Sadistic wife killer Thomas Nutt has been jailed for life for the murder of his new bride Dawn Walker.
Nutt, 45, was found guilty of murder by a jury at Bradford Crown Court last week following a lengthy two-week trial. Nutt killed 52-year-old grandmother between their wedding day on October 27 last year, and Halloween.
Dawn had been strangled at their home in Shirley Grove, Lightcliffe, before Nutt unceremoniously dumped her body in a suitcase in a field close to their home. He led her family and friends on a wild goose chase after reporting her missing and even put Halloween decorations up in their garden before he handed himself into police.
Family, friends and neighbours gave evidence during the trial. Dawn's daughter Kiera Lee told jurors her mum had a feeling "something bad" would happen in the lead-up to her wedding and a neighbour said Dawn had messaged asking if she should "run." The court heard Nutt had previously assaulted an ex-partner who said she had spoken with Dawn who said Nutt "scared the hell" out of her.
As he sentenced Nutt, His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose told him: "On 10th August you were convicted of murder of Dawn Walker. A crime committed I am sure at some point during the night of 27th October last year. I am sure you carried out the murder of your wife on your wedding night.
"The impact of the sudden and violent death at a time which should have been filled with happiness will no doubt have an effect on those that knew her...I'm sure you attacked her and used your significant to punch her causing a range of injuries and that you then strangled her quite deliberately with significant force, sufficient to cause the fracture of the thyroid cartilage."
Updates will be available in the blog below.
Key Events
'It should have been filled with happiness... she died because you're a bully'
Read Judge Jonathan Rose's cutting words to Thomas Nutt as he sentenced himhere.
Chilling footage shows Thomas Nutt dragging the suitcase containing Dawn Walker's body through their garden
Footage has today been released by West Yorkshire Police.
West Yorkshire Police statement
Following Nutt's sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Amanda Wimbles, of West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said:
“Dawn Walker’s family have been left absolutely devastated by her death in such violent circumstances. This has been a dreadful crime, especially given the couple had only recently married. The prosecution and police rejected Nutt’s admission of manslaughter and always believed murder was the offence he should rightly stand trial for. Our thoughts continue to be with Dawn’s family, who have shown great dignity and strength through what has understandably been a devastating time for them. No verdict or sentence will bring Dawn back to her family. I hope however, that in getting justice they can begin to move forward with their lives. We encourage any victims of domestic abuse or coercive and controlling behaviour to come forward and report it to one of our specialist Safeguarding officers, who will listen and provide the necessary support.”
The moment Thomas Nutt dragged the suitcase with Dawn Walker's body inside has been released by police
⚠️ Warning, some viewers might find the content of this video distressing. Viewer discretion is advised.
— West Yorkshire Police (@WestYorksPolice) August 19, 2022
A man who reported his wife missing has been sentenced to life after being found guilty of her murder. pic.twitter.com/BKqK7ueGei
Shouts from the public gallery
Cheers and shouts could be heard from the public gallery as Nutt was sentenced.
As he was taken down, a shout of "Thank you your honour" could be heard.
Nutt handed life sentence
Judge Jonathan Rose says he is satisfied Nutt murdered Dawn hours after marrying her.
He said: "You then desecrated her body, hiding it in a cupbaord while you enjoyed a short holiday before forcing her body into a suitcase, decieving her family and friends when she went missing. I find you to be without remorse.
"No sentence will ease the pain of her family at the loss they have sustained."
Nutt has been handed a life sentence and will have to serve a minimum term of 21 years in custody, less 289 days he has spent on remand in custody before going before the Parole Board who will decide if he is to be released.
'There can be no doubt Dawn Walker was subject to domestic violence'
The judge said: "There can be no doubt Dawn Walker was subject to domestic violence. I am satisfied such domestic violence is a significant aggravating factor and I am able to take it as such when determining the minimum term in your case."
He added he cannot be sure Nutt intended to kill Dawn, but can be sure he intented to cause her really serious harm.
The judge said it is right he takes into account Nutt handed himself in, although he says he is aware Nutt would have been a suspect after the discovery of Dawn's body.
"I am not inclined to accept you are genuinely remorseful for what you have done. Your account to the police and the tenor of your defence has been to cast aspersions on Mrs Walker and to suggest it was only because of her actions you used significant force on her. The fact this has been your case from first to last dispels any assertion you are remorseful.
"Dawn Walker died because you are a bully used to controlling and minipulating women. I am quite sure you dominated her with your controlling behaviour and this culminated in unjustifiable violence on 27th October, as a consequence which she lost her life at your hands."
Evidence
Judge Rose is speaking of evidence relating to an assault on Dawn on August 25, and a further assault in September 2020 where he was heard to say "I could snap your neck in seconds" and evidence of him restricting her airways and washing his clothes afterwards.
