UK - Plymouth, reports of a 'serious assault' in city - as locals are warned to 'stay away', 23 January, 2025

[Dotta]

"Police and emergency services rushed to the scene in the West Hoe area at around 10pm.

Devon and Cornwall Police said
a 'serious assault' has unfolded and officers remain at the scene.

A spokesperson said that locals are being warned to steer clear of the area
as the force deal with the ongoing incident.

Armed police swarm Plymouth amid reports of a 'serious assault'

Armed police have swarmed Plymouth tonight amid reports of a 'serious assault' in the city as locals are warned to 'stay away'.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

"Plymouth incident: ​

Police issue 'stay away' warning amid reports of 'awful scenes'."​

Huge police response in city with public told 'stay away' amid 'awful scenes'

Devon and Cornwall Police said "a large presence" remains active in West Hoe, Plymouth, after the force had warned the public to stay away from the housing development

www-mirror-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

"According to reports,
Devon and Cornwall Police said it was
'dealing with a serious assault at the scene'.

Posts on social media suggest there is a major police operation under way in the city."

Search for suspect after serious assault in Plymouth - BBC News

Police say a man has been taken to hospital after being found injured in the city's West Hoe area.

www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[DS2021]

Serious assault in UK city as police swarm scene and public told ‘stay away’

Emergency services have rushed to the scene in West Hoe, Plytmouth, to deal with the unfolding incident where it's reported a young girl has been stabbed.

www.google.com

A major incident is unfolding in Plymouth with reports that a young girl has been stabbed. Rumours are swirling online as police confirm there has been a "serious assault

 

[Dotta]

Police Update:

"Officers were called at 8.55pm on Monday 22 January after a person was found seriously injured in the street on West Hoe Road. They were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Derriford Hospital.

A large number of police units remain on scene conducting extensive enquiries and searches in the area to locate a male suspect. The pair are believed known to each other.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Pebworth said:

'We have a large police presence in the area and enquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest the suspect.
We believe this is an isolated incident and there is no immediate threat to the wider public'.

Armed police were seen storming a block of flats."

Plymouth 'stabbing' update as police say person 'seriously injured' | UK | News | Express.co.uk

www-express-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[annpats]

I wish they'd come right out and said a stabbing.

By 'serious assault' I was thinking someone has been beaten up, and I wondered why such a huge police response.

There's no point in the media pussyfooting around and sugar coating stabbings. They are very real and are happening.

 

[Dotta]

"Man wanted in connection with murder investigation,
Paul Butler, 53, is wanted in connection to a fatal incident in West Hoe Road in Plymouth."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882431212880359699

 

[iamshadow21]

Man arrested on suspicion of Plymouth murder

Paul Antony Butler, 53, was arrested in Liskeard in Cornwall and remains in police custody.

www.bbc.com

The victim is a woman in her 40s.

 

[JennieM]

Man arrested on suspicion of Plymouth murder

Paul Antony Butler, 53, was arrested in Liskeard in Cornwall and remains in police custody.

www.bbc.com

The victim is a woman in her 40s.

From the article:

"We believe that this man could be armed and dangerous, so we are telling the public not to approach him in any circumstances and immediately call 999 if you have seen this man."

 

[Gemmie]

Looks like the victim has died.

The woman was taken to hospital but died in the early hours, police said. Her next of kin have been informed.

The victim and suspect were known to each other, police added, and officers were searching for a male suspect "whose identity is known".

Murder suspect manhunt in Plymouth after woman dies

Police say the man they are searching for was known to the woman who died.

www.bbc.com

 

[Dotta]

"Murder suspect Paul Antony Butler
is arrested by police
after woman is stabbed to death in Plymouth,
placing city on lockdown for a day.

The force said a mandatory referral will be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
due to previous contact with the victim."

Police arrest man, 53, over murder of woman in Plymouth

Paul Antony Butler, 53, was wanted in connection to the death of a woman in her 40s in in the West Hoe area of Plymouth on Wednesday night.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

"Woman stabbed to death in horrific Plymouth attack
was a university lecturer,
who shell-shocked neighbours said was 'lovely' -
as cops arrest man, 53, on suspicion of murder.

