Former Sutton man jailed for 24 years after stabbing his ex-girlfriend and murdering her new partner in jealous rage

Gareth Mason, of Westminster Road, Morecambe, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on 7th January after he was unable to accept his relationship with Katrina Rudrum was over.

The 26-year-old, pleaded guilty to the murder and wounding on 4th August 2012.

Judge Baker sentenced Mason to 24 years imprisonment and told the cold-blooded killer he would not be released unless he could prove he was no longer a risk.

He said: “It may be you are imprisoned for the remainder of your life.”

The court was told how Mason had been constantly texting and calling his ex girlfriend Miss Rudrum without response in the hours before the murder, at Stud Farm Holiday Park in Heysham,

As she settled down for the night with new partner Adam Stirrup (28) and his 13-year-old daughter in the caravan where she was now living, they heard noises outside and went to investigate.

Miss Rudrum (26), the mother of Mason’s three-year-old son, saw what she first thought was Mason punching Mr Stirrup and, when she challenged him, he attacked her.

As she tried to get back into the caravan, Mason followed her, held her and slashed her throat.

Mason then returned to Mr Stirrup and launched further blows with the knife.

He was stabbed outside a bungalow on Westcliffe Drive before making it to number eight Westcliffe Grove.

Covered in blood, Miss Rudrum stumbled in the dark to the number 22 caravan to ask for help from a neighbour before collapsing.

The neighbour, a former soldier, treated her wounds until paramedics arrived as Mason fled up Westcliffe Drive, dumping his weapon in nearby bushes.

Police and the North West Ambulance Service raced to the caravan park, off Oxcliffe Road, and the critically-injured pair were rushed to the Royal Preston Hospital where Mr Stirrup died. Miss Rudrum was left fighting for her life with major wounds to her neck, abdomen and back but survived the ordeal.

Detective Supt. Paul Withers, of Lancashire Police’s Major Investigation Team, who led the inquiry, said: “Gareth Mason is a very violent and dangerous individual who now faces a lengthy custodial sentence to reflect on what he has done.”