Stuart Hazell sent to prison for 38 years

Stuart Hazell has been sentenced to jail for at least 38 years over the death of Tia Sharp

By Nicole Hamer |

16:53 14 May 2013

Stuart Hazell, aged 37, who previously refused to admit that he killed Tia Sharp – the granddaughter of his partner – has been sentenced to jail for at least 38 years.

This came after a trial that lasted for five days.

The judge said: “Tia's mother trusted you to look after Tia. You have breached that trust in the most grievous way possible.”

Adding: “Your guilty plea came on day five. You said you wished to avoid causing further stress to Tia's family. That is commendable, but they have had to endure four days of a very public trial.”

Schoolgirl Tia Sharp, 12, disappeared in August last year. Her body was found one week after she was said to be missing from her grandmother’s house.