Life sentence for father who killed his four-year-old son and stabbed daughter in revenge attack against wife

Christopher Hawkins, 47, attacked Ryan and his sister Donna after learning that his estranged wife Valerie, 41, had a new man.

Donna, 14, who had come to collect her brother from Hawkins's home in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, suffered 13 stab wounds but managed to escape.

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A jury at Leeds Crown Court took less than three hours to bring in guilty verdicts on Hawkins, who had a long history of domestic violence. As he was taken away he shouted "I love you" to Donna and her sister Natalie, 16, who were both sobbing in the public gallery.

Christopher Hawkins, 47, from Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, showed no emotion as the jury at Leeds Crown Court returned guilty verdicts after retiring for just over two and a half hours.

Hawkins said "sorry" to his 14-year-old daughter Donna before stabbing her 13 times in the face and body at his home in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, to get revenge on his wife for having an affair and leaving him.

He then said "I've got to kill Ryan now" and turned on the terrified child as the teenager managed to unlock the door and stumble outside.

Hawkins, a former pub landlord, was said by friends to have been "really down" following the break-up of his 17-year marriage with former wife Valerie, two months ago.

The previous day Hawkins was said to have taken Ryan to Slaithwaite Bowling Club for a fourth birthday treat and given him a Spider-Man outfit as a present.

Police and paramedics called to the scene found Ryan in a pool of blood inside Hawkins's house and he was pronounced dead soon after arrival at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Donna staggered out of her father's house and collapsed in the street with blood pouring from her wounds.

Hawkins was a regular at the bowling club where one member said: "He brought him up to the club most weekends and I would see him chasing and playing with the boy. He was the apple of his father's eye."

Hawkins stabbed his son nine times during the attack and he was killed by wounds to his chest, two of which had penetrated his heart.

Sentencing Hawkins, Mr Justice Wilkie said: "A more horrific crime it is hard to imagine than savagely and repeatedly to stab your young son who, in his agony, had to try to fend off blows from one of the people he was most entitled to expect love and affection.

"Although to this court, and after the event, you profess great love for Ryan and mourned his passing, in my judgment, having seen you give evidence and had the opportunity to assess your genuineness, these were crocodile tears."

Sheet metal worker Hawkins and his wife, Valerie Gee, had separated in May last year after she told him she no longer loved him.

He later discovered that she had begun an affair with taxi driver Lee Tinker, whom she met at her uncle's cab firm where she worked, while they were still living together and was described as being "extremely unhappy" about the relationship.

The day before the attack would have been his and Miss Gee's 17th wedding anniversary.

The judge said: "I'm satisfied that you used him (Ryan) cold-heartedly as a vehicle for avenging yourself on your wife."

He praised Donna for the calm way she gave evidence during the eight-day trial and said it was in "stark contrast" to the performance of Hawkins, who he accused of not having the "moral courage" to face up to what he did, instead blaming "something evil" inside him.

"Your daughter, by the way she gave her evidence, showed herself to be a credit to herself, her mother and her sister. This is the more so when one is aware of the pain and difficulties she has been subject to," Mr Justice Wilkie said.

Donna suffered multiple injuries to her face, chest, abdomen, arm and thigh.

Two of the wounds had penetrated her abdomen with sufficient force to also penetrate her liver and one deflated her lung.

Hawkins had also "cut a chunk" out of his daughter's right arm.

The judge said: "I'm satisfied, but for the speed and skill of the doctors at the hospital, you would have faced two murder charges."

He added that he did not accept that the attack was spontaneous as Hawkins had written a note stating that he and Ryan would die on September 16 - Ryan's fourth birthday.

As he was led away, Hawkins, wearing glasses, a dark suit and tie and a white, striped shirt, turned to the packed public gallery, where daughters Donna and Natalie, 16, were sitting, and said: "I love you, Donna, I love you, Natalie."