Man jailed for murdering girlfriend he 'forced to steal'

A career criminal who murdered his girlfriend in an alleyway next to a primary school has been jailed for life.

Lee Taylor, 40, launched a "brutal" attack against mother of four Paris Kendall, 36, after chasing her down a street in Halifax on 13 August last year, Bradford Crown Court heard earlier.

Her body was found in the alleyway, off Keighley Road, by two 16-year-olds a short time later.

Taylor, who has 50 previous convictions for 100 offences, was told he would serve at least 21 years in prison before he can apply for parole.

A victim impact statement read to the court on behalf of Kendall's eldest teenage daughter said: "Why did he do this to my mum? What was she thinking and feeling when he did it?

"I break down a lot and cry most days. He has taken my world away, my mum and my best friend. I feel heartbroken and alone."

The court heard how friends of Kendall had concerns about her safety after she entered into a relationship with Taylor in 2023 and believed he was forcing her to shoplift.

It was said that on one occasion, the defendant was seen repeatedly punching his partner, but although the police were called she did not pursue charges against him.

When Taylor was released from prison on 7 August last year after serving a short sentence for burglary and drug possession, the pair spent several nights sofa surfing before booking into a short-stay apartment on Keighley Road.

On the day of the murder, a cleaner at the complex heard Kendall shouting "You're hurting me," and "I can't breathe" from the room in which the couple were staying.

She entered the room to find Taylor holding Kendall, who had blood on her face, in a "chokehold".

Taylor released her and Kendall begged the cleaner not to call the police, before she left the apartments a short time later.

CCTV footage played to the court showed Taylor walking quickly after her, before the pair disappeared down the alleyway, which runs alongside Moorside Community Primary School.

Cameras then captured Taylor emerging from the other side of the alleyway around 20 minutes later, with blood on his hands and wearing different clothes.

After he was allowed into a stranger's home to clean himself up, Taylor told them he had murdered his girlfriend and the police were called.

It was said that Taylor then changed his tune, telling officers "What murder?" when he was arrested.

A blood-stained rock and "half brick" were found discarded near Kendall's body.

He initially admitted manslaughter at court but denied murder earlier this year, although he later changed his plea to guilty.

His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose told Taylor he had inflicted a "brutal, persistent, savage and unprovoked attack" on his girlfriend, who "couldn't escape or defend herself".

Taylor was given no separate penalty for slashing the face of a man he "wrongly" believed had slept with Kendall in April 2025, for which he was convicted last week after a trial.

However, the judge said his minimum term in jail had been increased to reflect that additional offence.

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