The judge said Dawn spoke to police in September 2020 about Nutt's "extensive use of violence" towards her. He said: "Having regard to her determined efforts to retract her statements are evidence of your control of a woman, even after you had used violence towards you and even after Kimberley Allcock warned her, a warning she tragically chose to ignore."
Previous offending towards partners
The judge said he must consider Nutt's previous offending towards partners.
He said: "Kimberley Allcock gave evidence that in 2007 you assaulted her following a dispute about the naming of your baby, took her phone and locked her in the house. Secondly, the evidence of her that in 2009 and tghereafter you assaulted her by punching her. Thirdly, the evidenced of her concefrning the 2015 assault for which you were convicted. You grabbed her by the throat, restricting her airway while punching her. It was noted you tried to dispose of the evidenced of the assault, of your blood.
"This particular assault and your conviction show a measure of similiarity for which you would do in 2021 to Dawn Walker."
Aggravating factors
The judge says he is able to find aggravating features in this case including that Nutt desecrated Dawn's body to put her body in the suitcase and sought to hide it.
He said: "The fact it could have been found by a member of the public or a child is also a factor."
The judge added the impact of those who found Dawn's body was also given in evidence. He said: "The level of aggravation is higher had you not done both of those counts. "
Judge Rose said: "It does not seem possible for me to ignore the murder took place in a domestic context and in her own home. I do find Dawn Walker was vulnerable because of her mental health issues."
He added this is of some relevance due to Nutt's reasoning for why she might have gone missing, and when he spoke of an argument with her due to her mental illness.
The judge said: "I do not find that the killing of Dawn Walker was the subject of significant pre-meditation. It remains a mystery why you killed this woman who you had hours earlier took as your wife. I'm quite sure Dawn Walker died as a result of a spontaneous, unprovoked outburst of violence. Perhaps because you gave vent to a violent personality. I can perhaps only summise that it was because of your wish to return from your honeymoon to Skegness to celebrate Halloween. But why you lost your temper is not terribly important.
"That you Thomas Nutt should become so angry to use violence in such degree to kill Dawn Walker makes such explanation irrelevant."
The judge added that Nutt's alcohol intake was also an aggravating feature.
Minimum term
The judge said: "A minimum term is not the same as an ordinary term of imprisonment where the defendant serves half before being released on licence. Whether or not you will be released after the minimum term has been served will be for the Parole Board to consider. It will not decide you will be released unless it has decided you are not a risk to the public. If you are released at that time or a later time you will be released on licence, and could be recalled to continue serving your life sentence if you breach any licence conditions."
Guidelines and reduction
The judge says he feels he is able to make a small reduction to the sentence for Nutt's guilty plea to manslaughter.
Guilty plea to manslaughter
The judge said: "It is right to say you pleaded guilty to manslaughter and did so at the earliest possible opportunity after it had been established you were fit to plea. That should by analogy afford you some credit."
Deceit
The court has heard of Nutt's deceit of Kiera where he text her pretending to be Dawn to arrange a meet.
The judge said: "Your behaviour in going out to look for Dawn was persistent, misleading or cruel. You had no intention of bringing the police into this. Your intention was not to bring the police into it between 24 and 48 hours if possible and it was only after pressure from others, and while waiting for them to come to took Dawn Walker's body out of her home in a suitcase.
"You treated her body with no respect whatsoever. You dragged her down the garden and in your words 'chucked her' over the fence before taking the case where you left it in bushes. I doubt this was your original intention and you would take Dawn's body to another location had you not panicked that the police would come to your home and search the house in their enquiries.
"You tried to paint yourself as a supportive and caring partner, describing yourself as a carer and the evidence suggests you were nothing of the sort. As soon as PC Kershaw left you went out to try and cover up the tracks left by the suitcase."
The judge said in his view, Nutt only handed himself in because he knew Dawn's body would be found.
October 28
Judge Rose said Nutt's behaviour in the early hours of October 28 was not that of a man on his wedding night and said he squatted behind a car when his neighbours returned.
He is now outlining Nutt's trip to the cashpoint. He said: "At 5.10pm you were in the back garden of your home hanging out washing. The evidence of Dawn's care of the home and your disinterest in housekeeping raises the question of why you were hanging out washing. That was answered in your interview where you said you had washed the clothes the night after Dawn had died. I must conclude this was the washing you were hanging out on 28th October.
"When you did leave for Skegness, the washing was still on the line and the curtains remained closed. You put items on the passenger seat before leaving and were not seen to be speaking to anyone in the front passenger seat. There is no CCTV of her in that seat, but there is that she was not there on the way back. There is not a single sighting of her on that trip or on the return. There is evidence from Liam Barker who helped you back the caravan into the driveway on your return."
