Lee Peacock, the convicted double murderer who brutally killed his girlfriend and her associate in a shocking two-day killing spree in 2021, has died in prison, authorities have confirmed.
The 53-year-old, who was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 39 years at HMP Long Lartin, died on March 4. A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigation is now underway to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
Peacock’s crimes, described by a judge as “dramatic and brutal,” sent shockwaves across the country when they were uncovered in August 2021.
Brutal Murders in Marylebone
Peacock, a career criminal and burglar, had been released on licence just weeks before the murders, following a 40-month prison sentence for aggravated burglary. He first killed his partner, Sharon Pickles, 46, by slitting her throat with a Stanley knife in the bedroom of her Marylebone flat on August 18, 2021.
The court heard how Peacock hid Ms Pickles’ body in a duvet, while her bedridden flatmate, suffering from multiple sclerosis, remained unaware in the next room. The judge later stated Ms Pickles had been “taken by surprise” and murdered during a fit of jealous rage.
The following day, Peacock murdered Clinton Ashmore, 58, whom he attacked at a nearby flat. He inflicted nine wounds to Ashmore’s face, neck, and arm after targeting him in a planned attack, suspecting him of being involved with a woman Peacock was trying to locate. Police later discovered Mr Ashmore’s body in what they described as a “horrifying scene” with blood spread across multiple rooms.
Fleeing, Confession, and Capture
After the killings, Peacock fled, stopping at his parents’ home in Wembley, where he confessed to the first murder and bizarrely brought Ms Pickles’ kitten in a rucksack. His father alerted police, who later tracked Peacock to a boathouse on the Grand Union Canal in Westminster—a structure previously known as a drug den.
He was arrested on August 25, 2021, and later refused to attend his sentencing at the Old Bailey in February 2023, where he was convicted of both murders and told he would “likely die in prison.”
Families Pay Tribute to Victims
Following the sentencing, Justice Murray said:
“Even if you live a long life, there is a strong possibility that you will die in prison before you are eligible for release.”
The judge noted Peacock’s lack of remorse, the premeditated nature of Mr Ashmore’s murder, and the aggravating factors, including the fact that he was on licence at the time and had killed both victims in their homes.
Sharon Pickles’ family said in a statement:
“Our hearts are broken and she will be missed dearly. We finally have justice for our beloved daughter, sister and mother Sharon.”
Mr Ashmore’s family called him a “pure and beautiful soul,” adding:
“His kindness, wit, humour and gentleness stood out most, but more than anything, he was loved. His light was cruelly put out by someone who gave no thought or care to the impact of his actions.”
Peacock’s death in custody brings a grim final chapter to one of London’s most disturbing double murder cases in recent years.
