Latest news with #EwanMethven
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Man jailed for brutal murder of girlfriend
A man has been jailed for life for the brutal murder of his girlfriend at their home in South Lanarkshire. Ewan Methven admitted the violent attack on 21-year-old Phoenix Spencer-Horn at a flat in Glen Lee, East Kilbride, in November 2024. The 27-year-old had attempted to defeat the ends of justice by covering up the crime and pretending to her family that she was still alive. Methven was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow. WARNING: This article contains distressing details. Sentencing Methven, judge Lord Matthews told him he had "rarely heard such outpourings of grief as in the victim impact statements". He said: "The sadness and deep sense of loss (the family) all feel and continue to feel because of what you did. "You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruelest way. "Not content with what you did to her, you robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and tried to dismember her in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. "The way you treated her after her death meant that her family didn't have the comfort of saying goodbye to her." In a letter to the judge, Methven wrote: "I know how loved Phoenix was and how she made her family complete. I cannot believe I have taken her from them." Prosecutors had told the court that Methven choked Ms Spencer-Horn before severing her head and trying to remove her limbs and torso from her body. Earlier that day, Methven, who worked as a postman, had complained to his girlfriend that her waitress shifts made him "lonely". She had exchanged messages with her mother, Alison Spencer, at 21:37 saying they were eating dinner. The couple had been together for two years and met at a family party, the court was told. Around midnight, a downstairs neighbour heard "a loud noise and hurried footsteps" which coincided with increased activity recorded on a phone app measuring Methven's steps. He had attacked Ms Spencer-Horn with three knives, stabbing her 20 times. The fatal stab wound was to the chest. There were others in that area as well as to the face and buttocks. Methven tried to cover up the killing for two days. He spent the weekend driving Ms Spencer-Horn's red Corsa, scrolling through her phone and searching 170 times for internet pornography, as well as making several attempts to buy cocaine, according to prosecutors. He also repeatedly pretended in texts to his victim's mother that her daughter was "alive and well". During an earlier hearing, prosecutor Christopher McKenna said: "The accused murdered his girlfriend, Phoenix Spencer-Horn, in the top-floor flat they shared. "Late on Saturday 16 November, he strangled her and stabbed her. He dialled 999 but not until 18 November. "Her mutilated and decapitated body was discovered only on 18 November." The court heard that Ms Spencer-Horn had seen her mother the day before she was killed and had been in good spirits at work the day she was murdered. In a 999 call, Methven claimed that the murder happened during a psychotic episode induced by cocaine, alcohol and steroids - which he claimed he thought had been spiked. Facebook He told the operator he had been "trying to muster up the courage to phone" and that he had "totally blacked out through the thing". The court heard a delivery driver reported Methven "did not appear to be drunk or under the influence" at 20:00 on the night of the murder. Police arrived at the flat and found Ms Spencer-Horn's body covered up in the hallway next to two blood-stained knives. Another bloodied knife was found in the bathroom. Methven was described as "calm". Upon his arrest, he told officers: "I could not stay here with her like that. I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there." After he was put in a police cell, he said: "I guess this is what my next 25 years look like." His KC Tony Graham said Phoenix's family and friends were likely to regard Methven as the "personification of evil". Following Ms Spencer-Horn's death, a fundraising page amassed thousands of pounds to help with funeral costs. Her family went on to donate much of it to the Women's Aid charity. Its Glasgow branch thanked the family, saying the cash would be used to protect others and continue her legacy. "Her name, Phoenix, now stands for more than loss. It stands for action. For change. For refusing to let her story end in silence," the charity posted on social media. "This is what it means to rise from the ashes. To take this devastating crime and use it to protect others. "Phoenix should still be here. But her legacy is one that's lifting others up, and that matters. Turning pain into action. Refusing to let her name be forgotten."
Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Telegraph
Postman jailed after decapitating girlfriend because she ‘worked too much'
A postman who decapitated his girlfriend after complaining she was working too much has been jailed for life. Ewan Methven, 27, admitted murdering Phoenix Spencer-Horn at their home on Nov 16 last year, after the couple ordered a takeaway to their flat in Glen Lee, East Kilbride. Prosecutors told the High Court in Glasgow that Methven choked her before severing her head and trying to remove her limbs and torso from her body. Earlier that day, Methven had complained to his girlfriend that her waitress shifts made him 'lonely'. After murdering and decapitating his 21-year-old girlfriend, he texted her mother pretending to be her and he trawled the internet for pornography for hours. Methven later dialled 999, insisting he had a drug-induced blackout and could not remember what he had done. But Judge Lord Matthews at the High Court in Glasgow ordered Methven to spend at least 23 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. He told Methven: 'You pleaded guilty to a dreadful crime, namely the murder of Phoenix Spencer-Horn, who was a much-loved and sorely missed daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. 'At age 21 and 134 days, she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long, fulfilling life. You were a trusted member of her family, and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruellest way. 'Not content with what you did to her, you robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and tried to dismember her in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. 'The way you treated her after her death meant that her family didn't have the comfort of saying goodbye to her. No punishment I can inflict or what I can say or do can be enough and the only sentence that I can impose is life. 'I saw a letter written by you which answers none of the questions. You blame substances, but that is not an excuse.' The couple met at a family party and had been dating for two years before the killing. They had recently moved into the top floor, one-bedroom flat. 'Good spirits' Methven was employed by the Royal Mail while Ms Spencer-Horn, who was known as Phe, held part-time jobs at the Strathaven Hotel and a local coffee shop. She had been working on Nov 16 and was described as in 'good spirits'. Methven had texted her during her shift complaining of feeling 'lonely' due to her working hours. Ms Spencer-Horn apologised to her boyfriend. The postman had also been working that morning and told a colleague he was going home to 'chill'. Methven ordered a takeaway that night and the couple ate when Ms Spencer-Horn returned. She contacted her mother at 9.37pm, stating she was at home having dinner. The court heard this was the last communication they had. At about midnight, a downstairs neighbour heard a 'loud noise and hurried footsteps'. This coincided with increased activity recorded on a phone app measuring Methven's steps. He had attacked Ms Spencer-Horn with three knives, stabbing her 20 times. The fatal stab wound was to the chest. There were others in that area, as well as to the face and buttocks. The court heard that he had attempted to 'sever her torso, right wrist and ankle from her body'. Methven tried to cover up the killing for two days and spent the weekend driving Ms Spencer-Horn's red Vauxhall Corsa. Prosecutors said he scrolled through her phone and searched 170 times for internet pornography and made several attempts to buy cocaine. He also repeatedly pretended in texts to his victim's mother, Alison Spencer, that her daughter was 'alive and well'. Ms Spencer had tried to contact her daughter on the morning of Nov 17, and Methven replied, saying 'Phe is not up yet' and that he would get her to message when she was. He later pretended to be his girlfriend and sent a text to her mother, saying: 'Hey, sorry I've just woken up xxx.' Another claimed Ms Spencer-Horn was apparently 'all good'. The court heard that minutes after this, Methven logged on to adult websites and accessed pornography over a period of more than 10 hours. 'Psychotic break' Concerns were raised when Ms Spencer-Horn did not turn up for work on Nov 18. Methen dialled 999 that afternoon, stating he had had 'a drug-induced psychotic break' and that he had 'killed' his girlfriend. He said he had 'blacked out through the full thing'. He told the operator: 'The past day I have been trying to kind of muster up the courage to phone.' Methven said his girlfriend's body was in the hall with a knife beside her. He said he had been taking steroids and cocaine, which he believed had been spiked. Police found her 'mutilated body' with two blood-stained knives next to her. A third blood-stained knife was found discarded in the bedroom. Methven was described as 'calm', telling the officers: 'I could not stay here with her like that. I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there.' He also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice including the mutilation of Ms Spencer-Horn's body and lying to her mother. Tony Graham KC, defending, told the court Methven was 'unable to offer an explanation to why the course of events led to her death other than his admission of drugs'.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Evil boyfriend who murdered Phoenix Spencer-Horn 'robbing her of all dignity in death' jailed for 23 years
