An evil thug caused horrifying life-changing injuries to his former partner when he set her on fire before leaving her for dead.
Ellen Marshall was covered in petrol as she sat in a chair before her partner, Leigh Pateman, ignited her with his lighter. She suffered such catastrophic injuries that she is still recovering in hospital - 11 months after the terrifying ordeal that nearly killed her.
Pateman fled the house in Skegness, leaving his partner for dead as she burned in the chair. He was later found hiding out at his mother's house. She suffered 80 to 90 per cent burns to the top half of her body and was given less than a 50 per cent chance of survival, Hull Live reports.
She was transferred to a specialist burns unit and underwent 12 hours of surgery. She has since lost several fingers. When firefighters discovered her, she was lying on the floor, she had no hair and her facial features were hard to decipher.
She is now being treated at Nottingham City Hospital and will need constant round the clock care. The incident occurred on April 22, 2021, when he picked up a can of petrol during a row and poured it into her lap.
Pateman had claimed that the petrol had been bought for his strimmer, that he had only poured the petrol on Ellen to scare her, and was then simply messing around with his lighter. Following the incident Pateman fled the address, but was later arrested by our officers at his mother’s house. He was found covered in soot and needed treatment for burns.
On March 18, Pateman was given an extended sentence of more than 21 years at Lincoln Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Andy McWatt said: “This is such a tragic incident that has left Ellen with life-changing injuries. She is likely not to ever make a full recovery. I hope this sentence will bring some closure to the family.”
Pateman, 43, of Firbeck Avenue, Skegness, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He was sentenced to 17 years and ten months and will serve a further four years on license after his release.
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