Man jailed for life over murder which 'funded one night of drug taking'

Lee Fueloep (40), of Willow Garth, Wombwell, killed 73-year-old Jill Hibberd at her home on Roy Kilner Road on May 30, before stealing her car and selling it to buy drugs.

He was found guilty of murder by a jury on Friday following a three-week trial and was sentenced in his absence at Sheffield Crown Court today (Monday). He will serve a minimum term of 35 years.

Judge Finola O’Farrell said: “The sad fact of the case is that a woman was brutally murdered in her own home to fund one night of drug taking.”

A pathologist found Ms Hibberd had suffered 70 stab wounds to her body, face, neck, arms and legs which penetrated her heart and other internal organs.

Ms Kama Melly, prosecuting, told the trial that Fueloep had a violent confrontation with Ms Hibberd, lost control, and stabbed her savagely and repeatedly.

“Mr Fueloep rifled through the handbag of Ms Hibberd and left the home using the Audi TT which he later that evening disposed of by passing it on to Andrew Ashby,” Ms Melly said.

Andrew Ashby (23), of Woolgreaves Avenue, Wakefield, who pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, was jailed for 32 months.

Ms Melly said Fueloep then “enjoyed the proceeds of his evening’s work” by using funds from the sale of the Audi to take crack cocaine with other users.