A number of men and women have been jailed over fatal attacks on their partnersA number of men and women have been jailed over fatal attacks on their partners
A number of men and women have been jailed over fatal attacks on their partners

Tragic and heartbreaking cases of deadly domestic abuse that have shocked South Yorkshire

One in four women and one in six men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, but tragically, in some rare cases, the consequences can be deadly.
By Sarah Marshall
Published 24th Aug 2022, 07:20 BST
Updated 24th Aug 2022, 07:53 BST

Just like any other part of the country, South Yorkshire has seen a number of fatal incidents of domestic abuse over the years.

On Friday, July 29 this year, Darren Youel, aged 54, of Rotherham Road, Monk Bretton, Barnsley was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 12 years and six months for murdering his wife, during a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court.

Help is available for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

You can contact charity Living Without Abuse by visiting their website at: https://lwa.org.uk/ or by calling their helpline: 0808 80 200 28, which is open from 8am until 8pm, Monday to Sunday.

The Sheffield Domestic Abuse Helpline provides support for women, and you can call them on 0808 808 2241

They are open Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm; Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays 11am – 8pm

Outside of these hours call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pictured is Darren Youel, aged 54, of Rotherham Road, at Monk Bretton, Barnsley, who has been sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to life imprisonment after he repeatedly stabbed and murdered his wife Julie Youel. During a hearing held on July 29, Darren Youel was told he must serve 12 years and six months of custody before he can be considered for release. Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 29 how Youel called 999 for an ambulance after he had stabbed his wife Julie Youel and himself at their home. Prosecuting barrister Mark McCone said: “The offence took place on May 21, this year, when the defendant murdered his wife Julie Youel by stabbing her many times. “There was a 999 call from the defendant at 1.03am saying, ‘can you send an ambulance, please, and police’, and he was asked if the patient was still breathing and he said, ‘I am the patient as well’.” Youel stabbed himself three times after fatally knifing his wife.

1. Darren Youel

Pictured is Darren Youel, aged 54, of Rotherham Road, at Monk Bretton, Barnsley, who has been sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to life imprisonment after he repeatedly stabbed and murdered his wife Julie Youel. During a hearing held on July 29, Darren Youel was told he must serve 12 years and six months of custody before he can be considered for release. Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 29 how Youel called 999 for an ambulance after he had stabbed his wife Julie Youel and himself at their home. Prosecuting barrister Mark McCone said: “The offence took place on May 21, this year, when the defendant murdered his wife Julie Youel by stabbing her many times. “There was a 999 call from the defendant at 1.03am saying, ‘can you send an ambulance, please, and police’, and he was asked if the patient was still breathing and he said, ‘I am the patient as well’.” Youel stabbed himself three times after fatally knifing his wife. Photo: SYP

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Kerry Taylor, who repeatedly stabbed her partner to death after an alleged drugs row, must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars. Taylor, 42, of Ravenscroft Place, Stradbroke, Sheffield, was found guilty of murdering her 55-year-old partner, Simone Hancock, following a trial. Ms Hancock was stabbed more than 10 times at her flat, which was also at Ravenscroft Place. Taylor had claimed she feared she was about to be attacked by Ms Hancock after a row over crack cocaine at Ms Hancock’s flat and she claimed she had only stabbed her once and was only responsible for manslaughter. But a jury found Taylor guilty of murder and she was sentenced in January 2021.

2. Kerry Taylor

Kerry Taylor, who repeatedly stabbed her partner to death after an alleged drugs row, must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars. Taylor, 42, of Ravenscroft Place, Stradbroke, Sheffield, was found guilty of murdering her 55-year-old partner, Simone Hancock, following a trial. Ms Hancock was stabbed more than 10 times at her flat, which was also at Ravenscroft Place. Taylor had claimed she feared she was about to be attacked by Ms Hancock after a row over crack cocaine at Ms Hancock’s flat and she claimed she had only stabbed her once and was only responsible for manslaughter. But a jury found Taylor guilty of murder and she was sentenced in January 2021. Photo: SYP

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Sheffield Crown Court heard on October 2, 2020 how Craig Woodhall, then aged 41, of Windsor Crescent, Middlecliffe, Barnsley, admitted murdering his wife Victoria Woodhall, aged 31, in the street outside their home. James Hill, prosecuting, told the court Woodhall’s estranged wife had visited the matrimonial home after they had separated but was refused entry before the defendant brutally attacked with a machete. Mr Hill said two of Craig Woodhall’s former partners alleged he had been possessive and violent towards them and Victoria Woodhall had confided with a friend that the defendant had been possessive and controlling and had allegedly pushed her. The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson told Woodhall: “It was an unrelenting avalanche of exceptionally serious violence visited upon a defenceless woman.” He sentenced Woodhall to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years and six months before he can be considered for release.

3. NSST-Craig Woodhall.jpg

Sheffield Crown Court heard on October 2, 2020 how Craig Woodhall, then aged 41, of Windsor Crescent, Middlecliffe, Barnsley, admitted murdering his wife Victoria Woodhall, aged 31, in the street outside their home. James Hill, prosecuting, told the court Woodhall’s estranged wife had visited the matrimonial home after they had separated but was refused entry before the defendant brutally attacked with a machete. Mr Hill said two of Craig Woodhall’s former partners alleged he had been possessive and violent towards them and Victoria Woodhall had confided with a friend that the defendant had been possessive and controlling and had allegedly pushed her. The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson told Woodhall: “It was an unrelenting avalanche of exceptionally serious violence visited upon a defenceless woman.” He sentenced Woodhall to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years and six months before he can be considered for release. Photo: SYP

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Liam Fletcher was found guilty of murdering his partner Lucy Jones in April 2017, and was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 20 years. Sheffield Crown Court heard how Miss Jones, who had previously been in a relationship with Fletcher, suffered over 90 injuries as a result of a prolonged assault. Her body was found at around 10.20am on Saturday, October 8 2016 after police responded to a call reporting concerns for Miss Jones’ welfare inside a property in West Street, Goldthorpe.

4. Liam Fletcher

Liam Fletcher was found guilty of murdering his partner Lucy Jones in April 2017, and was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 20 years. Sheffield Crown Court heard how Miss Jones, who had previously been in a relationship with Fletcher, suffered over 90 injuries as a result of a prolonged assault. Her body was found at around 10.20am on Saturday, October 8 2016 after police responded to a call reporting concerns for Miss Jones’ welfare inside a property in West Street, Goldthorpe. Photo: SYP

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