ANTHONY STINSON SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER IN BLACKBURN
In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community of Blackburn, Anthony Stinson, aged 31, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Charlotte Wilcock, a beloved mother of two.The court has mandated that Stinson must serve a minimum of 24 years and two months before he is eligible to apply for parole, though there remains a possibility that he may never be released from prison.
On the evening of March 3, 2023, Charlotte, who was 31 years old, was outside her home in Primrose Hill, Blackburn, smoking a cigarette on her front doorstep.
It was during this seemingly ordinary moment that Stinson launched a savage and unprovoked attack on her.
The assault was violent and relentless, involving punches, kicks, stabbings, and slash wounds.
Charlotte’s young daughter was upstairs at the time, unaware of the horror unfolding downstairs.
Charlotte had no prior connection or known relationship with Stinson, and they had never met before.
The attack was entirely random, driven by unknown motives.
The following morning, her lifeless body was discovered in the hallway of her residence.
She had sustained approximately 100 injuries, a testament to the brutality of the assault.
Stinson’s criminal history is extensive and troubling.
He has previously served time in prison for rape and has a long record of convictions, including 25 offences such as rape, actual bodily harm (ABH), and criminal damage.
Many of these crimes involved violence against women.
His past includes a 2010 incident where he assaulted an ex-partner at her home by pushing, grabbing, and spitting at her after entering her flat through a window.
In 2013, he was convicted of raping a teenager at a house party in Clitheroe, admitting to abusing her while she was asleep, which resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
Further troubling incidents include a series of attacks on his ex-partner in April 2019.
During these assaults, Stinson strangled her on two separate occasions, and during the second attack, he placed a pillow over her face, threatening her with the words, “I swear to God, I could happily bury you.” The victim later testified that she believed she was going to die.
Stinson admitted to being under the influence of alcohol and drugs during these attacks and was ordered to undergo rehabilitation.
Despite this, he remained under supervision until his arrest for Charlotte Wilcock’s murder in March 2023.
During the court proceedings, Stinson sat silently and expressionless in the dock, flanked by security personnel.
The courtroom was filled with members of Charlotte’s family, who came to witness justice being served for the woman they loved and lost.
The case was described by The Honorary Recorder of Preston as “a sustained attack with considerable suffering,” emphasizing the brutality and senselessness of the crime.
Investigations revealed that Stinson, who had previously served time for serious offences, showed no signs of mental illness at the time of the murder.
An hour before the attack, he recorded a violent rap video on his mobile phone, in which he spoke openly about violence and killing.
Just 15 minutes prior to the assault on Charlotte, he was seen calmly purchasing cigarettes and alcohol from a shopkeeper, indicating a disturbing lack of remorse or emotional disturbance at the time.
Stinson claimed that he was mentally ill and that he had seen the Devil before attacking Charlotte, but evidence gathered by investigators contradicted this assertion.
The case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a violent criminal past and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community safety measures.
