Seven Cornwall women behind bars for serious crimes including murder

Women only make up around four per cent of the prison population in England and Wales. When they appear in court, it's likely that they will be charged with less severe crimes than men.

However, some of the most violent and callous crimes in Cornwall in recent years have been committed by females. They have been convicted of crimes including grooming, drugs, extreme violence and murder.

Earlier this year, Tia Taylor was sentenced for her involvement in the killing of a rugby player outside a nightclub last year. In 2019 Lindsey Gabriel was given a life sentence for stabbing her boyfriend in the chest, piercing his heart and killing him.

READ MORE: Thieving addict, nasty dads and twisted pervert among those banged up last month

READ MORE: Cornwall prisoners serving longest sentences for crimes including murder

Michelle Casterton remains behind bars a decade on for the brutal murder of a vulnerable man and Lucy Hambley is behind bars for forcing a 13-year-old to have sex with her.

Here are seven women from Cornwall convicted of serious crimes in recent years, spanning back to shocking crimes a decade ago. All of their sentences are still being served.

Lindsey Gabriel (life with a minimum of 14 years)

A woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment after she was convicted of murdering her boyfriend by stabbing him forcefully in the chest. Lindsey Ann Gabriel, 31 when sentenced, was convicted of one count of murder after a trial that lasted over a week.

After less than four hours of deliberations, the jury at Truro Crown Court returned to convict her of the charge. On September 28, 2018, Mr Field, of Truro, had suffered a single stab wound that penetrated his ribs and went into his heart. He died later that night.

Field was found by passersby lying collapsed on the pavement outside Gabriel’s house in Bugle, near St Austell. A blood-stained kitchen knife used to stab Mr Field was later found by police stuffed down a drain to the side of a suspect’s property with Gabriel insisting throughout her trial that Mr Field burst into her home and stabbed himself and that she had no idea how the knife, from a set in her kitchen, got into the drain.

During prosecuting barrister Jo Martin QC’s opening she told the jury how the defendant and victim had been in an on/off relationship and how, on the day Mr Field died, Gabriel sent furious text messages in which she told him he “didn’t know what she was capable of”.

She also told a friend that he had been playing away, adding "who does he think I am Snow White or Batman? I’m Lindsey f*cking Gabriel". The messages started when Gabriel logged into James Field’s Facebook account and discovered he had added a number of women as friends.

Gabriel proceeded to vandalise Mr Field's car that was parked on her drive, smashing it, wrapping it in wrapping paper and daubing words such as 'cheat' and 'player' before arranging for it to be towed away.

Sentencing Gabriel, who showed only minor flashes of emotion, Judge The Honourable Mrs Justice Juliet May said: “Shortly before 8pm on September 28 police were called to Bugle where a man lay gravely injured.

“The man was James Field and the jury was satisfied that it was Lindsey Gabriel who stabbed him. Lindsey Gabriel and James Field had been in a relationship for five months and by all accounts the relationship was tempestuous and they regularly split and then got back together.

“James Field was a recovering addict whereas Lindsey Gabriel had a variable temper and underlying issues with mental health. Throughout the day Lindsey Gabriel sent James Field a torrent of abuse. A flavour of the messages said ‘I’m an animal, bring it on big boy, you’ve met your match’.

“Not content with the messages Lindsey Gabriel stayed home from college and destroyed James Field’s car, getting her 13-year-old son to help wrap it in wrapping paper.” Read the full story from the time here.

Michelle Casterton (22 years)

Michelle Casterton, 52, was one of three people jailed in November 2015 for the murder of Terry Oldham whose body was found "covered with extensive injuries" at a property in Dolcoath Road in Camborne on April 1, 2014.

Mother of six Casterton, previously of Grenville Road, was told she must serve 22 years of the life term, whereas co-defendant Daniel Quinn will stay inside for 24 years and Casterton’s then-boyfriend Aaron Mallen will serve a minimum of 25 years.

The trial at Truro Crown Court heard Mr Oldham was "routinely bullied" by the housemates who took over his home, acted "like a pack of dogs" and abused him physically and financially.

They urinated on him, force-fed him dog faeces, prevented him from going to the toilet and stole his money and possessions. The court was told the trio considered him "fair game" after discovering he had indecently assaulted a girl under 14 in 1987.

The injuries Oldham eventually died from were described as the "worst kind" of internal infection and "deep bruising" to his sexual organs caused by a broomstick being forced into his rectum.

