The woman brutally murdered by "obsessed" Rawden Ibbitson can now be named as Jennifer Andrews.
Ibbitson, 32, was handed a life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years last month after admitting murdering "vibrant, caring and compassionate'" Jennifer in June last year.
A court order prohibiting anyone identifying Jennifer was put in place - despite her already having been named by West Yorkshire Police following her murder last year. At the time, Jennifer's family also provided a photograph and tributes to be used by the press, meaning her name and image was already out in the public domain prior to the order being made. During Ibbitson's sentencing in May, His Honour Judge Tom Bayliss said the "horse had already bolted" but the order was still put in.
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After her death, Jennifer's family released a statement stating “we are absolutely broken” and added: “Jenni was such a beautiful and friendly person who was very much loved by us all... We are absolutely heartbroken."
Jennifer was murdered in a domestic context by Rawden, who she had had a relationship with, and the order meant that should anyone, including her family, wish to publically pay tribute to her or raise awareness of such issues, it would not be able to be linked to Ibbitson's crimes.
Ibbitson will be able to apply for parole in 29 years - when that time comes and if or when he is released, they would also not be able to refer to Jennifer or make the public aware of what he had done.
This order was challenged by the press earlier this year, and on the day of sentencing no opportunity for them to make submissions or read submissions made by the prosecution and defence in relation to the order was given.
Following the sentencing hearing, LeedsLive challenged the order, and it has now been amended so that Jennifer can be identified. Ibbitson was jailed for the brutal attack on her in June last year. Leeds Crown Court heard how he had become "fixated" with her. Ibbitson referred himself to the psychiatric services in January 2022 after telling staff he had taken an overdose. On January 5, he sent Jennifer a text saying: "I can't block out my feelings about you, it's hard for me not to come over and see you."
She replied saying she was willing to be Ibbitson's friend but couldn't cope with "anything else."
The court was told Ibbitson had previously expressed homicidal ideation and in January 2022, after calling the emergency services to report mental health issues, assaulted a police officer. This resulted in a community order.
Despite Jennifer telling Ibbitson she wished to remain friends, he continued to message her.
By March, Ibbitson was in hospital again and Jennifer again tried to stop contact with him. She messaged Ibbitson saying he had "completely pushed me to the edge", with Ibbitson going on to threaten to pull her teeth out with pliers. She told a friend in a text she was "living in a nightmare" after they said they noticed him "knocking at the door every three minutes, if that."
It was said that in April last year Jennifer told a family member she had been assaulted and raped by Ibbitson and he was reported to the police, arrested and bailed. It is understood Ibbitson was no longer on bail at the time of Jennifer's murder.
At around midnight on June 6, a number of calls was made to the emergency services, including by a neighbour who said Ibbitson was "screaming" in the street. The court heard the woman asked him: "What have you done to her?"
He was arrested a short time later and gave "no comment" answers in interview. Jennifer's body was found inside her home with 90 separate injuries which included extensive abrasions to her head, neck and body, a fractured jaw, bruising to her head with a bleed to the brain, 13 bite marks on her face, breast, abdomen, thigh and forearm. A forensic pathologist said the injuries to her forearm were consistent with defensive injuries. Ibbitson had also bitten off parts of her face and ear.
The court was told that Ibbitson had "amnesia" of a "similar" attack he had committed in 2016 against a friend. It was said the woman woke up to Ibbitson carrying her to bed and after he dropped her on a bike she asked him to call an ambulance, but he refused. It was said he began to punch her and the woman "threw" herself out of a first floor window. He was handed a two-year sentence for that.
Ibbitson went on to plead guilty to Jennifer's murder and assault by penetration in March this year. An order was put in postponing these guilty pleas and the order prohibiting the identification of Jennifer replaced this. Ibbitson was jailed in May and told he would be subject to a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years.
Jennifer was described by her family in a statement as "vibrant, caring, compassionate, loving, intelligent, funny, beautiful and worth more than the world to us."
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