A woman and her fiance have been jailed after they murdered his vulnerable stepfather before using his money to go on a drunken bender.
Ian Mitchell, 35, and Sarah Pearson, 23, murdered Mitchell’s stepfather Stephen Kershaw, 65, in his own home in September 2022.
Just hours later they were spotted on CCTV spending money on Mr Kershaw’s card, while Pearson was seen crashing a trolley into a display of wine in an Asda store.
The couple were later caught after Pearson confessed to what happened in a one night stand with a stranger.
Mr Kershaw had moved into his home in Shetcliffe Lane, East Brierley, in September 2021 and was soon after joined by Mitchell when he was released from prison, Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday.
Ian Mitchell, 35 and Sarah Pearson, 23 were spotted on a drunken spree in Asda just hours after they murdered Mitchell’s stepfather
Pearson then moved in and over time the pair used violence to force Mr Kershaw into giving them money for drink and drugs, leaving him dependent on food banks after his money depleted.
The court heard that Mr Kershaw would visit his daughter, Mitchell’s half-sister Samantha, and her partner Jason Pearson – Pearson’s uncle – in Leeds on a daily basis leading up to his death.
Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said: He [Mr Kershaw] told her nextdoor neighbour he was fed up of living with them, saying every time they argued his possessions would get broken and they would ask for money for drugs. They would get nasty with him when they didn’t get their own way.
‘He told a friend they had taken money from him and Ms Pearson hit him and wouldn’t let him lie down on the couch. He went to a food bank and cashed his phone in at Cash Converters and asked for loans from friends.
‘He told his daughter Ms Pearson had stolen his codeine tablets and she had his medications delivered to her home and he would travel every day to get them from her.’
The court heard Mr Kershaw’s last visit to his daughter’s home was on September 11 2022 and he was last seen on Shetcliffe Lane at 7:21pm. His daughter became concerned the next day as he had not been in contact.
Ms Lamballe said: ‘He wasn’t responding to messages and contact was made with Mr Mitchell and he said he hadn’t seen him. After checking with friends and hospitals they reported him to police as a missing person and they commenced a vulnerable missing person’s investigation.’
Mr Mitchell denied having any knowledge of where Mr Kershaw was and told his daughter he went straight to bed when he returned home on the Sunday night and had gone out before they were up the next day.
Stephen Kershaw was found dead at his home by police investigating transactions on his bank cards
Ms Lamballe said: ‘In the hours after that footage [of Mr Kershaw returning home] they went out on what may be described as a bender funded by Stephen Kershaw who was, probably, by that time dead.’
The court heard that shortly after midnight on September 12, the pair were seen leaving Shetcliffe Lane and returning 30 minutes later.
Mr Kershaw’s card was used to make three balance enquiries and a withdrawal of £330. Just after 1:15am, the couple were seen on Tong Street before again returning 30 minutes later, with Mitchell carrying a carrier bag.
Ms Lamballe said: ‘They left the area at 3:38am and returned minutes later. Shortly after 5:30am they left the house again and walking into Tong Street. They appeared to be stumbling and swaying as they walked.’
The pair were spotted by a neighbour at around 6am. It was said the man had seen them in the weeks before in the area ‘shouting and swearing’.
Ms Lambelle said: ‘They had gone further and at 6.30am went to Asda. CCTV shows them intoxicated. Pearson climbs into a trolley and Mr Mitchell pushes her inside. They order a takeaway at the McDonald’s and he pushes her into the supermarket and crashes into a display of wine after spinning her around in the trolley.’
Over the coming days, the court heard, Mitchell and Pearson used the money to purchase clothes at River Island and JD Sports.
Police almost discovered Mr Kershaw’s body was almost discovered when they went to his address to investigate transactions on his card on September 14.
An officer went into Mr Kershaw’s room to try and find the card that Mitchell claimed he had not seen, said he had noticed a ‘bad smell.’
Ms Lambelle said: ‘Mr Mitchell shouted if he wanted help and the officer said he could come and look. Mr Mitchell handed him the card. The officer left the card and said not to use it again…’
The card was used again within just half an hour. Later that night, officers returned and found Mr Kershaw’s body hidden in an alcove in his room under items including a TV, wooden slats, a quilt and a mattress, wrapped up in a rug and carpet.
