Nicholas Metson receives a minimum of 19 years in prison for killing Holly Bramley, whose remains were found in over 200 pieces.

Nicholas Metson labelled an “evil monster,” received a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his wife, Holly Bramley. Their marriage, on the brink of collapse, ended tragically in March 2023, when Metson stabbed Bramley to death. He then cut her body into more than 200 pieces, disposing of the remains in the River Witham.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Metson paid Joshua Hancock to assist in discarding his wife’s remains. Metson’s history of violence against partners emerged during the trial, highlighting a disturbing pattern. The court learned of Metson’s previous convictions, including domestic assault and disclosing sexual images of another ex-partner.

The judge condemned Metson’s failure to explain his heinous actions. He specifically noted the number of pieces Bramley was cut into, rejecting Metson’s autism as a justification. The murder details are chilling, with Bramley biting Metson in a struggle before he killed her with four stab wounds and then dismembered her body using various tools.

Victim impact statements revealed the coercive control and manipulation Bramley suffered under Metson. Their marriage, formed in 2021, was a facade, hiding the sinister dynamics that led to Bramley’s murder. The prosecution painted a grim picture of the crime scene, with evidence of Metson’s attempt to conceal the murder through extensive cleaning and redecorating efforts.

Internet searches by Metson after the murder, including queries about the benefits of a spouse’s death and the possibility of being haunted, pointed to his cold calculation. Surveillance footage captured the last moments of Bramley’s life and Metson’s efforts to remove her remains from their home.

Annette Bramley, the victim’s mother, expressed the profound grief and pain the family endures, as a result of Metson’s “heinous” actions. Metson’s sentence also includes a concurrent four-year term for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, while Hancock faces over three years in prison for his role in disposing of Bramley’s body.

This case leaves a community in shock and a family in unimaginable grief, mourning the loss of Holly Bramley at the hands of a man who vowed to be her partner for life.