Craig Billingsley, 40, has been jailed for three years at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting the manslaughter of his girlfriend, Natalie Lloyd-Perks, a trained nurse. The fatal incident occurred on November 6, 2024, at their home in Aston, Birmingham.
Details of the incident
Ms Lloyd-Perks, also 40, died from a heroin overdose after asking Billingsley to help inject the drug when she could not find a vein. A pathologist concluded that her death was caused by a heroin overdose, exacerbated by cocaine and alcohol. The court heard that Ms Lloyd-Perks had only been introduced to heroin during their 18-month relationship with Billingsley, a long-term user of the drug.
Court proceedings
Billingsley called 999 in a distressed state and confessed to paramedics and police that he had injected her with heroin. However, he later denied responsibility for her death until the first day of his trial, when he changed his plea to guilty.
Family tribute
Ms Lloyd-Perks' mother, Linda Davies, paid tribute to her "beautiful, intelligent and loving daughter" and said her career as a nurse "ended the day she met Craig." She recalled Billingsley once telling her: "Don't worry I will look after her. He didn't did he. He got her hooked on drugs."
Sentencing remarks
Judge Heidi Kubik KC told Billingsley: "The seriousness and gravity of the offence are such it must be marked with immediate custody." The judge imposed a three-year prison sentence for manslaughter.
