Lee Peacock, the convicted double murderer responsible for a shocking two-day killing spree in Marylebone in 2021, has died in prison. The 53-year-old was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 39 years at HMP Long Lartin when he passed away on March 4, authorities confirmed.
A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigation has been launched to determine the cause of Peacock’s death.
Peacock, a known career criminal and burglar, had recently been released on licence after serving 40 months for aggravated burglary. Just weeks later, on August 18, 2021, he slit the throat of his partner, 46-year-old Sharon Pickles, in her Marylebone flat.
He concealed her bloodied body wrapped in a duvet while her bedridden flatmate, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, remained unaware nearby. The judge described the killing as “dramatic and brutal,” noting that Peacock acted in a jealous rage.
The violence continued the following day when Peacock launched a savage attack on 58-year-old Clinton Ashmore at a nearby flat. He stabbed Ashmore nine times in the face, neck, and arm. Police described the crime scene as “horrifying,” with blood smeared across several rooms.
After the attacks, Peacock fled but made a chilling stop at his parents’ home in Wembley, where he confessed to Sharon Pickles’ murder while carrying her kitten in a rucksack. His father alerted the police, who later found Peacock hiding in a boathouse on the Grand Union Canal, a location known as a former drug den. Peacock was arrested on August 25, 2021.
Peacock refused to attend his sentencing at the Old Bailey in February 2023. He was convicted and told he would “likely die in prison.”
At sentencing, Justice Murray said: “Even if you live a long life, there is a strong possibility that you will die in prison before you are eligible for release.” The judge highlighted Peacock’s cold lack of remorse, the planned nature of Ashmore’s murder, and the fact that Peacock was on licence during both killings.
Sharon Pickles’ family released a statement saying: “Our hearts are broken and she will be missed dearly. We finally have justice for our beloved daughter, sister and mother Sharon.”
Mr Ashmore’s family described him as a “pure and beautiful soul” and added: “His kindness, wit, humour and gentleness stood out most, but more than anything, he was loved. His light was cruelly put out by someone who gave no thought or care to the impact of his actions.”
Peacock’s death closes the grisly chapter on one of London’s most harrowing double murder cases in recent memory.
Originally published by UKNIP.
