Simon Vickers: Dad who claimed teen daughter's death was 'freak accident' jailed for at least 15 years

A father has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years for murdering his 14-year-old daughter.

Simon Vickers was found guilty last month of killing his daughter Scarlett Vickers after stabbing her in the heart at their home in Darlington, County Durham, in July 2024.

The 50-year-old, who denied charges of manslaughter and murder, gave different accounts of what happened in the seconds before he plunged a kitchen knife 11cm into her chest.

As it happened: Simon Vickers sentencing

Scarlett's mother, Sarah Hall, was the only other person in the room, and stood by her partner, previously telling Teesside Crown Court that Vickers would never have harmed her.

During sentencing, Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said: "Sarah Hall remains resolute in her belief that the father of her only child did not intend Scarlett any harm and his parents are of the same view."

Ms Hall did not see the knife sticking in her daughter, Mr Justice Cotter said, because Vickers immediately removed it and put it on the side in the kitchen.

The jury, by a majority of 10-2, convicted him of murder after 13 hours of deliberations, rather than the less serious alternative of manslaughter, or to clear him.

Ms Hall and other family members in the public gallery looked stunned when the verdict was delivered.

Vickers himself did not react in the dock.

His sentence is the lowest minimum term the judge can pass down for a murder verdict.

During the trial, Vickers insisted his daughter's death had been a "freak accident".

He claimed he had swiped what he thought were tongs along a work surface, into her chest, and never realised it was a knife.

The judge described his version of events as "unconvincing and wholly implausible".

Prosecutor Mark McKone KC had told jurors that Scarlett's death was not an accident.

Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton explained to the jury that how the knife went into Scarlett's chest meant it must have been held in a hand, with force.

Smoked cannabis and drank wine

During the sentencing, Mr Justice Cotter said Vickers had "smoked cannabis and drank some wine" after work.

Ms Hall was cooking spaghetti bolognese when Scarlett came down from her bedroom, around 10.15pm, and they were said to have thrown grapes at each other for fun.

The mother said she then snipped at Vickers with the tongs and he complained it hurt - to which Scarlett called him "wimpy".

Ms Hall claimed to turn away to serve the meal and then heard Scarlett say "ow".

When she looked back, their only child was said to be pouring with blood.

In the 999 call, Ms Hall told the operator they had been "messing about" and her partner had thrown something at their daughter and "he didn't realise".

Vickers told one paramedic that his daughter had lunged towards him during a bout of play-fighting, the court was told.

"Exactly what then happens only you know," The judge said, referring to the moment of the stabbing.

For the sentencing, the court heard the judge took into account the fact it was a momentary act, with no premeditation.

'Loss of temper'

Mr Justice Cotter continued: "Scarlett was just 14, a normal, healthy girl with a long life ahead of her when it was cut short by you.

"She died in the kitchen of her own home within minutes of having been stabbed.

"It went from an ordinary, happy family Friday night to tragedy within seconds due to what must have been your loss of temper.

"There is no other plausible explanation."

He added: "You have never given a truthful explanation of what happened."

Read more from Sky News:
More than 600 immigration arrests in January
Police officer sacked over tragedy chanting
Grenfell Tower - what happens now?

Speaking outside court, Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd said: "We may never know precisely what happened in that kitchen, but we can be certain there is no justification for what Simon Vickers did.

"Had he not picked up that knife Scarlett would still be alive today.

(c) Sky News 2025: Simon Vickers: Dad who claimed teen daughter's death was 'freak accident' jailed for at lea