone will ever know the full story with these things, but to stab someone that many times means you should be sent to prison and never come out."

Farmer had denied murder but was found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court. A jury just took 30 minutes to reach its conclusion.

He was sentenced in his absence, with him understood to have taken an overdose of tablets before being admitted to intensive care.

Andover Road in Bestwood (Nottinghamshire Police)

Miss Clay's mother, Carol York, said after the sentencing: "There are no words and those I have are not deserved by the monster that took her life. I do not want to waste anymore time with him.

"However, sadly Stacey does not have a voice, so I have tried to explain the best I can for the court and the jury to understand just what she meant to those that love her.

"Stacey had so much to live for, she was searching for an easy life being free, to think for herself. She was never given that chance.

"She met someone that could manipulate and control her, a nasty man, but sadly she couldn't see that."

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