Lawrence Bierton

Lawrence Bierton (born 30 December 1959) is an English convicted serial killer.{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Kirsty |date=8 April 2022 |title=Lawrence Bierton: Bassetlaw MP calls for independent inquiry after double murderer strikes again in Worksop |url=https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/crime/lawrence-bierton-bassetlaw-mp-calls-for-independent-inquiry-after-double-murderer-strikes-again-in-worksop-3646538 |website=Worksop Guardian}} In 1996, he was convicted of the double murder of two elderly sisters in Rotherham. In 2023 he was convicted of a third murder he committed while released on licence.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Killer guilty of third murder will never be released |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67771272 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

First crime

On 25 June 1995, 79-year-old Aileen Dudill and her 72-year-old sister Elsie Gregory discovered their gardeners, Lawrence Bierton and Michael Pluck, stealing from them. Bierton and Pluck reacted by bludgeoning and suffocating the sisters to death.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Convicted double-killer facing whole life order for third murder to be sentenced |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2023/12/20/convicted-double-killer-facing-whole-life-order-for-third-murder-to-be-sentenced/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Express & Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cumber |first=Robert |date=20 December 2023 |title=Lawrence Bierton: 'Monster' murdered woman after jail sentence for killing Rotherham sisters |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/lawrence-bierton-man-murdered-elderly-neighbour-while-on-licence-for-double-killing-in-rotherham-4452810 |website=The Star}} Bierton and Pluck then piled the sisters' living room furniture over the bodies and set it all on fire.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Sam |date=1 April 2022 |title=Lawrence Bierton: Worksop man killed elderly sisters in 'brutal' attack in 1995 - and 26 years later he has murdered again |url=https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/crime/lawrence-bierton-worksop-man-killed-elderly-sisters-in-brutal-attack-in-1995-and-26-years-later-he-has-murdered-again-3637625 |website=Worksop Guardian}}

Bierton and Pluck were both jailed for life at Sheffield Crown Court in 1996.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Phil |date=20 October 2010 |title=Convicted killer bids for freedom - A man jailed for the brutal murder of two elderly Rotherham sisters could have his convictions quashed next month |url=https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/council/convicted-killer-bids-for-freedom-4331005 |website=Rotherham Advertiser}}

Release and reimprisonment

Michael Pluck died in HMP Rye Hill on 13 February 2012 after failed appeals in 2002 and 2010.{{Cite web |last=Upton |first=Michael |date=18 November 2010 |title=Sisters' killer back in court |url=https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/council/sisters-killer-back-in-court-4328041 |website=Rotherham Advertiser}}

Bierton was released from prison on licence in 2017. He was recalled to prison in 2018 but was released on licence again in 2020.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-05 |title=Double killer battered neighbour to death while on licence, jury told |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67628360 |access-date=2023-12-20}}

On 9 November 2021, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Bierton battered his 73-year-old neighbour Pauline Quinn to death with her own coffee table.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-20 |title=Lawrence Bierton: Killer guilty of third murder will never be released |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67771272 |access-date=2023-12-20}} The cause of death was traumatic head injuries.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-07 |title=Double killer used severe force in attack, court told |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67649438 |access-date=2023-12-20}} His abuse of drug and alcohol was considered by the prosecution to be a contributing factor.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-11 |title=Double killer affected by alcohol during neighbour attack, court told |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67687617 |access-date=2023-12-20}}

In January 2023, the Probation Service released their review of the case.{{Cite web |last=Sherdley |first=Rebecca |date=2023-01-05 |title=Serious review completed after double killer struck again |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/review-completed-after-double-killer-7996540 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Nottinghamshire Live |language=en}} Brendan Clarke-Smith, the local MP for Bassetlaw, called for a public inquiry.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Statement: Sentencing of Lawrence Bierton for the murder of Mrs Pauline Quinn |url=https://www.brendanclarkesmith.com/news/statement-sentencing-lawrence-bierton-murder-mrs-pauline-quinn |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Brendan Clarke-Smith |language=en}} On 20 December 2023, Bierton received a whole life sentence.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-20 |title=Triple killer receives whole-life order for Nottinghamshire murder |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/20/triple-killer-receives-whole-life-order-for-nottinghamshire |access-date=2023-12-20 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Triple killer given whole-life order for ‘senseless’ murder of neighbour |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/nottingham-crown-court-nottinghamshire-south-yorkshire-rotherham-b2467216.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}} The Probation Service apologised to the families for its failings.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Probation Service apologises after murderer killed again while on licence |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/nottinghamshire-nottingham-crown-court-south-yorkshire-rotherham-b2467411.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

Lawrence Bierton

First crime

Release and reimprisonment

References

See also