Mitchell (left) and Pearson pictured on CCTV using Stephen Kershaw’s bank card after they had murdered him
Both defendants were arrested and, having been released on bail, Pearson was sent to an Ibis hotel in Shipley where she met a drinker in a church garden, the court heard.
The man recognised the clothes Pearson was wearing as those given to suspects. Ms Lamballe said Pearson told the man where she was staying and that ‘she had been bailed’.
Ms Lamballe said: ‘He asked what she was on bail for. And she said she would tell him later because it was a bit complicated.’
The pair went on to have sex and it was after that, the court heard, that Pearson told the man she was on bail for murder.
Ms Lamballe said: ‘When he asked her who she had killed she said ‘just some old guy with dementia’.’
Pearson told her acquaintance she held Mr Kershaw down as ‘the guy she was with’ smothered him and said to the man: ‘I will only get two years won’t I? She later added: ‘He gave us permission to kill him.’
When she was interviewed again, Pearson told police about Mr Kershaw: ‘He got treated like a f*****g king in that house, he had a meal waiting every day. He was old and disrespectful.’
Pearson went on to confess to the murder to two prison officers and in a conversation she had with Mitchell in a prison van on the way to court.
Pearson told her partner: ‘That’s why people use suffocation because it doesn’t come back. Even if they prove me wrong they do but I know for a fact they won’t.’
Mr Kershaw’s body was examined by a pathologist who found defects to his skull and jaw as well as a fracture to the right side of the hyoid bone and bruising to the arms and thighs.
Ms Lamballe said: ‘It is not possible to see if some injuries were caused before or after death due to decomposition. Nothing inconsistent with him being smothered.’
The court heard that a grab handle with DNA profiles matching those of Pearson, Mitchell, and Mr Kershaw were found at his home.
Mitchell and Pearson went on to plead guilty to murder – with Pearson submitting a basis of plea that she did not use a weapon in the killing.
Mitchell also admitted witness intimidation, fraud, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Pearson also pleaded guilty to fraud and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Ms Lamballe said the assault related to an attack on a freelance photographer working on Shetcliffe Lane in August 2022. They were seen days later re-enacting the assault on CCTV footage in the same area.
Mitigating for Mitchell, who has previous convictions for robbery and assaulting an emergency worker, John Bottomley told the court: ‘I observe that nothing I say on behalf of Mr Mitchell is intended to detract from the sense of loss felt by the family and friends of Stephen Kershaw.
‘There is an acceptance of responsibility by Mr Mitchell and that this will result in a lengthier period of imprisonment. He has sought the assistance of mental health services and has attended education classes [while in custody].’
Mitigating for Pearson, who has low-level offences against emergency workers on her record, Stephen Wood said a pre-sentence report had been prepared that looked into his client’s background
He said she had experienced ‘stark and troubled brutality’ and has been diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.
Pictured: The last known sighting of Stephen Kershaw, 65 who was discovered dead in his home in East Brierley, Bradford on September 14 2022
Mr Wood said: ‘This young woman now faces many, many years in a custody environment and we hope she will get the help she needs and she accepts she must be punished for what she took part in doing.’
His Honour Judge Rose handed both Mitchell and Pearson life sentences. Mitchell was told he must serve a minimum of 22 years behind bars, while Pearson must spend a minimum of 19 years.
Judge Rose said: ‘As committed drug users you would sponge off him [Mr Kershaw]….He was bullied and abused by each of you…The use of violence when he was unable to provide you with funds and no doubt other reasons as well….’
The judge said the pair were described as ‘parasitic’ and a ‘nuisance’ to neighbours and found that Mr Kershaw was ‘subjected to violence before or after his death’.
Judge Rose added: ‘Outside of the home your drunk and intoxicated behaviours were to the detriment of those neighbours and the public at large. You cared not. You were intended to live your life how you saw fit.’
Both Pearson and Mitchell were also made the subject of restraining orders.