This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8375911.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Spectacular fall of royal helper | Spectacular fall of royal helper |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Andrews spent three months in open prison before absconding | Andrews spent three months in open prison before absconding |
The escape of ex-Royal aide Jane Andrews from prison is the latest in a catalogue of events that have marked the spectacular rise and fall of the Duchess of York's former assistant. | |
The Cleethorpes carpenter's daughter once moved in the highest social circles, but for the last eight years has shared her life with fellow murderers and other convicts. | The Cleethorpes carpenter's daughter once moved in the highest social circles, but for the last eight years has shared her life with fellow murderers and other convicts. |
The years since Andrews' conviction have been marked by overdoses and a failed appeal at the expense of the reputations of her victim and even her own brother. | The years since Andrews' conviction have been marked by overdoses and a failed appeal at the expense of the reputations of her victim and even her own brother. |
For the family of the victim - wealthy businessman Tom Cressman who was stabbed and bludgeoned to death with a cricket bat in 2001 - Andrews' latest disappearance comes as no surprise. | For the family of the victim - wealthy businessman Tom Cressman who was stabbed and bludgeoned to death with a cricket bat in 2001 - Andrews' latest disappearance comes as no surprise. |
Tom Cressman's brother Rick said: "As a family we felt the sentence was far too lenient in the first place. | Tom Cressman's brother Rick said: "As a family we felt the sentence was far too lenient in the first place. |
"We feel she is a devious and manipulative character and I don't think anything has changed." | "We feel she is a devious and manipulative character and I don't think anything has changed." |
He added: "Moving her to an open prison was wholly inappropriate and offensive to the memory of my brother. | He added: "Moving her to an open prison was wholly inappropriate and offensive to the memory of my brother. |
"Lo and behold, look what's happened." | "Lo and behold, look what's happened." |
She had lived a high life in the Royal household. She looked upon Tom as someone who would bring her a little near to it again Harry Cressman, father | She had lived a high life in the Royal household. She looked upon Tom as someone who would bring her a little near to it again Harry Cressman, father |
In 2003 Andrews tried to overturn her murder conviction by claiming she had been sexually abused by her brother as a child - a charge he vehemently denied. | In 2003 Andrews tried to overturn her murder conviction by claiming she had been sexually abused by her brother as a child - a charge he vehemently denied. |
She said the trauma damaged her personality and meant that she was not guilty of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | She said the trauma damaged her personality and meant that she was not guilty of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
But the Court of Appeal rejected the case, along with claims that Mr Cressman had domestically abused and raped her. | But the Court of Appeal rejected the case, along with claims that Mr Cressman had domestically abused and raped her. |
A month after the appeal was denied, Andrews was taken to intensive care after a suspected drugs overdose. | A month after the appeal was denied, Andrews was taken to intensive care after a suspected drugs overdose. |
In 2006, the High Court reduced her sentence from 15 years to 12 years, leaving her eligible for parole in 2012. | |
Judge Mr Justice McKinnon said in the ruling that Andrews' rejection by Mr Cressman - which preceded his murder - was an "unusually heavy burden to bear". | Judge Mr Justice McKinnon said in the ruling that Andrews' rejection by Mr Cressman - which preceded his murder - was an "unusually heavy burden to bear". |
She was moved to East Sutton Park open prison in Kent in July 2009. | |
But she absconded on 23 November, days after another apparent suicide attempt using paracetamol. Police describe her as "vulnerable". | But she absconded on 23 November, days after another apparent suicide attempt using paracetamol. Police describe her as "vulnerable". |
Tom Cressman was a wealthy businessman | Tom Cressman was a wealthy businessman |
Andrews' detachment from her humble Lincolnshire beginnings began when, aged 21, she answered an advert in society magazine The Lady for a personal dresser. | Andrews' detachment from her humble Lincolnshire beginnings began when, aged 21, she answered an advert in society magazine The Lady for a personal dresser. |
It was only during her interview she found out who her employer would be. | It was only during her interview she found out who her employer would be. |
