31-year-old man, murdered teenager who rejected his sexual advances

A 31-year-old man strangled a teenage girl to death in a bid to silence her when she refused his sexual advances after they met at a nightclub, a judge has ruled.

Lily Sullivan, 18, was killed by Lewis Haines, 31, before being left half-naked in a pond as her mother waited nearby.

Haines confessed to the killing but claimed it was not sexually motivated. However, at an inquest hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Paul Thomas QC ruled that she was murdered by Haines to prevent her from telling anyone about the attack.

The pair had met at Out Nightclub in Pembroke on December 17 last year, before walking down an alleyway together.

The judge said Haines became “frustrated” when Lily made it clear she did not want to “go as far as sexual intercourse”.

Haines claimed he strangled Lily when she threatened to tell people he was a “rapist” and said his daughter would be “ashamed”.

Lily tried to leave the lane to find her mother waiting nearby, but Haines punched and strangled her and pushed her body into nearby Mill Pond.

Haines fled the scene and walked past Lily's mother, Anna Sullivan, who had called her 30 times while waiting to pick her up.

Haines later confessed to his girlfriend, telling her: “I strangled someone. They are at Mill Pond. »

The court heard Lily's cream lace top was found on the ground by the water, while her phone and brown leather jacket were found in the alley.

Judge Thomas said: “I note that she did say that she would complain. Not that he had raped her but that he had tried to force himself on her when she intended to 'go meet his mother.'

The court heard Haines had “a lot to lose” because he was in a relationship and also had a daughter – and had wanted to “silence” Lily.

The judge said: “Lewis Haines hit Lily several times. This was done with considerable force.

“He then strangled her, probably to death, before putting her in Mill Pond where she would not be easily visible at night in the murky water.

“I don't accept that he went into the water to save Lily. If he went in, it was to put her in, not to take her out.

“His intention was to silence her. He always had a phone with him. He was near the main street, although late at night. He passed many houses.”

He added: “His entry into the water was a deliberate act on his part. He didn't want anyone to know what happened in the lane. He didn't want her to tell anyone.

“Only after he knew she wouldn't survive did he let the others know where Lily was. By then, it was too late.”

The court heard Haines showed “sexual interest” in Lily during the evening before being warned by friends.

Prosecutor William Hughes QC said: “He was warned more than once and reminded that he had a girlfriend and that he had a child and that Lily's age, 18, was cited .”

Haines, an oil refinery worker, fled the scene when he was filmed on CCTV running past Ms Sullivan at the nearby Green Garage.

Ms Sullivan was waiting to pick up her daughter after speaking to her on the phone at 2.47am.

Lily told her mother: “I'll be there now, Mom. I'm on my way. I'll be in a few minutes. I'm almost there” – but the call was cut off.

Ms. Sullivan tried to call her daughter back 30 times before spotting Haines walking away from the murder scene.

Mr Hughes said: “Anna Sullivan decided to follow Lewis Haines because of his behavior. She lost sight of him as he disappeared into the woods.

“Mr. Haines knew that Anna Sullivan was waiting for Lily there.”

He added: “The person Anna Sullivan saw at that time was her daughter's killer, Lewis Haines.”

Lily was pronounced dead at 6.02am, after paramedics battled to save her.

An autopsy carried out by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter revealed that his injuries were consistent with “manual strangulation”.

Haines told police: “I strangled her” when they arrived at the address. He later said: “What did I do?” at the police custody desk.

Haines had previously admitted manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to murder a week before his trial.

Judge Paul Thomas QC adjourned the sentencing hearing on Friday.