Woman who died two years after her boyfriend doused her with gasoline and set her on fire

A mother of four who died in agony two years after her boyfriend doused her with gasoline and set her on fire during a small fight has been remembered as “a great character” and “a lovely woman” by her daughter, who says she he wants the ‘monster’ who did it now accused of his murder.

Ellen Marshall, 43, suffered burns over 80 to 90 per cent of the upper half of her body in the sickening attack on 22 April 2021 on her flat in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

Initially, he was only given a 50 per cent chance of survival as he struggled to breathe without help, but he clung on for dear life until he died on March 11 at Nottingham City Hospital.

Her 25-year-old daughter Paige Clarke paid tribute to her in a Facebook post that read: “No more pain and suffering now mom.”

Paige’s message decorated with heart emojis added: “Sleep tight and I’ll see you soon.” I love you.’

In an interview with MailOnline, she added: “I’m still processing the thought of not having my mum around and I’m supporting my siblings in dealing with it.”

We knew it was going to shorten his life expectancy, but we didn’t think it would be that fast.

“Somehow it came out of nowhere because she’d get bad and they’d think she wouldn’t make it and then she’d get better.”

“She was essentially in the hospital ever since it happened. She was in Birmingham, then Nottingham and then a care home for a few months, but then returned to Nottingham City Hospital just before Christmas.

Paige, who is organizing her mother’s funeral, described how Ms Marshall drifted in and out of consciousness and struggled to breathe on her own.

She said: “She could talk, but when she was really bad, she was unresponsive most of the time.”

Ms Marshall’s partner, Leigh Pateman, 43, admitted to intentional grievous bodily harm at Lincoln Crown Court and was jailed for 17 years and ten months last March.

He was given an extended sentence, which means he will send an additional four years of leave after his release.

Paige now asks to be charged with murder if the evidence shows that her mother’s death was the result of her burns.

She said: “I would have thought it obvious that the monster that did this to my mother should now be tried for murder and serve a life sentence.” We have to wait for the autopsy, but this is what we would like to see happen.’

Paige from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, added: ‘I’m going to miss her. She was very outspoken and would light up a room when she walked in. She always let you know how she felt about you.

Ms Marshall’s sister Linda added: ‘Ellen was very bubbly. You would always know that she was close to her and where you were with her. She was a great character and she leaves a huge void in our lives.

Her ex-partner and father of her children, Alan Clark, said: “I know the police are looking to bring a higher charge.” He deserves it.

“It has been very difficult for the children that she has been in the hospital for the last two years.”

Ms Marshall’s son Tim Clarke, 21, added in a Facebook post: ‘RIP mum I’m going to miss you. I love you very much…’

Police who described the attack on Ms Marshall as “one of the worst cases of domestic violence” they had seen are awaiting autopsy results to establish how she died.

Ms Marshall, who had a problem with alcohol, was originally from Nottingham but moved to Skegness around seven years ago, leaving her teenage children with their father in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

He lived in a succession of flats, guest houses and multi-occupancy houses, as well as Salvation Army accommodation in the seaside town.

One of her former owners who asked not to be named said: “She was a lovely lady, but she was very worried and in trouble.”

She was a recovering alcoholic, but she relapsed and started drinking again. I think I gave him a place to live three times.

He was always nice to me and paid the rent. But there were definitely problems with the way she drank.

“I know he had to move away from Nottingham, but I really don’t know why.

‘She had a couple of relationships when I met her. When she left my house, she moved in with a boyfriend and I think she went downhill.

“I think it was towards the end that she started to go down the wrong path again.

“She broke up with the boyfriend she knew she had, and then she must have hooked up with the guy who then burned her down.” I do not know anything about him.

‘I heard about the attack on the news. It sounded awful, and I’m saddened that he’s now dead.

Ms Marshall was set on fire at around 10:30pm while sitting in an armchair in her ground-floor flat in a house shared with other tenants in Skegness.

Since then, the property has been converted into a family home.

A local resident said: ‘It was horrible. We didn’t realize something was wrong until we saw firefighters, police and an ambulance on the road.”

Pateman poured gasoline from a jerrycan on it after an argument before using a lighter to light it.

He fled on his bike, leaving her for dead after pouring two bowls of water on her.

Firefighters heard gurgling sounds when they arrived at the apartment and found Ms. Marshall lying on the living room floor with her hair burned and her facial features difficult to recognize.

He was still conscious and managed to give his name, but claimed that the injuries he had sustained were self-inflicted.

Ms. Marshall was taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital and underwent an initial 12-hour surgery for burns to her face, neck, abdomen, chest and extremities.

He also lost some of his fingers and suffered severe eye damage.

Ms Marshall was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for specialist treatment for ‘catastrophic’ and ‘life-changing’ burns.

Pateman was arrested at his mother’s house, where he was found covered in soot and in need of treatment for his burns.

At her sentencing hearing it was said that he had made a prior threat to set her on fire and kept the gasoline in her apartment.

He told police that he had been arguing with his then-girlfriend for months and that they were both addicted to alcohol.

Pateman claimed that he had bought gasoline for his brushcutter and only poured it on her lap to scare her.

He pretended that he had been playing with his lighter and had no intention of burning her.

The court heard last year that Ms Marshall was still in hospital and could only walk a few steps at a time with a frame.

Specialists said at the time that they expected her to survive, but that she would continue to require round-the-clock care if she was released from the hospital.

Judge Simon Hirst told Pateman: “His injuries are irreversible and he will never be able to return to his former life.”

It’s hard to think of a crueler crime than setting someone on fire. You used a highly dangerous weapon with the use of fire and an accelerant.

Detective Inspector Andy McWatt said after the hearing: “This is such a tragic incident that it has left Ellen with life-changing injuries.” It is likely that she will never fully recover. I hope this sentence brings closure to the family.’

A statement from Lincolnshire Police this week said: “We have been brought to our attention by the passing of Ellen Marshall, which is a terrible loss.

“The coroner is currently in charge of the investigation, and we are working together with them and the Crown Prosecution Service to carry out an autopsy.”

Paul Smith, the coroner for the Lincolnshire area, opened an inquest into her death this week. He said the precise cause of Ms Marshall’s death had not yet been revealed and adjourned the investigation until September 10.