A jealous lover is back behind bars after killing his former partner and a man he believed had "taken advantage" of her while he was in prison.
Lee Peacock, 50, of Harrow Road, Maida Hill, appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday (February 1) where he was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 39 years' imprisonment for the murders of Sharon Pickles and Clinton Ashmore.
Peacock had been convicted of both murders at the same court the day before.
Officers attended 46-year-old Sharon's home in Ashbridge Street, Marylebone, at 9.30pm on August 19, 2021, after concerns were raised for her welfare.
Peacock had told a family member that he had killed three people.
Inside, officers found Sharon’s body hidden under a bed. Her throat had been cut and a note, signed by Peacock, was found at the scene, Scotland Yard said.
A murder investigation was launched and later that same day officers recovered CCTV footage of Peacock walking with 59-year-old Clinton Ashmore towards his flat.
Peacock entered the flat wearing a polo shirt but left 15 minutes later wearing a dark coloured hoodie.
At 2.15am on August 20, friends of Clinton found him fatally injured with a knife injury to the throat at his home in Jerome Crescent, St John's Wood, and called the London Ambulance Service.
Police were called to the address, where Clinton was pronounced dead. He had also suffered a knife injury to the throat.
Peacock had killed Clinton with the same knife he used to murder Sharon.
A manhunt was launched and six days later, Peacock was found aboard a houseboat on the Grand Union Canal.
When officers arrived to arrest him, he tried to cut his own throat, but was restrained by officers and was taken to hospital for treatment and arrested the following day.
Det Chf Insp Wayne Jolley, of the Met’s specialist crime command, said: “What Lee Peacock did will haunt the families and loved ones of the victim’s for years to come – it is right that he will spend many years facing the consequences of his actions.
“Our thoughts are with the families today. I sincerely hope that the sentence brings them a small measure of comfort.”
Sharon Pickles' family said in a statement: “As a family it’s been an incredibly difficult time for us losing our loved one in this way, but we finally have justice for our beloved daughter, sister and mother Sharon.
“Our hearts are broken and she will be missed dearly."
They thanked the police, prosecution and witness services "for supporting us during this time and the dignity and respect they have shown Sharon".
Clinton Ashmore’s family said: “Clint was a pure and beautiful soul. His kindness, wit, humour and gentleness were what stood out most about him but more than anything, he was loved.
“Clint touched so many lives in so many ways. He shone brightly in this world but his light was cruelly put out by someone who gave no thought or care to the impact of his actions.
"The world has lost one of the good ones but our family and his loved ones have lost the best."
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