Birstall man jailed for life for the manslaughter of Leeds student Bethany Fields

Paul Crowther was sentenced after pleading guilty to the manslaughter by diminished responsibility of Bethany Rae Fields, 21, in an attack in Huddersfield in September 2019.

Leeds Crown Court accepted the plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility following the submission of expert psychiatric reports.

The court today determined the 36-year-old will be detained in a mental health facility and he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years (minus his time on remand). If the hospital order is no longer necessary, he will be transferred to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Emergency services were called to Fitzwilliam Street during the early evening of September 12 to a report a woman had been seriously injured in an incident there.

On attending police and paramedics located Bethany who had suffered fatal stab injuries at the scene.

Enquiries quickly determined that her former partner, Paul Crowther, was responsible and he was located and arrested shortly afterwards.

DCI Heather Whoriskey, senior investigating officer in the case, said: “This has been a heart-breaking case in which a hugely talented young woman, who was so full of life, has been denied the chance to have a glittering future.

“Crowther confronted Bethany in the street and then brutally assaulted her in what was a truly horrific attack in front of witnesses, many of whom were left traumatised.

“Despite the attempts of bystanders to save her, the savage injuries Crowther inflicted led to her passing away before any medical help could arrive.

“His assault has taken the life of a remarkable young woman and left scars on her family which we have been told will never heal.”