Guilty: Skegness man pleads guilty to Ellen Marshall's murder

Update 8 November, 1.24pm

Leigh Pateman, 45, has today (8 November) pleaded guilty to the murder of 43-year-old Ellen Marshall.

Pateman, previously of Firbeck Avenue, Skegness, entered the plea at Lincoln Crown Court after having heard the charge against him at Lincoln Magistrates' Court in August.  

The charge follows an horrific assault on 22 April 2021 at Firbeck Avenue where Pateman picked up a jerry can of petrol during an argument and poured it into her lap as she sat in an armchair. He then ignited it with his lighter.

Ellen was rushed to hospital with between 80 per cent and 90 per cent burns to the top half of her body. She spent the rest of her life in hospitals and care homes.

Ellen tragically died of her injuries on 11 March 2023.

Pateman was already serving a 17-year and ten month sentence after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He will now be sentenced for her murder on 2 December.

Detective Inspector Andy McWatt said: “This was a truly shocking and barbaric attack. I cannot begin to imagine how much fear she must have felt, and how painful the rest of Ellen's life was. Her family had to watch someone they love suffer from terrible injuries for almost two years. I hope that they can feel some measure of closure that her killer will now be sentenced for that crime."

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Original release 21 July 2024

Leigh Pateman, 45, previously of Firbeck Avenue, Skegness, has been summoned to court in respect of an offence of murder and will appear at Boston Magistrates Court on Wednesday 7 August 24.

The charge follows an incident on 22 April 2021 at Firbeck Avenue where Pateman poured petrol over Ellen Marshall; he then set fire to the petrol causing significant burns to the top half of Ellen's body. Ellen Marshall tragically died of her injuries in March 2023. 

Following the death of Ellen Marshall and in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service the charge of murder has now been authorised.