Crawley Downs murders: Man jailed for killing wife and pensioner who came to her aid

Court heard Daniel Appleton was in the grip of a ‘psychotic episode’

Appleton shocked and disturbed neighbours in ‘terrifying’ attack (PA)

A man who murdered his wife and a pensioner in the driveway of his West Sussex home has been jailed for life.

Daniel Appleton was handed a minimum term of 26-and-a-half years for bludgeoning the two women to death during a "psychotic episode" after taking a powerful synthetic hallucinogenic drug.

The murders of primary school teacher Amy Appleton and passing dog walker Sandra Seagrave shook the small village of Crawley Down, West Sussex days before Christmas 2019.

Seagrave, who Appleton said he had no memory of, was killed after stepping in when she saw the car mechanic beating his wife outside their home.

Appleton appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Monday after being found guilty following a trial in December.

Sentencing Appleton, Mr Justice Nicholas Hilliard QC told him that this was “not a case of insanity”. He added: “I sentence you on the basis that you took a new psychoactive substance and under the influence of this committed these murders.

“Anyone who takes new psychoactive substances, which are Class A drugs, is interfering with their own mental processes and responsible for the consequences.”

Amy Appleton's mother Linda Remon faced her daughter's killer in court as she described the “uncontrollable distress and despair” her family have experienced.

She said: “One moment we were looking forward to a special Christmas and new year and the next our world came crashing down around us.

“Our lives were turned catastrophically upside down in the most dreadful way possible.

“Not only has this devastated family and friends but the lives of 30 children she was teaching at the time.”

Appleton admitted killing both women but denied murder, claiming the attacks resulted from a psychotic episode.

Amy Appleton, left, and Sandy Seagrave were killed days before Christmas (Sussex Police)

However, the jury rejected his claims and found him guilty of both murders.

The 365 days Appleton has spent on remand will be deducted from the minimum jail term, the judge said.

Additional reporting by Press Association