Essex mother jailed for murdering boyfriend at New Year’s Eve party with six children in flat

A mother has been jailed for more than 14 years for the murder of her boyfriend at a New Year’s Eve party while six children were in the flat with them.

Hannah Sindrey, 24, was convicted of the murder of 31-year-old Paul Fletcher at her flat in Worcester Drive, Rayleigh, following a trial at Basildon Crown Court, Essex Police said.

She was sentenced at the same court on Friday and must serve at least 14 years and five months before she can be considered for parole, the force said.

Prosecutor Christine Agnew QC told the trial that Mr Fletcher took Sindrey’s phone, and one belonging to her friend Kelly Blackwell, after taking cocaine and becoming paranoid that Sindrey may have been cheating on him.

Police said Mr Fletcher, known as Dod, was stabbed in the chest in the fracas that broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 2021.

Sindrey’s two children and 26-year-old Miss Blackwell’s four children were in the flat at the time.

The force said Miss Blackwell, of Retort Close, Southend, was cleared of murder.

In a statement released through police, Mr Fletcher’s family said they were “heartbroken” by his death.

Senior investigating officer Julie Gowen, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This has been a challenging and intensive investigation as my team tirelessly pieced together the hours and minutes which led up to the death of Mr Fletcher in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

“Sindrey’s actions have not only destroyed the lives of Paul’s family and friends, but also her own family.”