Street killer jailed for 37 years (From Banbury Cake)

Street killer jailed for 37 years

1:15pm Monday 4th March 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

A woman who killed a stranger in the street has been jailed for at least 37 years.

Nicola Edgington had also killed her mother six years earlier, but was released to live in the community.

She was found guilty at the Old Bailey last month of murdering Sally Hodkin, 58, and attempting to murder Kerry Clark, 22.

Both women were strangers and on their way to work in Bexleyheath, south-east London, in October 2011 when Edgington attacked them with a knife. Shortly before, Edgington walked out of a mental health unit where she was taken by police after her mental health deteriorated.

John Cooper, QC, mitigating, said she was a woman in crisis and had not been given the help she asked for.

But the Recorder of London Judge Brian Barker said Edgington should stop blaming others for her actions and take responsibility. He jailed her for life with a minimum term of 37 years for murder and gave her a concurrent sentence of life with a minimum term of 20 years for attempted murder.

Judge Barker told Edgington, 32, her behaviour had been "consistent and calculated".

He said: "You are manipulative and exceptionally dangerous. What you did could not have been more selfish.

"I disagree that the responsibility for these acts can be laid on others. You made your choice and these were terrible acts for which you must take responsibility. You have come as near as can be to having three deaths on your hands."

Miss Clark had escaped only with cuts to her hands because of her bravery and quick action, he said.