11:15am Monday 6th July 2009
By Court reporter
A 46-YEAR-OLD Dartford man described as a “violent alcoholic” has been given a life sentence for murdering his partner.
Steven Stallion was found guilty of murdering 36-year-old Victoria Tomsett at the flat they shared in Sheridan Court, Temple Hill.
Maidstone Crown Court heard unemployed Stallion had been in a volatile and abusive relationship with mother-of-one Ms Tomsett for about seven years, and killed her by repeatedly punching her in the head.
The court heard that at around midday on October 18, 2007, the couple bought alcohol at a local shop.
Witnesses said they heard them arguing several hours later.
Shortly before 2am on October 20, Stallion called an ambulance saying his partner had suffered an epileptic fit.
Paramedics found Ms Tomsett lying on the bedroom floor. Her face and body were covered in bruises and there was blood around her mouth.
Stallion was given a life sentence and told he will serve a minimum of 14 years in prison.
Judge Jeremy Carey said Ms Tomsett was an alcoholic, epileptic and vulnerable person who had deserved Stallion’s protection.
In a statement following the verdict, Ms Tomsett’s family said: “We miss Vicky a lot and can now let her rest in peace although she will never be forgotten.
“It's been a very long 20 months since Vicky's death and we could not ask for a better result so near to her birthday when she would have been 38 years old.
“Justice has been done today.”
During the trial the court heard evidence from Ms Tomsett's former neighbour Karen Ryan, of Childs Crescent, Swanscombe.
Ms Ryan said she heard on the radio that a young woman had been killed in Temple Hill.
She said: “As soon as they gave the age I said that sounds like Vicky's been killed.
“It was just an instinct.
“Something in my head said something’s going to happen to her.
“After that the police came round and asked if we knew Vicky.”
Detective Inspector Gavin Moss, from Kent police’s major crime department, said Ms Tomsett should have been able to trust Stallion and count on him protecting her.
He said: “Suffering from epilepsy, Victoria was vulnerable.
“She should have been able to rely on her partner for empathy, reassurance and proper care.
“Instead, he subjected her to sustained and brutal physical and emotional abuse before doing the worst thing that any human being can do to another. He took her life.”
He added: “Stallion is a violent alcoholic but this is no excuse for what he did and the jury agreed.”
The jury heard Stallion was twice convicted of assaulting Ms Tomsett but on other occasions she refused to press charges against him.
The court was told Stallion and Ms Tomsett split up briefly in 2007 after she alleged he shot her in the back with an airgun.
She left Stallion for a short period and began a brief relationship with another man.
It was shortly after returning to Stallion that Ms Tomsett was murdered.
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