The family of a ‘happy’ and ‘bubbly’ woman who was brutally murdered in front of her child said they have finally got justice.

Lloyd Byfield, 49, was jailed for 26 years and six months at The Old Bailey in London today for the murder of Leighann Duffy.

Leighann, 26, was stabbed in the neck in her living room and hit with a hammer after “jealous and controlling” Byfield smashed his way into her home in Walthamstow.

Police described the attack on September 1, 2014 as unprovoked and senseless.

Met officers and paramedics found Leighann Duffy suffering from stab wounds to her arm and neck in her home.

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Leighann Duffy's mother described her as 'happy' and 'bubbly'

She was taken by London Air Ambulance to an east London hospital where she died two days later.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death was given as a stab wound to the neck.

A six-year-old child at the address received treatment at the scene for an assault related injury and did not attend hospital.

The two weapons used by Byfield in this attack, a claw hammer and a large red handled kitchen knife, as well as a homemade sheaf, were recovered at the scene by detectives.

Byfield stopped a PCSO in Walthamstow High Street on September 17 saying he was wanted and "the devil was in his head".

Today, he was jailed at the Old Bailey for 26 years and six months, after pleading guilty to murder in March.

Leighann's mother, Ann Kerr, gave a statement after the sentence was passed.

She said: "Leighann was a 26-year-old with a six-year-old daughter and was a happy and bubbly woman who had her whole life ahead of her. On Monday, September 1 2014 she was brutally taken from us in an unprovoked and senseless attack.

"No sentence will ever make up for what he did and will never bring her back. However our family has finally got justice for Leighann which has caused months of grief.

"We want to thank the police who worked day and night to catch Leighann's killer. We also want to thank all of our friends and family who have supported us through this devastating time of our lives."

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Lloyd Byfield has been jailed for 26 years and six months