A London man who murdered his ex-partner will spend more time in prison after South Swindon MP, Robert Buckland, who is the Solicitor General, referred his original sentence to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient.
Theodore Johnson, who had previously been convicted of the manslaughter of 2 former partners, bludgeoned his ex-partner with a claw hammer and strangled her with a dressing gown cord a couple of months after the end of their 20-year relationship.
He already had two previous convictions for manslaughter after killing two other former partners, in 1981 and 1993.
Johnson, 64, was originally sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years in January at the Central Criminal Court. The minimum term was increased after the Solicitor’s action, meaning Johnson will now serve at least 30 years behind bars.
Robert Buckland QC MP presented the case personally to the Court of Appeal. Speaking after the hearing he said: “This was a vicious and brutal attack which ended in the tragic death of a woman. The offender is a danger to women and his crimes deserved tougher sentencing.
“I am pleased the Court has now seen fit to increase the prison term.”
