Lee Chugg and Jodie Swannick have been sentenced to life imprisonment after the brutal killing of 60-year-old Stephen Fogg. The violent attack, involving stamping and kicking, took place at Mr Fogg’s bungalow in Wembury, Devon, in December 2020.
Both defendants denied murder charges, but a jury at Exeter Crown Court found them guilty on 19 May. Sentencing on 27 May resulted in Chugg receiving a minimum term of 20 years, while Swannick was handed at least 18 years behind bars.
A carer discovered Mr Fogg’s battered body on the kitchen floor on the morning of 17 December 2020. Evidence showed that the assault occurred on the night of 14 December. Mr Fogg died from multiple blunt-force injuries, including fractures to his skull, collarbone, and ribs. Footwear marks found on his body confirmed he had been stomped on.
Chugg, aged 42, from Wembury, and Swannick, aged 32, with no fixed address, both admitted being present at the scene but blamed each other for the murder.
The court heard that Mr Fogg was known as a kind and generous man who sought to befriend everyone. Chugg and Swannick were familiar visitors who had been to his home multiple times before the attack. After the body was discovered, the pair fled the area and were arrested in Plymouth a week later.
Swannick initially confessed to police, stating, “I did it,” but later claimed that Chugg ‘flipped’ after drinking vodka, which led to the deadly attack. She admitted to kicking Mr Fogg’s head three times. Meanwhile, Chugg accused Swannick of stabbing Mr Fogg with scissors and stamping on him.
During sentencing, Judge Peter Johnson described the attack as “brutal” and criticised the defendants’ “callous indifference” to Mr Fogg’s death. He labelled Chugg “an extremely dangerous man prone to violent outbursts when drunk.” The judge stated, “I am satisfied both intended to kill.”
Detective Inspector Ilona Rosson commented, “Stephen was a vulnerable man who trusted everyone. Chugg and Swannick exploited that, carrying out a prolonged and senseless attack. They showed no remorse and tried to blame each other to escape justice.”
She added, “This complex case involved a mountain of evidence, including CCTV and expert testimony, exposing their lies. We offer our deepest condolences to Stephen’s family and hope this sentence brings them some closure.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
