The chilling true story of serial killer John Sweeney and his reign of terror has been brought to the forefront once again with ITV’s gripping drama, ‘Until I Kill You’. This series not only portrays the horrific crimes committed by John Sweeney but also shines a light on the incredible resilience of his victim, Delia Balmer, and the significant shortcomings within the criminal justice system that allowed Sweeney to evade justice for years.
But who is John Sweeney, and what exactly did he do to warrant such notoriety? Furthermore, where is John Sweeney now, serving his sentence for these heinous acts? This article delves into the details of John Sweeney‘s crimes, his capture, and his current status.
The Vicious Attacks of John Sweeney
Shaun Evans portrays John Sweeney in "Until I Kill You", standing in a courtroom setting.
Shaun Evans as John Sweeney in Until I Kill You. ITV/World Productions
John Sweeney‘s criminal actions culminated in his arrest in 2001, primarily for the brutal axe attack on Delia Balmer in 1994. For six years, John Sweeney operated under various aliases, successfully escaping police capture. His apprehension finally came through connections to Paula Fields, a 31-year-old woman whose headless body was discovered in Regent’s Canal, London, in 2001.
Initially, evidence directly linking John Sweeney to Fields’ murder was lacking. However, he was already wanted for the attempted murder of Balmer. Balmer’s courageous courtroom testimony proved crucial, leading to John Sweeney‘s conviction and the imposition of four life sentences for the attack against her.
While imprisoned at Gartree Prison in Leicestershire for the assault on Balmer, suspicions surrounding John Sweeney grew, linking him to Fields and another former girlfriend, Melissa Halstead. Halstead’s body had been tragically found in a Rotterdam canal back in 1990.
Linking the Murders and Uncovering Disturbing Evidence
The crucial link between the murders of Fields and Halstead emerged in February 2010, leading to John Sweeney‘s arrest for these murders. A subsequent search of John Sweeney‘s prison cell at Gartree revealed disturbing artwork. Adding to this unsettling discovery, police found approximately 300 more pieces of artwork, alongside poems and weapons, at his North London residence. These findings painted a grim picture of John Sweeney‘s disturbed psyche.
In 2011, John Sweeney received a life sentence for the murders of Fields and Halstead. Judge Mr Justice Saunders, during the sentencing, emphasized the gravity of his crimes, stating, “These were terrible, wicked crimes. The heads of the victims having been removed, it is impossible to be certain how they were killed. The mutilation of the bodies is a serious aggravating feature of the murders.”
The judge further highlighted the profound distress caused to the victims’ families by the mutilation and the fact that parts of their loved ones’ bodies were never recovered. He concluded that John Sweeney displayed a chilling control over women in his relationships, extending to the power over their lives and deaths.
Shaun Evans as John Sweeney and Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer in "Until I Kill You", sharing an intimate moment on a sofa.
Shaun Evans as John Sweeney and Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Bahmer in Until I Kill You. ITV/World Productions
John Sweeney, notably absent from his sentencing at Belmarsh prison, also received an additional 10-year sentence for perverting the course of justice. Throughout the trial, John Sweeney maintained his denial of the murders. However, the jury heard compelling evidence of his violent tendencies towards women who rejected him, substantiated by his own graphic artwork.
Delia Balmer testified that John Sweeney had confessed to murdering Halstead, revealing he killed her after finding her with other men in their Amsterdam apartment. He claimed to have shot all of them and disposed of their bodies in the canal, although no other bodies were ever found.
The Metropolitan Police, during John Sweeney‘s sentencing, appealed for information regarding three other women with potential links to John Sweeney, believed to be former girlfriends. Detective Chief Inspector Howard Groves, who spearheaded the investigation, affirmed the ongoing commitment to identify and locate other potential victims of John Sweeney across the UK, Netherlands, and Europe.
John Sweeney’s Current Whereabouts
Shaun Evans as serial killer John Sweeney in "Until I Kill You", depicted sawing wood, highlighting his sinister character.
Shaun Evans as John Sweeney in Until I Kill You. ITV
John Sweeney is currently incarcerated, serving multiple life sentences for the attempted murder of Delia Balmer and the murders of Melissa Halstead and Paula Fields. His horrific crimes and the long journey to bring him to justice are now dramatized in ‘Until I Kill You’, available for viewing on ITVX.
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