Mugshot of boyfriend taken after he set fire to partner as he’s jailed for 21 years

A man who doused his partner in petrol and set her alight has been jailed for more than 21 years.

Leigh Pateman, 43, picked up a jerry can of petrol during an argument at his home in Skegness, Lincolnshire, last April before pouring it into the lap of Ellen Marshall.

He then ignited it with his lighter while she was sat in an armchair.

Emergency services were called at around 10.30pm and Ellen was rushed to hospital with between 80 per cent and 90 per cent burns to the top half of her body.

She was transferred to a specialist burns unit and underwent around 12 hours of surgery, having been given less than a 50 per cent chance of survival.

Ellen has since lost several fingers and remains at Nottingham City Hospital.

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Pateman had claimed the petrol had been bought for his strimmer, he had only poured it on Ellen to scare her and was then simply messing around with his lighter.

Following the incident on 22 April, 2021, Pateman fled the address but was later arrested by our officers at his mother’s house.

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Detective Inspector Andy McWatt said: “This is such a tragic incident that has left Ellen with life-changing injuries. She is likely not to ever make a full recovery.

“I hope this sentence will bring some closure to the family.”

Pateman, 43, of Skegness, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was handed an extended sentence at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday.

He was sentenced to 17 years and ten months and will serve a further four years on license after his release.