The judge says he is satisfied Dawn did not go to Skegness and Nutt "left her in a cupboard while he took a two-day trip to Skegness."
Sentencing
The judge said Kiera will always have an aversion to Halloween and has suffered with her mental health since her mother's death. He said Dawn's middle daughter suffers from nightmares and cannot look at a suitcase.
Judge Rose said: "They cannot escape thought of how you killed Dawn and te contempt you showed her body after her death. I will, if I may, express my condolences to the family and friends of Dawn Walker. She was described as chirpy and energetic and devoted mother, sister, daughter, aunt and grandmother. You abused your size and character to malign effect for many years.
"You were first conviced of such an offence causing GBH in 1994 when you were 17. Then followed offences of dishonesty until 1996 you were sentenced for four years in prisonment and then five years for robbery and in 2015 were given a suspended sentence for battery committed against Kimberley Allcock but within six months of that you were sent to prison for breaching the non molestation order.
"Despite all that had gone before in your tresatment of Dawn Walker and her doubts she married you on 27th October 2021. She was last seen at around 22.30 on her wedidng night. I am quite sure that is the night you killed her. She was not seen alive by anyone after the taxi driver took you home from the pub. This was at 22.36pm. She had no contact by phone or text after returning from the pub. She didn't answer calls from Kiera on morning of 28th. It was said she had lost her phone in the pub. There was no way of knowing whether that was true orf whether you disposed of the phone.
"I am satisfied the texts sent to Kiera at 1am were sent by you. Kiera said the text was not in the language or style of her mother and of your admission you text her pretending to be Dawn on 31st October. Malcolm Crawshaw said at 11pm that evening he heard noises, bumps and thumps. He heard no voices. This went on for about an hour before there was quiert for the rest of the night. The absence of raised voices indicates there was no row or argument or threats issued by Dawn Walker as you claimed to be the case in your police interviews.
"I'm sure you attacked her and used your significant to punch her causing a range of injuries and that you then strangled her quite deliberately with significant force, sufficient to cause the fracture of the thyroid cartlidge."
The judge said he cannot be sure when Nutt put Dawn's body into the suitcase, but when he did so he desicrated her body.
Sentencing
The judge told Nutt: "On 10th August you were convicted of murder of Dawn Walker. A crime committed I am sure at some point during the night of 27th October last year. I am sure you carried out the murder of your wife on your wedding night.
"The impact of the sudden and violent death at a time which should have been filled with happiness will no doubt have an effect on those that knew her. The victim impact statements lay bare how this has been for them.
"You recall Kiera's evidence of how she found the house on 31st October, was tghat it was as tidy and well-kept as if her mother had cleaned it, showing the steps you had taken to remove signs of the violence that had took place."
The judge said Dawn "answered every demand" of Nutts, and recalled evidence from Kiera.
He said: "Dawn Walker's youngest sister Lisa has spoken of the family being close knit and being a part of each other's lives. Both Kiera and Lisa speak in their vicrim statements of the pain and loss you have brought to this family. It is the pain of knowing how you treated Dawn during your relationship, the pain and fear she had t the time of her deat and the horror of knowing how you treated Dawn's body after you killed her. It is the pain of knowing you broke her leg so you could put her in the suitcase which you dragged through your garden, tossed over the fence, then dumped in the bushes where she was found. It is the pain of how you arranged to meet Kiera knowing you had already killed Dawn and misleading her with the search for Dawn, ringing the police when only pressed to do so and then taking her home and spending an hour with police officer Kershaw to help with the missing person's report."
Mitigating features
Mr Wood will now outline mitigating features.
He said: "We submit you approach this case that you cannot be sure he intended to kill Dawn Walker and the appropriate approach would be that the intention was to cause really serious harm. We highlight the lack of any real degree of planning. All evidence points to it being impulsive.
"In so far as general mitigating terms, your honour has some information that the defendant's health itself is not good. It's not a point we particularly labour. If you are able, in addition, able to afford some very limited credit for the fact the defendant handed himself to police and did answer some of the questions put to him which meant the police were able to track his movements.
"Those are the submissions we wishes to make on his behalf."
Sentencing guidelines
Stephen Wood QC, mitigating, is now making submissions relating to guidelines.
Sentencing guidelines
Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC is making submissions relating to the sentencing to the court.
Previous convictions
The court has heard Nutt has previous convictions for offences including dishonesty, common assault, battery and breach of a non-molestation order.
Statement from Dawn's younger sister
Lisa Walker said: "Not only has he taken her life, he took every single bit of dignity she deserved by treating the woman he said he loved by dumping her like rubbish. Forcing her into a suitcase and then dumping her body with what seems like no remorse."