Casterton had an appeal rejected after Mallen claimed he was the sole perpetrator in the attack. She has maintained her innocence, as have her parents. You can read that full story here.

Jessica Stunell (16 years)

A jilted ex frantically thrust a knife into her former partner and his new girlfriend - her best friend of 25 years - after their love triangle came to a violent head.

Jessica Stunell, 47 at the time of her sentencing, plunged a knife into Michael Coen and Faye Davies after arming herself and going to their house at Windsor Court in Falmouth on November 23, 2019.

Stunell appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article. Opening the case, Philip Lee, for the CPS, described how Mr Coen had been in a relationship with Stunell which came to an end in early 2019.

The relationship was beset with allegations of violence on both sides and when it ended Mr Coen formed a new relationship with Ms Davies, the longstanding friend of Stunell. The new relationship was said to have left Stunell feeling betrayed, especially when they moved in together.

Mr Lee outlined a period of bad feeling and social media threats which Mr Coen took with a pinch of salt. However, after an argument with Ms Davies, he went to stay with Stunell for a week, the two sleeping together on several occasions.

Mr Lee said: “Mr Coen was drinking heavily and upset. He accepts he was giving the defendant the impression the relationship was back on. By Friday, November 22, he realised he’d made a mistake and on November 23 met the defendant in Wetherspoons and told her he was back with Ms Davies.

“She became angry and attacked him outside. She punched him in the face, put him in a headlock and bit his ear. Mr Coen returned to Windsor Court in pain and realising how stupid he’d been.”

Then followed a succession of text messages in which Stunell threatened to kill Mr Coen and Ms Davies. Mr Lee added: “At 10:30pm Mr Coen and Ms Davies went to bed. They heard the doorbell ringing so he went downstairs. He opened the door and saw the defendant who produced a large kitchen knife and stabbed him repeatedly.

“He recalls falling to the floor and seeing Ms Davies, who’d come down to see what was going on, being stabbed by the defendant too.” Stunell, of Woodlane, Falmouth, also lunged at Ms Davies with the knife and stabbed her with such force the knife remained embedded in her breast.

In total Mr Coen suffered five stab wounds to the chest and Ms Davies four. Mr Coen suffered life-threatening injuries requiring emergency surgery which saw a chest drain inserted. Ms Davies’ injuries were also thought to be of such a severity that it was feared they could have presented a risk to her life and she was also operated on.

Stunell headed to Finn M'Coul's pub in Falmouth where she told the landlady, ‘I stabbed them. I know I shouldn’t have but it was coming’. Police attended and Stunell was taken to the police station where she told a custody officer, ‘I wish the c*nt was dead’.

Officers searched her premises and found a knife missing from her kitchen set and were also able to locate her bloody hoody from a bin in town. Defending Stunell, Neil Lewin described her as “an established and hard-working employee” who has “enormously let down those who depend on her”.

Sentencing Stunell, Judge Simon Carr reiterated that the victims of the knife attacks were her former partner and best friend of 25 years, her ex’s new partner. He said: “You and Mr Coen separated in late 2018/early 2019 and he and Ms Davies formed a relationship in April. I accept your relationship with him was volatile and you received mixed messages from him.

“Ms Davies was your best friend and it was obvious you found it impossible to accept the situation and you threatened and began harassing them both. On November 23 you met Mr Coen in the pub and he made it clear your relationship was over. You found it difficult to accept and CCTV shows you attacking him physically.

“You’d been drinking heavily and taking cocaine and at 11pm attended Ms Davies’ home armed with a large kitchen knife. You repeatedly stabbed both Mr Coen and Ms Davies. Mr Coen suffered multiple stab wounds to the torso and his injuries were life-threatening to the extent he was placed in an induced coma.

“Ms Davies suffered multiple stab wounds to her chest and the knife was left embedded in her when you left. You showed no remorse and in the custody suite told the officer that you wished Mr Coen had died.”

Judge Carr concluded by saying that both victims suffered scarring and ongoing psychological trauma as a result of the attack before jailing Stunell for 16 years, of which she must serve half. Read the full story here.

Lucy Hambley (seven and a half years)

A woman befriended a 13-year-old boy and plied him with alcohol and cigarettes before going on to force him to have sex with her. The sick behaviour of Lucy Hambley, 40 at the time of sentence, left the victim making attempts to end his own life.

Hambley appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual activity with a child. Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope described how the victim and Hambley first met when he found her doing work in her garden. He offered to help her and that started what he believed was a friendship.

