Life for mum-of-four Dolly's killer
A mum-of-four was horrifically murdered by her partner just days before she planned to leave him.
Dolly Gregory ,32, who grew up in Newark, confided in friends that her relationship with Shaun Watt was over because of his violence and attitude towards her.
Lincoln Crown Court heard how Watt had previously assaulted her and would smash up their home.
Mr Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, said Mrs Gregory maintained contact with her former husband Mark and had been talking about a reunion.
He told the court that she confided in a friend "Shaun was like a sex maniac. He would never leave me alone.
"All the time he wanted to sleep with me morning, afternoon and night time. "
Mr Aspden said "If she didn't give it to him he would get upset. He was just horrible."
The prosecutor said Watt knew she was unhappy and was heard to say "I know she's leaving me. If I can't have her no-one else can."
Watt was seen to manhandle Mrs Gregory while they were out with friends on New Year's Eve.
He returned first to their home in Welland Court, Grantham, followed later by Mrs Gregory.
Mr Aspden said that while they were out Mrs Gregory told a friend "I can't stick it no more. I just can't do it." and confided in a second "I'm sick of it. I've had enough.
"The defendant was described as being mardy and moody. She tried to avoid physical contact with him during the evening. He, on the other hand, was always by her side."
Back at their home Watt asked why she was leaving him and was told that she didn't love him any more.
Both were crying and emotional before Mrs Gregory suddenly began screaming as Watt attacked her with a blunt hatchet which he repeatedly brought down on her head and body.
She was struck at least 11 times by the weapon and her body was later found to have 43 injuries.
A doctor described the blows as severe. Dolly's skull was actually broken by one blow and she suffered other serious facial injuries. She may have been unconscious for as long as 30 minutes before she died.
Mr Aspden said there was evidence that Watt had sex with Dolly either "before, during or after" the murder but it was not possible to say exactly when.
After killing her Watt then walked out of the house leaving her young children to discover the body.
Mr Aspden said Watt arrived bare-chested at his brother's home in the town and made an unsuccessful attempt to hang himself from the washing line.
He then went on to a friend's home and after trying to stab himself he again tried to hang himself but was cut down unconscious.
Watt was left seriously injured and spent nearly a fortnight in hospital before he was arrested and charged.
Watt ,39, of Welland Court, Grantham, admitted murder on 1 January 2010.
He was gaoled for life with a recommendation that he serve at least 17 and a half years before being considered for parole.
Judge Michael Heath told him "How tragic it is that such a young, beautiful, highly thought of woman firstly should have died and secondly should have died in this way.
"This was a sustained and brutal attack on a woman who was in no position to defend herself.
"You killed her because she was going to leave you and you couldn't come to terms with that."
Jeremy Benson QC, defending, said Watt was in an extremely distressed and remorseful state after committing the murder.
After the hearing Dolly's father Jim Smith,55, who lives in King's Lynn said "We're happy with the sentence passed by the judge but we've got a life sentence and will never get her back."
At the time of her death he said "She was a real rebel, a bit of a free spirit who lived for fun. She loved music, loved going out dancing and loved to live her life to the full, but she was also a loving and caring person who had time for anyone, particularly when they needed help. I named her Dolly when she was a baby; she was so beautiful, just like a little China doll."
Dolly was spent much of her life in the Newark area being a member of the Tolney Lane travelling community before moving to Grantham after her marriage ended.