Dawn's sister said the family had to hold a second funeral as they only had part of her body for the first. She said: "He has taken a mother from her three daughters. They were her hope, her life, her strength. We do know this will affect them for the rest of their lives. Will they have to explain to their children where their nana has gone, have to live daily knowing she is not on the other end of the phone.
"Hearing the evidence has been a horrifying and traumatic experience for us all. It has brought back the day we found out she had gone and her body had been found in a suitcase. I go to bed thinking how she was treated in the days, weeks and months leading to her death. I mourn for my sister who felt she had no one to turn to.
"Her eldest daughter lost out on 12 months because he told her Kimberly Allcock was manipulating. She must live with the fact she tried to warn her mum of the danger she was in but her words meant nothing to the manipulation of this man. Her other daughter can't look at a suitcase without imagining her mum's body inside. Keira, her youngest daughter, will forever be haunted by the fact he involved her in his grotesque act. Knowing her mum's body was in the house, knowing she was inches away from discovering her mum's body. She will have to raise her boy only speaking of his nana's love.
"For my mum and pops, the last time they heard her voice was the call of a 999 call pleading for her life. Dawn was a huge part of our lives and a piece of our jigsaw is missing. My mum said we are honest and are there for each other. I know nothing of his world of lying and violence. I am trying to understand it all and why these things happen.
"Your honour heard countless times she was told 'he will end up killing her' and he has. This time for my sister, he showed no restraint. We heard her pleas for help in 2020 and i'm sure she would ahve ledft him but she was completely controlled. I'm sure she could not get out. He diminished her self-worth so much she felt that was the love we desefved. We could have helped but we have heard she was too scared to speak to anyboyd. We have to live with his actions for the rest of our lives.
"It is time he is finally held accountable for his actions and is never able to abuse and manipulate."
Addressing Nutt, Lisa said: "My sister was one of your many victims, but her death and your part to play will never be forgotten. If locking you up stops you killing someone else and hurting another family that will give us peace.
"Your actions are no show of love in any manner of speaking and only reflect the coward ou are. Why couldn't you be honest? Why did you have to continue to damage our sister, daughter, mother and nana? Why couldn't you just tell us you did it on the wedding night.
"I pray on this day, justice is served."
Victim personal statement
Dawn's daughter Kiera is reading out her victim impact statement to the court.
She said: "I am Dawn's youngest daughter. My mum wadthe most beautiful person and unapologetically her. She was my greatest support and now she has been taken away. When I got that call saying they found her body I lost a part of me. He has also taken my son's nana. How do I explain that to my son in years to come? I had 20 years of knowing and loving the greatest woman in my life.
"This man took the most beauitfuol soul. He demanded to be treated and acted as a child. He used to tell me how much love he had for my son and knowign that now makes my skin crawl. What he did to my mum is beyond cruel. He has broken this family but we have the strength to get the justuice she deserves.
"He spoke of a man and woman's space in society but expected my mum to do both roles in her daily life. Not only did he beat and abuse her, he disrespected her in so many ways which ended in him taking her life. I think of her last hours or minutes and think about how scared she would have been at this time.
"My mum had dreams and ambitions. He has taken these away from her. She was a good and honest person. Since the death og my mum my mental health has declined rapidly. I have lost weight. These things have happened because I can't cope with the emotions I feel. I constantly feel watched because somehow he knew when we placed flowers outside mum's house and when we posted on social media about her.
"I was planning on doing a midwifery course which I now feel unable to do. My mum was proud when I told her my plans and knew she would have more time with her grandson. Not only did he take mu mum he stopped me living my dreams as well. My heart is broken. He took me and my son looking for her knowing she was dead. I was so worried. He then took me back tot he house and I prepared my son lunch in the same spot my mum had been killed so violently.
"It goes over and ove in my mind where was she at that time? Why did he involve me in his cruel joke? Was he laughing at me? I then remember he put up Halloween decorations. I can't stand the thought of that. While my mum was dead in the house. I feel angry and frustrated at the world and all this pain and anger is because I trusted the man that killed my mum.
"I will never forgive you and never forget what you caused. Justice will be served for my beautiful mother."
CCTV showed Nutt dragging a suitcase with Dawn's body inside
During the first day of the trial at Bradford Crown Court on Monday, jurors watched CCTV footage from outside their home showing Nutt on October 31 dragging a suitcase down their garden path and dumping it where it was later found.
Nutt is a "seasoned practised liar"
During the prosecution's closing speeches on Friday (August 5), Alistair MacDonald QC told the court Nutt is a "seasoned practised liar" who "demonstrated a tendency to attack his female partners." A post-mortem carried out after the discovery of Dawn's body revealed she had suffered a catalogue of injuries.
Sentence to be delivered at 10am
The sentence for Nutt will be delivered by His Honour Judge Johnathan Rose.
