A “cold and callous” thug who killed his partner by slitting her throat in the bath on her 52nd birthday is facing life in jail after being found guilty of murder.
Evil Jeremy Clarke, 55, brutally cut Tracey Evans’ throat “from ear to ear” after flying into rage before phoning relatives to confess: “I’ve killed the missus.”
A court heard Tracey was found in a blood-soaked bathtub after she had been out at a pub celebrating her birthday on August 5 last year.
Clarke called his daughter and confessed to the crime but told her he planned to end his own life in a bid to save himself from prison.
Officers found him outside the flat they shared together in Measham, Leics., with blood on his face and clothes and arrested him at the scene.
Clarke denied murder, claiming he had no recollection of committing the crime, but was today (Mon) found guilty following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.
He will be sentenced at the same court today.
During the three-week trial, the court heard that on the night of the murder, he “controlling bully” Clarke and Tracey had been to a local pub.
They were seen on CCTV leaving the pub separately. Clarke left first at 8.43pm and headed home, followed minutes after at 8.49pm by Tracey.
Officers discovered her body in the bath fully dressed, wearing shoes and clutching her handbag, with “significant injuries” to her neck.
Police said the most notable wound ran from “ear to ear” and measured around 24 centimetres (9ins) in length.
Detective Chief Inspector David Swift-Rollinson, of Leicestershire Police, said after the case: “Despite being seen with Tracey’s blood on him and confessing to two people he had killed Tracey, Clarke pleaded with one of them not to call police.
“He told others, including the police, he had tried to take his own life to spare himself having to spend many years in prison.
“Luckily officers arrived at the scene before this happened and Clarke was arrested, again admitting what he had done.
“Days later Clarke claimed to have suffered from a hypoglycaemic attack and this defence continued, subjecting Tracey’s family to further pain and heartache as they were forced to hear during the trial the details of the night Tracey was murdered and the horrific injuries she endured.
“I am pleased to see today justice has been served and I hope today’s verdict will provide closure on what has been a dreadful six months for Tracey’s family.”
Following the conviction, Tracey’s daughter Jodie Winterson said: “Losing my mum under such brutal and horrific circumstances has been extremely painful and traumatic for our family.
“Myself and the rest of my family have endured a very difficult six months since my mum was so brutally taken and we are relieved the trial process is now over and finally grieve for the mother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend we have all lost.
“The deep sadness we feel will be with us forever and is something no family should ever have to go through.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about my mum who will be so dearly missed by so many.
“She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, her kindness and her complete selflessness.
“She truly did have a heart of gold, always putting others before herself and was such a hard working lady.
“Although we feel justice has partly been served with today’s verdict, no conviction or prison sentence will ever be enough for the physical, mental, financial and emotional abuse Jeremy Clarke subjected my mum to during their relationship, or the way he so brutally murdered her on her birthday.
“Jeremy’s actions will never be justified. His total lack of remorse for any of his actions are those only of a controlling bully and a cold, callous murderer.
“I would like to finish with a deep and heartfelt thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, Mary Prior QC and Leicestershire Police, especially the family liaison officers and all those who worked so tirelessly on the case to get justice for my mum.
“You have provided great support to me and the rest of the family and shown compassion throughout.”
By Mark Cardwell
