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Archie Spriggs: Custody battle mum jailed for son's murder Archie Spriggs: Custody battle mum jailed for son's murder
(35 minutes later)
A woman who used a cushion and scarf to strangle and smother her seven-year-old son on the day of a custody hearing has been jailed for at least 18 years.A woman who used a cushion and scarf to strangle and smother her seven-year-old son on the day of a custody hearing has been jailed for at least 18 years.
Lesley Speed, 44, was found with cuts to her neck after killing Archie Spriggs, from Shropshire, during a bitter custody battle. Lesley Speed, 44, was found with cuts to her neck after killing Archie Spriggs during a bitter custody battle.
The boy died at his home in Rushbury, near Church Stretton, on 21 September. The boy died at his home in Rushbury, near Church Stretton, Shropshire, on 21 September.
Speed, who was convicted of murder, had been "stressing out" about the hearing, Birmingham Crown Court was told. The judge accepted Speed, who was convicted of murder, had a "chronic" mental illness.
The trial heard she had been in dispute with her ex-partner Matthew Spriggs, who is Archie's father, about their son's future. Archie's father, Matthew Spriggs, claimed the authorities dismissed his concerns about his son's safety and missed opportunities to prevent his death.
Jurors heard how Speed was found with cuts to her neck and wrists in a bathroom, having killed Archie in his bedroom. The trial at Birmingham Crown Court had heard Speed was in dispute with her ex-partner, and was "stressing out" about the custody hearing.
Jurors were told how Speed was found with cuts to her neck and wrists in a bathroom, having killed Archie in his bedroom.
The judge accepted she had tried to take her own life after the murder, having left a "chilling" note for Mr Spriggs.The judge accepted she had tried to take her own life after the murder, having left a "chilling" note for Mr Spriggs.
'Denied support'
Speed denied murder and claimed she had found her son hanging from his scarf in his bedroom.Speed denied murder and claimed she had found her son hanging from his scarf in his bedroom.
Her partner Darren Jones, who discovered Archie on his bunk and his girlfriend lying wounded in the bathroom, said Speed had told him she smothered her child.Her partner Darren Jones, who discovered Archie on his bunk and his girlfriend lying wounded in the bathroom, said Speed had told him she smothered her child.
'Denied support' The judge, Mr Justice Nicol, acknowledged Speed suffered from "longstanding and chronic" mental health problems but told her: "You may have believed that it would be harmful for him to live with his father... but, even if your belief on that score was genuine, it cannot begin to excuse your action."
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Nicol accepted Speed had a "longstanding and chronic" history of mental illness but told her: "You may have believed that it would be harmful for him to live with his father. He said Archie was "a playful and bubbly child" and his teachers described him as "chatty and popular, kind and caring".
"That's as may be but, even if your belief on that score was genuine, it cannot begin to excuse your action." The judge told Speed: "There can be no greater abuse of trust than to kill a child whom you should be protecting."
Archie's father claimed the authorities dismissed his concerns and missed opportunities to prevent his son's death. Archie's father said those tasked with protecting his child favoured his ex-partner because she was a woman.
Mr Spriggs said those tasked with protecting his child favoured his ex-partner because she was a woman.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, he said: "There is something wrong with a system which allows one parent to dismiss legal proceedings without consequence and an even bigger problem when, despite laws on equality, the assumption is that a mother must be 'good' and a father 'bad'.In a victim impact statement read to the court, he said: "There is something wrong with a system which allows one parent to dismiss legal proceedings without consequence and an even bigger problem when, despite laws on equality, the assumption is that a mother must be 'good' and a father 'bad'.
"I did all I could to protect my son but was denied the support I needed to do so."I did all I could to protect my son but was denied the support I needed to do so.
"One person committed this heinous act against an innocent little boy but others were also complicit. Archie's death could have been avoided. He should be with me now.""One person committed this heinous act against an innocent little boy but others were also complicit. Archie's death could have been avoided. He should be with me now."
Defence counsel Rachel Brand QC submitted Speed had suffered from a depressive illness for several years, which led to a "distorted and negative" pattern of thinking. Defence counsel Rachel Brand QC submitted Speed had suffered from a depressive illness for several years, which led to "distorted and negative" thinking.