Man handed life sentence for murder of Bradford-born woman

Kirstie Ellis, 35, who grew up primarily in Buttershaw before moving to Leeds, was found dead at her address in Stanhall Mews, Stanningley, near Pudsey, on March 25 this year.

The scene in Stanningley where police investigated the death of Kirstie Ellis (Image: Newsquest)

The discovery was made by officers after Tony Brooks was arrested in the early hours of that day on suspicion of a burglary in Wakefield earlier in the month.

Brooks had been in a relationship with Kirstie for several months.

After being interviewed in relation to the burglary, he made a shock revelation to officers that he knew about a murder committed by a drug dealer and that there was a body at an address in Leeds.

When officers forced entry to the property, they found Kirstie’s body in the bath hidden under a blanket.

A post-mortem examination later confirmed she had been strangled.

Police launched a murder investigation and from enquiries, it was established that Kirstie was likely to have been killed at the address on February 1.

Brooks, who had begun a relationship with Kirstie in December, was forensically linked to the scene and was shown to have sold a number of her possessions taken from her home in the period following her death.

Her bank card and PIN number were found during a search of an address Brooks had been staying at in Castleford.

He was charged with her murder on March 28. He initially pleaded guilty to her manslaughter at a hearing in April but not guilty to the murder. He then changed his plea to guilty to the murder when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court on October 3.

Brooks, 36, of Agbrigg Road, Wakefield, was sentenced today and received a life term with a minimum of 24 years and 9 months.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Helen Steele, said: “Brooks is a callous and nasty individual whose brutal actions robbed Kirstie of her life and have left her family absolutely devastated.

“He displayed a complete disregard for her in the weeks that followed her murder, as she lay undiscovered while he sold off items of her property taken from the address.

“We conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation into Kirstie’s death which built up a strong evidential picture of Brooks’ involvement and saw him admit his guilt without her family having to endure the added emotional strain that a trial inevitably brings.

“While nothing can ever undo the pain that Brooks’ actions have caused them, we hope Kirstie’s family can take some small measure of comfort from knowing he has now been held responsible and sent to prison.”