Domestic abuse campaigner holds memorial for five women who died within space of two months during lockdown in Doncaster
- Amy Cousens planned vigils for the five women who died in Doncaster, S Yorks.
- Believes austerity cuts have left domestic abuse victims with nowhere to flee
- Police have launched murder probe into deaths of Amanda Sedgwick, Michelle Morris, Amy-Leanne Stringfellow, Claire Anderson and one unnamed women
A domestic abuse campaigner held memorials for the five women who died less than two months apart in Doncaster, Yorkshire.
The organiser, Amy Cousens, said the women’s deaths should not become normalised and noted people in the town ‘feel forgotten about’ after domestic abuse services were axed due to austerity.
Amanda Sedgwick, Michelle Morris, Amy-Leanne Stringfellow, Claire Anderson and one unnamed women were found killed in the town and police launched murder probes into their deaths.
A vigil was held to commemorate the lives of five women who died in Doncaster in the last two months: Amy Stringfellow (top left), Claire Anderson (top right), Michelle Morris (bottom left) and Amanda Sedgwick (bottom right)
To honour the victims, Ms Cousens, who experienced domestic abuse as a child, hosted a vigil which was attended by more than 300 people.
She told The Independent: ‘We don’t want it just to be another news story. People are outraged about what is happening in the community.’
While police are not looking for a serial killer and do not think the deaths are connected, it is an unusually high number of murders for the town.
Amanda Sedgwick, 49, was found dead in a home in Askern on May 19. Police arrested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of her murder but later released him.
Five days later Michelle Morris, 52, was found after suffering a fatal head injury in Stainforth. She died in hospital three days later.
Mother-of-one and personal trainer Amy-Leanne Stringfellow, 26, was found dead in a house in Balby on June 5.
Her ex-boyfriend, Terence Papworth, 45, was accused of murdering her when he went to see her during lockdown.
Terence Papworth (pictured), 45, was accused of murdering Ms Stringfellow when he went to see her during lockdown
He was charged with murder and is due to go on trial in November.
Three days later, the body of an unnamed 28-year-old woman was found in a home in Mexborough. Two men have been arrested over her death.
On the night of July 11, beautician Claire Anderson, 35, was found unresponsive and pronounced dead by emergency services.
Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of her murder and he has since been released under investigation.
South Yorkshire Police said they could not comment on the deaths as proceedings in the cases are still active.
The UK saw a spike in domestic abuse cases when lockdown was introduced in March, with the number of incidents at a decade high.
Ms Cousens said furlough and lockdown can make men who are already abusive worse and means victims have less ways to escape them.
After finding out domestic abuse services, such as shelters for domestic abuse victims, in her area were to be cut due to austerity, Ms Cousens began volunteering.
She believes the reduction in services has left many victims without anywhere to flee to.
‘Doncaster is a very poor town. A high proportion of Doncaster’s population are in low-paid insecure work and many are working in the care sector.
‘If you are low-paid and there are no domestic abuse services in your area, how can you leave your abuser?’