Miss Hope said: “On one occasion there was a sleepover and everything was fine. But next time she said, ‘I wish I had you in my bedroom’. She offered to look after him and got him into drinking and smoking even though he didn’t enjoy it.

Miss Hope described how the following week it progressed into full sex, with Hambley getting on top of the victim. Miss Hope added: “She didn’t put a condom on him and told him she wanted to get pregnant by him which scared him. She smacked him for playfighting. She would offer him alcohol and tobacco to go round.”

Miss Hope spoke of how Hambley, of Mount Charles in St Austell, would use sexual terms the youngster wouldn’t understand and that she would show him naked pictures of herself. He was often dragged into her bedroom.

The offending eventually came to light when a neighbour went to Hambley’s house to complain about the noise and saw both the victim and defendant in dressing gowns with love bites. The neighbour then made a referral to Childline.

Hambley was jailed for seven and a half years and was in tears as she left the dock. Read the full story here.

Tia Taylor (three years)

A mum-of-two was sentenced earlier this year for her involvement in the death of beloved Bodmin rugby player Michael Riddiough-Allen. She will serve three years in prison.

Jake Hill, 25, Tia Taylor, 22, and Chelsea Powell, 22, all from the Bodmin area, faced charges over the incident. The trio were convicted on March 18 following a six-week trial held at Truro Crown Court - and were sentenced on Friday, April 12.

Hill stabbed five people in a frenzy lasting between 20 and 30 seconds outside the nightclub with a sharp, serrated hunting knife that he had hidden in a nearby hedge before entering the club that night

Taylor (pictured) repeatedly assaulted the deceased as he lay defenceless on the ground and later lied to police. Powell was found not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of perverting the course of justice and released immediately given the time already served since her arrest.

Taylor initially denied the charges but changed her plea to guilty of perverting the course of justice and to manslaughter partway through the trial.

The court heard how Taylor punched and kicked the deceased as he lay on the ground lifeless. Instead of appearing horrified at her co-accused's actions she then proceeded to tell Jake Hill, given a life sentence, he should "bleach the knife" before lying to police and saying that he was not in her house. Moments later her toddler outed her for this lie. Read the full story here.

Emma Bastable (15 months)

A Cornwall mum has been jailed for attempting to smuggle drugs to her son inside HMP Exeter. Emma Bastable, 42, was only caught by pure chance during the ill-fated visit.

Bastable, from Rock near Wadebridge, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

The court heard how in January of this year Bastable attended HMP Exeter to visit her son who was being held on remand. Police were notified of Bastable's attendance due to other matters they wanted to speak to her about. She was arrested and searched and found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis, including a package in her underwear.

Sentencing Bastable, Judge Simon Carr said the circumstances in the case were "extremely sad". He said: "You are now 42 and have been out of trouble for a considerable period of time. Your life has been blighted by drug misuse.

"At the time of the offence you were again using and your son was serving on remand. You believed he was under threat and agreed to try and get Class A and B drugs into Exeter. You were caught by chance after being arrested on wholly different matters. You were searched and the drugs found. You were acting under direction to protect your son.

"The prison system is blighted by drugs and once inside they result in violence and addiction As a result of drugs arriving during visits it's often said it's easier to get drugs inside than outside prison."

Judge Carr said that Bastable had done everything she could to get her life together, but he needed to pass a deterrent sentence. Bastable was jailed for 15 months. Read the full story here.

Elisha Hart (12 months)

A drunken menace has been jailed for punching and kicking a man who tried to help her during a late-night row. Elisha Hart, 27, forced her way into the man's property and attacked him.

Hart, from the St Austell area, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to assault and breach of a criminal behaviour order.

Prosecuting the case, Ed Bailey told the court how after midnight on January 3, the victim of the assault, Mr Richards, was asleep at his home in St Austell. He was woken by the sound of an argument from the next-door property.

Representing Hart, Martin Pearce said that Hart "presents as very different" since being remanded and subsequently sobering up. He said: "She is an alcoholic and suffers dreadfully with alcoholism. In prison, she dries up and becomes a better person."

Mr Pearce said that when Hart was released from her last period of incarceration, her mum wouldn't take her back in so she fell back in with the wrong crowd and started drinking again.

Sentencing Hart, Recorder Richard Stead said: "You have got to change this cycle. The victim in this case was an ordinary member of public trying to help you."

Noting Hart's genuine remorse, Recorder Stead jailed her for 12 months. Read the full story here.

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