Family face killer of Nottinghamshire mum Clair…

Family face killer of Nottinghamshire mum Clair Ablewhite as he admits murder in court

John Jessop, who admitted the murder mum-of-three Clair Ablewhite after she was stabbed, made a "full confession to the offence" and faces life imprisonement. The question remains how long Jessop will have to serve before his case could even be considered for parole, which will be decided when he is sentenced on Friday, December 9.

Jessop, who had denied the senseless killing in Colston Bassett in February, and was due to face trial next week, dramatically changed his plea to guilty at a short hearing before Judge Stuart Rafferty KC on Wednesday (October 12). He was brought to Nottingham Crown Court from a prison where he has been remanded.

The 26 year old, of Regal Lodge, Sherwood Avenue, Newark, spoke to confirm his name. Then the charge of murder was read out to him and he pleaded guilty.

Peter Joyce KC, defending, said Jessop had made "a full confession to the offence" - and pleaded guilty on the basis of a document handed to the judge.

Jessop spoke calmly and appeared composed, wearing a dark grey T-shirt and pale grey tracksuit bottoms. Family members gathered in the public gallery but his gaze did not shift from the dock.

Ablewhite was fatally wounded at a property in Hall Lane, Colston Bassett, on the evening of Friday, February 25. Her body was discovered by police officers the following day. A Home Office post-mortem examination confirmed Ms Ablewhite had suffered stab wounds.

Mr Joyce, addressing the judge, said the sentence was going to be "life imprisonment" and the question is going to be what term he will serve before he might be considered for parole. He asked the judge to adjourn sentencing.

Judge Rafferty agreed, adding that: I know nothing about him. It's a full confession. We need to be clear what, if anything, underlayed what he did".

Sentencing will be on Friday, December 9. Judge Rafferty reserved the sentencing to himself having dealt with the matter throughout.

He told Jessop: You have now pleaded guilty to murder - the most serious of offences. It is inevitable you will be sentenced to life imprisonment. I have to consider now what term you should be ordered to serve before you can ever be considered for release, if release comes even then".

"No judge has the gift of restoring life"

The judge needs to hear from both sides in the case, and "equally, your barristers need your help, and you must be entirely frank with them; if they need you to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist, you must be entirely frank with him or her".

Judge Rafferty said to those gathered: "For those sitting in the public gallery. I give this warning: I am afraid I can't pass any sentence at all that can undo what he did".

He said the "guidelines bind me" and he must abide by them. "No judge has the gift of restoring life. That is a burden you must always carry".