Barnard Castle killer who stabbed women 59 times dies in HMP Frankland

Stephen Patrick Ansbro inflicted 59 slash wounds with a bread knife on Jane Collinson, who desperately struggled to resist the attack as she sat on a chair in her Barnard Castle home in March 2023.

He then stabbed her in the face during a terrifying ordeal in her one-bedroom flat at Dunelm Court. The 59-year-old grandmother of nine's body was discovered by her concerned partner and son-in-law the next day.

Sixty-three-year-old Ansbro died at HMP Frankland in County Durham on December 17, 2025, less than three years into his sentence.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

Stephen Ansbro, 63, died behind bars in HMP Frankland less than three years into his sentence (Image: Durham Police)

Ansbro was serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 18 years for murder.

His cause of death is not yet known.

An inquest will be opened on February 3.

Newcastle Crown Court heard in August of 2023 that Ansbro also punched Mrs Collinson and may have tried to use a ligature during an ordeal that lasted more than seven hours.

Jane Collinson. (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

He stabbed her in the face and left her to bleed to death. She would have remained conscious for “tens of minutes” before passing out, the court heard.

Ansbro died in HMP Frankland, Durham (Image: STUART BOULTON)

After the killing Ansbro placed the knife in the sink, locked the flat door from the outside and inflicted superficial cuts to his own neck in an attempt to make it look as though Ms Collinson had attacked him and then taken her own life.

Prosecutors said Ansbro held a grievance against Ms Collinson after she complained about him to management at the supported living complex where they lived and warned the son of another resident that he was “getting too close” to his mother.

He later told the daughter of his ex-partner that he did not like Ms Collinson and said he “would do time for her” and “would kill her as she got on his nerves”.

Jane Collinson, 59, was pronounced dead at Bowes-Lyon House, Barnard Castle, where both she and her alleged killer lived (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Ansbro initially denied murder and later pleaded guilty while claiming he had been attacked first. He withdrew that account before sentence.

Passing sentence Judge Sloan said: “This was a particularly brutal attack involving not just punches but repeated use of the knife or knives, inflicting 59 slash wounds and one stab wound, in her own home where she should have been safe.

“It’s clear she desperately resisted the attack and remained conscious for some time.

“The last moments of her life must have been terrifying and the mental and physical consequences excruciating.”

Alongside the life sentence the judge imposed four years and nine months for historic sexual offences and child cruelty to run consecutively.

Ansbro had admitted four counts of sexual assault and one of child cruelty and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely and lifelong restraining orders.

He had previously served a six-year prison sentence following a conviction in 1990.

Ansbro’s death in custody is now under investigation.