Claire Butler, 48,
a lecturer in adult nursing at Plymouth University,
was allegedly killed in the street in the West Hoe area on Wednesday night
sparking a major police search."

RIP

Pictured: Woman stabbed to death in horrific Plymouth attack

EXCLUSIVE: Claire Chick, 48, a lecturer in adult nursing at Plymouth University, was allegedly killed in the street on Wednesday night sparking a major police search

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Tower]

I wish they'd come right out and said a stabbing.

By 'serious assault' I was thinking someone has been beaten up, and I wondered why such a huge police response.

There's no point in the media pussyfooting around and sugar coating stabbings. They are very real and are happening.

The vague wording seemed very strange to me. I’m in the US, but stating “we are looking for a suspect who has stabbed a victim, stay away,” would be clear and succinct.

The incident itself is awful, but no need to make it seem worse and let people’s imaginations go crazy.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In a tribute to Claire, who worked as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth, her family described her as a "beautiful lively soul" who was "there for everyone."

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2025-01-26/man-charged-with-murder-of-beautiful-caring-mother

 

[wtiger]

sounds like another "oops" moment for a UK police force!

 

[Dotta]

"Man charged
with murdering university lecturer Claire Chick in Plymouth -
as family continue to grieve for
'beautiful, caring mother'.

Paul Butler,
of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth,
was arrested on Thursday evening around 20 miles away in the Liskeard area of Cornwall.

He has now been charged with her murder
and is due to appear before Plymouth Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Ms Chick, previously known as Claire Butler,
had five grandchildren who call her 'favourite grandma', according to her family who released a heartbreaking tribute this week.

In a statement,
issued via Devon and Cornwall Police,
the family said:

'We are absolutely devastated and broken at the loss of our beautiful caring mother Claire Chick'."

Man charged with murdering university lecturer in Plymouth

Claire Chick, 48, a lecturer in adult nursing at Plymouth University, was killed in the West Hoe area on Wednesday night, sparking a large-scale police manhunt.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MollyHarps]

Really sad to hear she has died. She had such a beautiful smile.

Im guessing this is her ex husband that has been charged?

 

[Dotta]

"Man charged with murder ​

remanded in custody.​

Paul Butler, 53, of Stangray Avenue,
appeared at Truro Crown Court
accused of killing university lecturer Claire Chick.

Mr Butler,
also charged with the unlawful possession of a bladed article,
was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court
on Friday 3 March.

Judge Robert Linford said there would be a plea hearing on 3 March, and if there was to be a trial
it would provisionally be listed
for 14 July."

Man charged with Plymouth murder remanded in custody - BBC News

Claire Chick was found seriously injured on a street in Plymouth and later died in hospital.

www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Kittypoo]

I wish they'd come right out and said a stabbing.

By 'serious assault' I was thinking someone has been beaten up, and I wondered why such a huge police response.

There's no point in the media pussyfooting around and sugar coating stabbings. They are very real and are happening.

Should the heading of the web sleuths case be amended as this is now also incorrect?

 

[Luwin]

Man who killed Plymouth University lecturer jailed for life

Paul Butler has been sentenced for the murder of Plymouth University lecturer Claire Chick.

www.bbc.co.uk

A man has been jailed for a minimum of 27 years for the murder of his estranged wife.

Paul Butler, 53, of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth, previously pleaded guilty to stabbing to death 48-year-old university lecturer Claire Chick.

Ms Chick was found seriously injured in West Hoe Road on the evening of 22 January and died later in hospital.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934937074991280502

"The heartbroken family of murdered Claire Chick
have been left horrified after finding out her estranged husband is locked up in a low-security prison -
just two months after he was convicted of stabbing her outside her home.

The former doorman is now holed up at HMP Aylesbury -
a Category C jail where lags can take podcasting lessons, attend book clubs and three quarters spend more than eight hours a day out of their cells.

Ms Chick's eldest daughter Bethany Hancock-Baxter has condemned Butler's situation:

'This is an egregious oversight,
as placing proven dangerous murderers in less secure environments undermines the severity of their crimes
and does not adequately account for public safety concerns'."