Mother Handed a 14-Year Jail Sentence for Stabbing Her Bingo Pal

If you’re a regular here, you’ll remember I brought you some shocking news on how one woman stabbed her bingo pal in a sustained attack, after she discovered she had been stealing from her. When I initially heard the breaking news, I thought the woman who stole from her friend was the victim, but she was, in fact, the perpetrator.

Paula Ayres, a 51-year old mother, stabbed her friend Mrs Page twice in the neck and once in the back. The attack would’ve continued too if the victim hadn’t pretended to be dead on her own kitchen floor.

The now ex-friends spent years playing bingo together and sharing their winnings. There was a huge element of trust between the pair, with Mrs. Page giving Paula Ayres her bank card to withdraw cash before playing bingo.

Jurors decided that Ayres had gone to the home of her friend of 20-years to carry out a ‘premeditated attack’ to silence her. At the time, she even sent her ‘ruse’ away from the house to get some Coffee Mate so she could carry out the vicious attack.

No Friend of Mine!

Lunging at her victim with a Stanley knife, she held Mrs. Page from behind and ploughed the blade into her numerous times whilst holding her head in a ‘vice-like’ grip. Not content with stabbing her five times, she also ripped her earing out at the same time.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Ayres started to drain funds from the account which then led to a near fatal confrontation. Ayres overheard Mrs Page having a conversation on the phone with her sister regarding the missing money. Telling her sibling that her husband was at the police station reporting the crime, sent Ayres into a rage.

A huge fight broke out which saw Mrs. Page laying in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor. The knife-wielding suspect fled on foot, but police soon caught up with her at her home…

...this is where they found the blood-soaked Stanley knife in her washing machine. Traumatised by the whole incident, the victim gave her statement to the court behind a curtain.

The Verdict

Ayres admitted stealing almost £4K and causing grievous bodily harm but denied the charge of attempted murder. However, the jurors found her guilty. Paul Casey, defending, told the court he could offer 'no mitigation' for the 'extremely grave offence.'

Judge Roger Hetherington was told how photographs of Mrs Page’ injuries showed ‘copious amounts of blood.’ The judge saw through the lies and handed her a 14-year jail sentence for her crimes.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable John Duggan said: “This was a horrific assault on a vulnerable lady in her own home, by a woman who was supposed to have been a friend of some years. It was intrinsically linked to the theft of nearly £4,000 from the victim's bank account. The severity of the offence is reflected by the sentence the judge has passed.”

Source: “Horrific knife attack on bingo friend by Paula Ayres in Bishop's Waltham”. Hampshire Chronicle. January 21, 2020.