Man Jailed for Murder of Girlfriend After Strangling Her in Fiery Row
Ashley Kemp, 55, from Hibaldstow, has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Clair Armstrong, following a shocking incident last November. Kemp admitted to strangling Clair after a fight at her home but initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His plea was rejected and a judge sent the case to trial at Grimsby Crown Court.
911 Confession and Crash After Deadly Struggle
In the early hours of 6 November 2022, Kemp made a chilling 999 call, confessing: “I have killed my girlfriend. We got into a fight, and I ended up strangling her.” Police raced to Elm Way, Messingham, where they found Clair dead in her bedroom with fatal neck injuries and a head wound.
Kemp fled but crashed his car at high speed between Hemswell and Willoughton. Officers caught him near the scene and arrested him on suspicion of murder.
Toxic Relationship Turns Deadly
During police interviews, Kemp admitted to headbutting Clair before strangling her to silence her during a heated argument. Clair had reportedly asked him to leave the home they shared.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers said: “While today’s sentence can’t bring Clair back, I hope it brings some closure to her loved ones. Kemp now has time to reflect on the pain he caused Clair and her family.”
Family Breaks Silence After Verdict
Clair’s family expressed heartache but relief after the guilty verdict:
“Since that awful moment in November, our world has been shattered. We miss Clair every single day and struggle to imagine life without her.We hoped Kemp would show some decency and spare us the details of how she died, but we’re relieved justice is served. We may never fully accept life without Clair, but we will never forget her or what he did.”