But in 1997 she was left heartbroken after being sacked after nine years' service, ostensibly as a cost-saving exercise. | But in 1997 she was left heartbroken after being sacked after nine years' service, ostensibly as a cost-saving exercise. |
"Losing her job would have been devastating," said another former aide Dominique Vulliamy. | "Losing her job would have been devastating," said another former aide Dominique Vulliamy. |
"Most jobs become part of your identity but this one takes over your life. It would be hard to deal with it once it's gone." | "Most jobs become part of your identity but this one takes over your life. It would be hard to deal with it once it's gone." |
Others say the sacking left her disturbed. | Others say the sacking left her disturbed. |
Businessman Tom Cressman, with his fast cars, vintage boats and high-society contacts, was her link to the world she had previously inhabited and she made him the focus of her life. | Businessman Tom Cressman, with his fast cars, vintage boats and high-society contacts, was her link to the world she had previously inhabited and she made him the focus of her life. |
His father, Harry Cressman said: "She had obviously lived a high life for quite a number of years in the Royal household. | His father, Harry Cressman said: "She had obviously lived a high life for quite a number of years in the Royal household. |
"I think she looked upon Tom as someone who couldn't replace that, but would do his damnedest to bring her a little near to it again." | "I think she looked upon Tom as someone who couldn't replace that, but would do his damnedest to bring her a little near to it again." |
Cricket bat | Cricket bat |
But Andrews was not able to snare her man. | But Andrews was not able to snare her man. |
Friends said he had come to realise she was "unstable", and when the expected marriage proposal failed to materialise, she snapped. | Friends said he had come to realise she was "unstable", and when the expected marriage proposal failed to materialise, she snapped. |
Her loss of control was in character. When a previous boyfriend had ended his relationship with Andrews, she had vandalised his flat. | Her loss of control was in character. When a previous boyfriend had ended his relationship with Andrews, she had vandalised his flat. |
But Tom Cressman would lose his life. | But Tom Cressman would lose his life. |
The night he died, Tom phoned the police and asked officers to come to the house, telling them he was "afraid we might hurt each other". | The night he died, Tom phoned the police and asked officers to come to the house, telling them he was "afraid we might hurt each other". |
Within hours he was dead. | Within hours he was dead. |
Enraged by rejection, Andrews hit her lover around the head with a cricket bat while he slept in their bed. | Enraged by rejection, Andrews hit her lover around the head with a cricket bat while he slept in their bed. |
She then plunged an 19-centimetre kitchen knife into his chest and tried to rig the scene before she went on the run. | She then plunged an 19-centimetre kitchen knife into his chest and tried to rig the scene before she went on the run. |
Her former employer Sarah Ferguson was among those who urged her to give herself up. | Her former employer Sarah Ferguson was among those who urged her to give herself up. |
Four days after the murder, Andrews was found in her car in a lay-by in Cornwall. | Four days after the murder, Andrews was found in her car in a lay-by in Cornwall. |
Andrews took a job as dresser for the Duchess of York | Andrews took a job as dresser for the Duchess of York |
She had taken an overdose of painkillers. She told police she panicked after killing her boyfriend by accident, in self-defence. | She had taken an overdose of painkillers. She told police she panicked after killing her boyfriend by accident, in self-defence. |
In court, she painted a picture of a violent man who had raped her and threatened to kill her. | In court, she painted a picture of a violent man who had raped her and threatened to kill her. |
But her story unravelled under cross-examination. | But her story unravelled under cross-examination. |
Prosecutors pointed out that she had never complained of his violence, that none of her friends believed he had ever hurt her, and that she lied to police during interviews. | Prosecutors pointed out that she had never complained of his violence, that none of her friends believed he had ever hurt her, and that she lied to police during interviews. |
Andrews admitted that at the time she murdered her lover, she still had not got over losing her job with the Duchess of York three years earlier. | Andrews admitted that at the time she murdered her lover, she still had not got over losing her job with the Duchess of York three years earlier. |