STEWART PIRIE'S BRUTAL CRIME IN SCUNTHORPE LEAVES LITTLE GIRL DEAD

In August 2007, the tragic death of three-year-old Jasmine Gayler in Scunthorpe shocked the community and brought to light the horrific abuse she endured at the hands of Stewart Pirie. Pirie, a man weighing 16 stones, was convicted of manslaughter for the brutal killing of the young girl, who suffered injuries comparable to those from a severe car crash. Despite the severity of her injuries, he was spared a murder charge because both he and Jasmine's mother, Melissa, 21, refused to disclose who delivered the fatal blows.

Jasmine's death was the culmination of months of abuse, much of which was suspected and reported by her former stepmother, Jacqueline, who had children with Pirie. Jacqueline recounted a disturbing history of violence and control inflicted by Pirie, beginning shortly after their relationship started in 1992. She described how their disputes often turned violent, with Pirie stabbing her in the arm with car keys during an argument, requiring stitches. On another occasion, he punched her so forcefully that she was thrown over a garden fence, resulting in a miscarriage. Despite these violent episodes, Jacqueline chose to stay with him, believing his manipulations that she was to blame for his anger and violence.

Her account detailed a pattern of relentless physical abuse, including beatings over trivial reasons such as a messy kitchen or being late. Jacqueline described how Pirie would physically assault her in front of their children, often shouting insults and sitting down as if nothing had happened afterward. The violence escalated after the birth of their son, with Pirie becoming increasingly jealous and aggressive, especially towards Jasmine. Jacqueline vividly remembered the day she finally confronted him after witnessing him drag their daughter upstairs and slap her for wetting herself during potty training.

Jacqueline recounted a harrowing incident when she threatened Pirie during a night out after he behaved atrociously. She told police that if they didn’t take him away, she would kill him. In a moment of desperation, she grabbed a knife and ran at him, only to be stopped by police. She expressed deep regret for her actions, wishing she had not missed her chance to act differently. After divorcing Pirie, he was granted joint custody of their children, which allowed him to spend weekends with them. Jacqueline also revealed that Pirie soon met Melissa, and she warned her about his violent tendencies.

Concerned for Jasmine’s safety, Jacqueline noticed signs of abuse, including bruises and a fearful expression in her eyes. She suspected Jasmine was being maltreated but was told by Pirie that the injuries were accidental. The situation worsened when Jacqueline observed Jasmine with large black bruises on her back and a reluctance to sit or be touched during a visit. She reported her suspicions anonymously to social services in September 2002, but subsequent visits by social workers found no evidence of abuse, as the family appeared to be putting on a facade of normalcy.

Tragically, five months later, Jasmine died. Jacqueline went to the hospital, where Pirie falsely claimed she had an accident. She refused to accept this explanation and insisted that the police be involved. Despite her fears, Jacqueline decided to testify at Pirie’s trial, knowing that he was aware of her knowledge and that her testimony could threaten his freedom. On the first day of the trial, Pirie changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty, avoiding a murder charge. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the possibility of release in three. Melissa received a two-year sentence for cruelty and is expected to be released in a few months.

Jacqueline expressed her outrage, stating that hanging was not enough for Pirie. She visits Jasmine’s grave regularly, haunted by the loss and her fears. She has since moved and changed her name, but she continues to speak out in hopes that Pirie will not be granted parole and that some measure of justice will be served for Jasmine. She also criticized the government’s current policy, which only includes offenders with 12-month convictions on the violent offenders’ register, arguing that if Pirie had been listed earlier, Jasmine’s life might have been saved.