Anthony Ayres

Background

Anthony Ayres was a 49-year-old man when he was sentenced for the murder of Kelly Pearce. Ayres had previously been convicted of the murder of Dawn Wisdom.

Dawn Wisdom, aged 30, was murdered in east London in 1993. The lifeless body of Dawn Wisdom was found by her parents in East London. She had been strangled by Ayres when he was aged 25. Ayres had moved in with her.

Kelly Pearce was 36 years old at the time of her death. She was described by her family as “big-hearted and full of life” and as having a “loud and bubbly personality”. Her family said she was a “loving mother and daughter who was big-hearted and full of life”.

The offence

Kelly Pearce was murdered at a flat on Canvey Island, Essex.

Ayres stabbed Kelly Pearce 40 times with a 10cm knife. He also beat her to death with a hammer. The court heard that her injuries included fatal neck wounds and injuries consistent with blunt force impacts. She was found in the bathroom of a flat belonging to one of her friends, Joseph Withers.

In 2016, during sentencing, Judge Maura McGowan QC said Ayres had “You took a knife and a hammer to the flat where you knew she was.” The judge continued: “You set about an attack of extraordinary brutality, which in my view amounted to sadism.” She also said: “Kelly’s addiction to hard drugs had blighted her life in recent years but all of the witnesses we have heard from said she was fun and kind and had a big heart and a warm and open personality.” She concluded: “All that has gone.”

In 1994, Ayres had been convicted of the murder of Dawn Wisdom at the Central Criminal Court in 1994 by strangulation.

Investigation

Kelly Pearce was attacked at a flat on Canvey Island, Essex.

Police revealed they had found the hammer in the flat, but the knife, presumably discarded, had never been found. Swabs were taken.

The court heard that DNA samples from the hammer matched Ayres, with the probability of it belonging to someone else described as about one in a billion.

Senior investigating officer DI Steve Ellis said: “Ayres is a dangerous individual who brutally attacked Miss Pearce, inflicting horrendous injuries.” He also said: “I would like to thank the family for their patience as we sought to locate Ayres and successfully bring him to justice.” He added: “While the verdict cannot bring Kelly back I hope this brings them a form of closure to their tragic loss.”

After Kelly Pearce was found, Essex Police launched an investigation and arrested Anthony Ayres following an appeal for information. Police said they had stopped appealing for the public’s help to locate a man wanted in connection with the murder of Kelly Pearce because “Anthony Ayres has been arrested and will be taken into custody for questioning.”

Arrest

Anthony Ayres was arrested the next day in Southend wearing the same clothes which were soaked in Kelly Pearce’s blood.

Ayres was arrested the day after Kelly Pearce was found. It was later reported he was arrested after being spotted by an off-duty police officer in Southend.

When questioned by police, Ayres refused to comment.

Trial

Anthony Ayres was tried at Chelmsford Crown Court and denied murdering Kelly Pearce.

The court heard that Joseph Withers was a prosecution witness. The jury heard that on the day of the killing, Kelly Pearce spent time with Withers and that the pair had gone their separate ways. Prosecutor Cairns Nelson told Chelmsford Crown Court that during the walk to Joseph Withers’ flat, Kelly Pearce told him she thought Ayres might have a knife.

The court heard that Kelly Pearce and Joseph Withers asked Ayres to lend them £10 to buy cigarettes. It was also heard that Ayres agreed but said he had left his wallet in his flat. Joseph Withers then left the flat to go to buy some cigarettes, expecting Ayres to follow him, but the court heard he was locked out.

Cairns Nelson told the court: “During the walk to Mr Whithers’ flat Miss Pearce told him she thought that Ayres might have a knife.” He also told the jury about the earlier murder of Dawn Wisdom.

During the call, Joseph Withers said: “I think someone has been killed in my flat. There is blood everywhere.” He added: “He stabbed her and smashed her with a hammer.” He said: “My friend was round and then this man comes round and hit her repeatedly and stabbed her in the face.” Joseph Withers said: “The man’s just left now. ” He also said: “She’s had her throat slit, she’s gargling.”

Joseph Withers told the court he was briefly locked out of his flat while Kelly Pearce and Ayres were inside. He claimed to have seen Ayres swinging a hammer and said: “I saw him hitting her with the hammer or something. I just saw him hitting like that,” and “It was Tony.”

Defense counsel Oliver Saxby, QC, asked: “It sounds like you weren't sure. Why did you say 'or something'?” Joseph Withers replied: “That's best description I could give.” Saxby said: “I'm suggesting that either you lost it with her, or that there was somebody else in there who was responsible for what happened.” Joseph Withers replied: “It was Tony.” The defence also addressed early statements made by Joseph Withers: “You're trying to say I attacked Kelly. I would never attack anybody. I'm scared of Kelly.”

Anthony Ayres gave evidence. He told the court he thought Kelly Pearce had been shot because there was “blood everywhere”. He said: “I could hear my heart coming out of my chest, I was hyperventilating,” when he heard she made “a noise as though she was trying to breathe”. Ayres admitted they had casual sex and said they both took drugs; he said he took them casually whereas Kelly Pearce “had a habit”.

The court heard that the prosecution case was that Ayres was the perpetrator. Cairns Nelson QC said: “There's no question she was unlawfully killed, bludgeoned to death and stabbed to death. The case of the prosecution is the perpetrator is the defendant,”.

Sentencing

Anthony Ayres was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release on July 26, 2016.

Judge Maura McGowan QC sentenced Ayres to a whole life sentence in prison. During sentencing, she told Ayres: “You are in your late 40s and for the second time in your life have been convicted of murdering a woman.”

The court heard that Ayres had previously been released on life license in May 2012 having served 19 years of his life sentence for the murder of Dawn Wisdom.

Appeals

No appeals were stated.

Outcome

Anthony Ayres was convicted of murdering Kelly Pearce and was sentenced to a whole life term.

Kelly Pearce died at the Royal London Hospital less than three hours later from blunt force trauma and stab wounds.

Aftermath

Kelly Pearce’s mother, Lynne Wallings, and her partner Richard issued statements after the sentencing.

They said: “Kelly was a colourful character, who made an impression on everyone she met. She was loved dearly by her friends and family and she showed us so much love and kindness back.” They also said: “Kelly will be missed by her mum Lynn, step father Richard, son Josh, Sister Lisa and all her family. We know nothing can bring her back.” They said: “The verdict today was the right one, at least now Kelly can rest in peace knowing that Anthony Ayres will be sent to prison for the rest of his life.”

They added: “We would like to thank Essex Police and the investigation team, for all they have done throughout this horrific ordeal to get justice for Kelly.” They said: “We would also personally like to thank the first responders, the police and the paramedics who tried their hardest to save Kelly. Their efforts will never be forgotten.” They concluded: “Lastly, thanks to Cairns Nelson and Peter Gair for prosecuting Kelly’s case and getting justice. “Now the Court case is over, we would like to try to move on with our lives, to remember the happy times with Kelly and to grieve our loss. We respectfully request that we are left to grieve in private.”