Woman dies after being doused in petrol & set alight by boyfriend

Woman, 43, dies two years after being doused in petrol and set alight by her boyfriend in ‘one of the worst cases of domestic violence police had ever seen’

  • Ellen Marshall, 43, suffered catastrophic life-changing injuries 
  • She was set alight by her partner in his home in Skegness, Lincolnshire

A woman had died two years after being doused in petrol and set alight by her boyfriend, which was one of the ‘one of the worst cases of domestic violence’ the police had ever seen.

Ellen Marshall, 43, suffered catastrophic life-changing injuries after being covered in petrol after whilst sitting in an armchair.

She was set on fire by her partner, Leigh Pateman, 43 in his home in Skegness, Lincolnshire, after an argument, as he left her for dead.

She suffered burns across up to 90 per cent of her body, lost several fingers and endured 12 hours of surgery when she first arrived at hospital.

Tragically, she died on March 11 in Nottingham City Hospital, East Midlands, just two years after the attack happened on April 22, 2021.

Leigh Pateman (pictured after the attack) picked up a jerry can of petrol during an argument at his Skegness home on 22 April, 2021 before pouring it into the lap of Ellen Marshall, who was sat in an armchair 

A cause of death is yet to be established. 

Following the horror incident, doctors gave Marshall less than 50 per chance of survival, as she required mechanical ventilation to help her breathe.

She also needed round-the-clock care, and became permanently facially disfigured – suffering 80 to 90 per cent burn to the top half of her body – as a result of the attack. 

Pateman was given an extended sentence of 21 years in prison for using a jerry can full of petrol and a lighter to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Lincolnshire Police said it was ‘one of the worst cases of domestic violence we have seen.’ 

Emergency services were called at 10.30pm that night to their shared flat in Skegness, Lincs.

Firefighters heard gurgling noises and discovered a woman on the floor of a ruined living room.

Marshall was still conscious and gave her name, and told staff that she had caused the injuries herself – which was inconsistent with the damage caused.

Firefighters discovered her with no hair and her facial features were hard to make out. 

Following the horror incident Pateman fled the address, but was later arrested by our officers at his mother’s house 

She had burns across her face, neck, stomach, chest, limbs and severely damaged her eyes. 

It turned out that Pateman had poured two bowls of water over Marshall before fleeing on his bike and leaving her for dead on the floor.

However, he was arrested at his mother’s house, after being found covered in soot and had to be treated for burns himself.

Pateman claimed the petrol had been bought for his strimmer and that he had only poured the petrol on Ms Marshall to scare her.

He said he was then only messing around with his lighter when it set fire to Ms Marshall.

It was also revealed that he had previously threatened Marshall with petrol and kept the jerry can in the flat.

In sentencing Pateman at Lincoln Crown Court, Lincolnshire, in March last year, Judge Simon Hirst said: ‘Her injuries are irreversible and she will never be able to return to her former life.

‘It is difficult to think of a crueller crime than setting someone alight.

‘You used a highly dangerous weapon with the use of fire and an accelerant.’

Pateman was jailed for 17 years and ten months and will serve a further four years on license after his release. 

And in a statement, Lincolnshire police said: ‘Ellen Marshall’s passing has been brought to our attention, which is a dreadful loss.

‘The Coroner is currently in charge of the inquiry, and we are working together with both of them and the Crown Prosecution Service in order to carry out an autopsy.’

The inquest has been scheduled for September 10.

The family has yet to give a statement.

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