Sunderland man Stephen Todd jailed for murdering vulnerable partner

Stephen George Todd, 41, must serve at least 21 years and four months in prison for the killing of Melissa Eastick before he will be eligible for consideration for release by the Parole Board, but he was told he may spend longer, or even the rest of his life behind bars.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Todd treated Ms Eastick like, “a punch bag” and failed to seek assistance for her as she lay badly beaten and unconscious in his first-floor flat in Stockton Terrace, Grangetown, Sunderland, in October last year.

He only alerted the emergency services that she appeared unresponsive, probably at least a day and possibly more after her death.

(Image: Northumbria Police) Todd told ambulance personnel he last saw Ms Eastick the previous evening, when he claimed she seemed “alright”.

But the court heard the 36-year-old victim, a frail, vulnerable, alcohol-dependent woman, was found "cold to the touch", with 123 separate injuries after Todd did, finally, contact the ambulance service, shortly after 7am on October 17, 2023.

She had suffered a number of fractures, several to the ribs, but others to the lower vertebrae, to her collar bone, her nose and eye socket.

There were a number of cigarette burns to her torso, possibly inflicted after she was rendered unconscious.

Her death, however, is believed to have been caused by catastrophic brain injuries sustained possibly with a kick or kicks, with great force, or repeated stamping, a few days before her death, which would have rendered her unconscious.

(Image: Northumbria Police) The judge, Mrs Justice Christina Lambert, told Todd: “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that between October 2 (when the victim was last seen out of the flat) and October 17, you subjected her to a number of brutal attacks.”

Setting the minimum term, the judge said there were a number of aggravating features taking the 15-year starting point upwards.

These included the mental and physical suffering of Ms Eastwick before death, the repeated brutal attacks inflicted upon her prior to that, the fact she was a “petite and fragile” woman who would not have been in any condition to respond to the violence meted out on her, and the defendant’s “rudimentary” efforts to dispose of evidence and clean the crime scene.

Mrs Justice Lambert said Todd’s failure to seek assistance showed a, “callous disregard”, even leaving his flat to buy strong cider at a nearby shop while ambulance personnel were tending, in vain, to her, shortly after 7am, prior to his arrest.

The court heard Ms Eastwick, who had lived in refuges and hostels for much of the time in recent years, moved back in with Todd after his release from remand in prison in July last year, when he received a suspended sentence order for a previous attack on her, fracturing her jaw.

On what was to have been the second day of his trial at the court, last month, Todd who had previously denied Ms Eastick’s murder, changed his plea to ‘guilty’.

Toby Hedworth, for Todd, said his change of plea to guilty was on the basis he had not set out to kill his partner, but had repeatedly beaten her often while heavily intoxicated and failed to seek assistance for her injuries.

(Image: Northumbria Police) The judge said although the prosecution accepted that basis of plea, there had to be, “a question mark whether such an assertion is plausible.”

She told Todd: “For much of the time you were very, very drunk and in a bout of jealous rage as she (Ms Eastick) had seen other men while you were on remand.”

The judge said he had used her as, “a punch bag” and she was prepared to accept he may not have formed any intention to kill her.

Given the 232 days he has spent in custody, the minimum term Todd must now spend behind bars before the Parole Board can give consideration to his possible release, is 20 years and 245 days.

The full 15 months of Todd’s suspended sentence imposed at the court in July last year for assaulting Ms Eastick was activated and included as part of his sentence.

In a victim impact statement, read to the hearing on behalf of Ms Eastick's family, they spoke of their pain of losing, “a sister, a mother, an auntie and a much-loved family member”.

While Ms Eastick was said to have had "a hard childhood”, they said she was, “a bubbly, friendly child who got on with anyone.” 

Her family said when she started a relationship with Todd, they felt like they, “had lost her”, and struggled to make contact or know where she was. 

Despite that, Ms Eastick had been spotted in July last year while Todd was in prison on remand for assaulting her, with her family saying, “she seemed happy.” 

A few months later, however, they were all left “shocked and devastated” after finding out from police that she had likely been murdered. 

The statement said: “We felt so sorry for her having a bad start to her life, and that it continued throughout her life. 

“As a family we have tried our best to tell her we love her and try and get her back on track, but she’d always find her way back to Todd.  

“We are now traumatised by this and wished we’d done more.

"Melissa was a much-loved member of the family who was taken too soon.” 

The senior Investigating officer in the case, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, said: “Our thoughts remain with Melissa’s loved ones as they continue to come to terms with their loss.   

“While nothing can bring Melissa back, I do hope the sentencing handed down today brings her family some sense of closure knowing that Todd is behind bars for a significant period.” 

Det Chief Insp Jenkins added: “Domestic abuse, no matter the form it takes, is completely unacceptable and we are committed to putting perpetrators before the courts. 

“If any part of this case sounds familiar, for you or someone you know, we would urge you to seek support at the earliest opportunity.” 
  
For anyone who has concerns over a partner, the partner of a friend or family member, who may have a history of violence, she said Clare’s Law can be used to check the person’s background.  
  
Officers can check their record to help people make an informed decision about their relationship and "escape", if necessary. 

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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The service is free and 100-per cent confidential as no-one will ever know that the applicant has applied for information.  
  
For further information, or to find out more, including how to make an application under Clare’s Law, the force website should be visited to find out about the support provided. 

 But if anyone has immediate concerns about someone’s safety, they should always dial 999.