A man who brutally murdered his girlfriend before decapitating her has been jailed for 23 years. Ewan Methven killed Phoenix Spencer-Horn at their home in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, last November. The 27 year-old postman later dialled 999 himself insisting he had a drug-induced blackout and could not remember what he had done. But it emerged that after stabbing the 21-year-old to death, he mutilated her body, pretended to her mother she was still alive while also trawling the internet for pornography for hours. Methven admitted to the gruesome murder as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow. Judge Lord Matthews ordered Methven to spend at least 23 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. The judge said: 'You pleaded guilty to a dreadful crime, namely the murder of Phoenix Spencer-Horn who was a much loved and sorely missed daughter, sister, niece cousin and friend. 'At age 21 and 134 days she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long fulfilling life. 'You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruellest way. 'Not content with what you did to her, you robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and tried to dismember her in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. 'I have rarely read such outpourings of grief as are contained in the Victim Impact Statements from her family, who have endeavoured to put into words what can never truly be encapsulated, the sadness and the deep sense of loss they all feel and will continue to feel thanks to what you did. 'The way you treated her after her death meant that her family didn't have the comfort of saying goodbye to her. 'No punishment I can inflect or what I can say or do can be enough and the only sentence that I can impose is life.' Members of Phoenix's grieving relatives were at the sentencing. The couple had started dating two years before the killing. They had recently moved into the top floor one-bedroom flat in East Kilbride. Methven was employed by the Royal Mail while Ms Spencer-Horn - known as 'Phe' - held part times jobs at both the Strathaven Hotel and a local coffee shop. She had been working on November 16 - she was described as in 'good spirits'. Methven had texted her during her shift complaining of feeling 'lonely' due to her hours and she apologised to her boyfriend. The postman had also been working that morning. He told a colleague he was then going home to 'chill'. He ordered a takeaway for the couple. The young woman had contacted her mother at 9.37pm stating she was at home having dinner. That was the last communication she had with her daughter. It was around midnight that a downstairs neighbour heard 'loud noise and hurried footsteps'. Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: 'Around, or shortly after midnight on November 16 through to November 17, Methven attacked Phoenix by compressing her neck and repeatedly stabbing her to the head and body.' The court then heard of Methven's sick behaviour as his girlfriend lay dead including hacking at her with knives. He repeatedly arranged to buy drugs by phone. Ms Spencer-Horn's mother Alison Spencer had also tried contacting her daughter on the morning of November 17. Methven instead got in touch initially claiming 'Phe is not up yet' and that he would get her to message when she was. The sick killer then later pretended to be his girlfriend and sent a text stating: 'Hey sorry I've just woken up xxx.' Another claimed Ms Spencer-Horn was 'all good'. Minutes after this, Methven logged on to the adult websites. Mr McKenna said: 'Throughout the day on November 17, analysis of his phone and search history revealed that, for prolonged period over several hours, he accessed pornography from 8.12am through to 6.39pm. 'He was noted to have accessed a pornographic video site 170 times.' Concerns were raised when Ms Spencer-Horn did not turn up for work on November 18. Methen dialled 999 that afternoon stating he had had 'a drug induced psychotic break' and that he had 'killed' his girlfriend. He told the operator: 'The past day I have been trying to kind of muster up the courage to phone. 'I totally blacked out through the full thing.' He mentioned having 'stabbed' and 'choked' her. Asked by an officer who came on the line if she could still be alive, Methven replied: 'I know she is dead, mate - she is dead.' Police soon arrived and made the grim discovery. Mr McKenna told the court: 'Phoenix's naked and mutilated body with her head decapitated was discovered by police covered up within the hall of their home. 'An attempt had also been made by him to sever her torso, right wrist and ankle from her body. 'There were two bloodstained knives lying next to the mutilated body. A further bloodstained knife was found discarded in the bedroom.' Among the remarks Methven made on his arrest were: 'I could not stay here with her like that. I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there.' Methven also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice including the mutilation of Phoenix's body and lying to her mother. His KC Tony Graham yesterday told the sentencing that he was 'unable to offer an explanation to why the course of events led to her death other than his admission of drugs'. The advocate quoted Methven who said: 'I know how loved she was and how she made her family complete and I can't believe I took her from them.' Mr Graham added: 'He appreciates in the whole circumstances that during the two year relationship he was adopted [by her family] and to that family he delivered the ultimate betrayal.'
