Chester murderer jailed for life after partner found dead with more than 100 injuries
41-year-old Stephanie Blundell was found dead in July last year
Last updated 27th Feb 2026
A murderer who attacked his partner, leaving her to die with more than 100 injuries after feeding her vodka and ice lollies while she was trapped in his house, has been ordered to serve a minimum term of 22 years.
Tony Devenport, 57, was handed a life sentence after Chester Crown Court heard that 41-year-old Stephanie Blundell was found with extensive bruising across her face and body.
Ms Blundell was found dead lying on a mattress by her father Philip Blundell last July at the home she shared with Devenport in Canal Street, Chester.
Jurors found him guilty of murder after a trial which concluded on Wednesday.
Passing sentence on Devenport on Friday, Mrs Justice Steyn told the defendant he had murdered his "compassionate, kind-hearted and courageous" partner of two years.
The judge said: "Stephanie Blundell died on the morning of July 20 2025 as a result of fierce, repeated and sustained assaults inflicted by you over the preceding day or two.
"Her father had the most terrible experience a parent can face of visiting her shortly after midday on that Sunday, only to discover that his beloved daughter lay dead, with the marks of the severe beatings you had meted out abundantly clear."
The judge added: "She always saw the good in people, including you, never giving up on them. She had an enormous capacity to love and a bright smile that could light up a room."
Ms Blundell's father told the court in an impact statement that discovering his daughter will "stay with me for the rest of my life".
He added: "The thought that she died alone in pain with nobody to comfort her haunts me every day."
The court heard when Devenport met Ms Blundell, she had been suffering with an alcohol addiction for years, but the couple had been in a period of sobriety until they took a trip to Slovakia in May last year when they started to drink "heavily".
Devenport was controlling and coercive towards Ms Blundell, and although they had lived together for nearly two years, she did not have a key to their house and he kept her bank card in his wallet, the court heard.
"When intoxicated, you were abusive, aggressive and violent towards her on occasions prior to her death", the judge said.
Devenport was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Ms Blundell 10 days before she died but breached his bail conditions "within minutes" by calling her phone and she "never left" his house again after he called a taxi to pick her up.
Between July 10 and 20, Ms Blundell had "no means of contacting anyone" and was bed-bound, while Devenport bought more than 12 litres of vodka and 72 cans of beer.
The judge said that evidence showed Devenport strangled Ms Blundell twice in the day or two before her death and beat her causing significant injuries to her brain.
Mrs Justice Steyn said Ms Blundell, who had acute pancreatitis and alcoholic ketoacidosis, was "bound to be pleading with you for help" in the days before her death, but he only gave her alcohol and ice lollies.
She told the defendant: "As a result of your actions, Stephanie would have been in pain and fear and you kept her there, offering little but vodka."
She died from multiple injuries inflicted upon her, exacerbated by the effects of chronic alcoholism, a post-mortem examination found.
In a statement released after the sentencing, Ms Blundell's family said: "Steph was, without question, one of the most radiant souls you could ever hope to meet.
"She was kind-hearted, quick-witted and effortlessly stylish. Her warmth and compassion have been evident throughout this trial and that brings us some comfort that her true loving nature has been seen by so many."
Detective Inspector Andrea Price, from Cheshire Constabulary's Major Investigation Team, said: "Stephanie was loved and cherished amongst family and friends, and although today marks the day her killer is brought to justice, I want Stephanie to be the one who we remember.
"While no sentence can ever bring Stephanie back, I hope today's result provides her loved ones with some comfort in knowing that Devenport has now been held accountable for what he has done."