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Cocaine-addled postman who killed and decapitated his girlfriend before searching for porn online is jailed for at least 23 years
A postman who murdered and decapitated his 21-year-old girlfriend before searching for internet pornography 170 times has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years. Ewan Methven, now 27, murdered Phoenix Spencer-Horn in the home they shared in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, on November 16 2024, after the couple ordered a takeaway to their flat in Glen Lee. In the hours before the killing, Miss Spencer-Horn had texted her mother to say they were eating dinner. Around midnight, neighbours reported hearing 'increased activity' in the top-floor flat. The High Court in Glasgow was told that Methven attacked Miss Spencer-Horn, stabbing her 20 times, including 10 times in the face, before mutilating her body and severing her head, the court heard. Methven had also strangled her, searched for internet pornography 170 times and made repeated attempts to buy cocaine, before spending the weekend driving around in Miss Spencer-Horn's red Corsa, and texting her mother pretending she was still alive, according to prosecutors. On the day of the murder, Methven had sent a message to his partner of two years, saying that her waitress shifts made him 'lonely', the court heard. Miss Spencer-Horn was described as being in 'good spirits' by colleagues at a hotel where she worked, and had replied to her boyfriend apologising, the court heard. After the murder, Methven - who had met his partner at a family party - texted Miss Spencer-Horn's mother, Alison Spencer, pretending to be her. He texted: 'Hey sorry I've just woken up xxx' before searching for pornography, the court heard. On November 18, at about midday, he dialled 999 and told a call-handler: 'I had a psychotic break and killed my wife.' He said: 'We were messing about, I take steroids and was taking cocaine and alcohol, I think there was something else in it ... it was f****** horrible.' He was transferred to a senior police officer, and said: 'I just want to go to jail', and added: 'I have been out my face, I can't remember what happened. I have been driving about all weekend.' Police officers discovered Miss Spencer-Horn's mutilated body hidden under a towel. Methven admitted attempting to remove the limbs and torso from her body with a knife or other instrument. Prosecutor Christopher McKenna previously said that on November 17, Methven accessed pornography from about 8am until about 6.30pm and was noted to have accessed a pornographic video site 170 times, according to forensic analysis. Methven pleaded guilty to murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice at the High Court in Glasgow. The couple had started dating two years before the killing after meeting at a party The court heard he had no previous convictions and, on Monday, he was jailed for 23 years after appearing by videolink at the High Court in Glasgow. Defending, Tony Graham KC, said, in 2024, Methven realised he had an addiction problem, and had written a letter to the judge saying 'in relation to the harm that could cause, it could only be harm to himself', regarding cocaine, steroids and other drugs. Mr Graham read from the letter, which said: 'I know how loved Phoenix was and how she made her family complete. I can't believe I've taken her from them.' He told the court: 'Mr Methven is in a position where he can offer no explanation as to why the course of events which led to Phoenix's death took place, other than his own self-administration of drugs.' He said that Methven 'insists he has taken the life of a person he loved, and appreciates he has caused an enormous void in that family', and 'struggles to reconcile how he could have caused that destruction', the court heard. Mr Graham said that Methven had been 'taken into family home of Phoenix's family and appreciates in that that two-year period he was adopted into that family', and described the murder as 'a betrayal', the court heard. However, he said Methven could not explain why it happened, and added: 'He has flashbacks but no real memory as to how things progressed to this destruction of human life.' Imposing a life sentence, Judge Lord Matthews said Methven had admitted a 'truly dreadful crime'. Lord Matthews said: 'At 21 years old, she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long and fulfilling life. You were a trusted member of her family but betrayed that trust. 'For reasons no-one will ever understand you strangled her and stabbed her 20 times, including 10 in the face. You robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and trying to dismember her. 'For two days after, you indulged in drug abuse and watching pornography, contacting her mother and pretending to be her.' He added: 'The way you treated this innocent young woman after her death meant her family did not have the comfort of saying goodbye to her.' The judge told Methven: 'The letter by you answers none of the questions which must be plaguing the family. You blame the effect of substances but that is no excuse.'
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
Man strangled and decapitated girlfriend before pretending to be her to mum
Ewan Methven has been jailed for life (Picture: Police Scotland/PA Wire) A man has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years after stabbing his girlfriend to death and decapitating her. Ewan Methven murdered 21-year-old Phoenix Spencer-Horn at their home in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, in November of last year. Shortly after the couple ordered a takeaway to be delivered to their flat in Glen Lee, Methven stabbed his girlfriend 20 times, 10 times in the face, before mutilating her body and cutting off her head. For the weekend after he murdered her he searched for pornography online 170 times, tried to buy cocaine multiple times, drove around in Phoenix's car and texted her mother pretending she was still alive. Methven pleaded guilty to murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice at the High Court in Glasgow. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. On Monday he was jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years for what Judge Lord Matthews called a 'truly dreadful crime'. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. Arrow MORE: Sarah Grace Patrick's chilling social media posts before she was charged with parents' murder Arrow MORE: Man wrongly accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree 'wears Rod Stewart wig' to avoid abuse Arrow MORE: Lone gunman 'shot dead' after killing two in rampage by Kentucky church
