Death of Gainsborough man ‘needless and tragic’, heartbroken family says

The family of Gainsborough man stabbed to death by his partner have said that his “needless and tragic” death has been hard to come to terms with.

As reported earlier this afternoon, Pamela McLaggan was jailed for seven years at Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday, December 21 after admitting stabbing her boyfriend of eight years, Jonathan Baines, 44, with a steak knife.

Mr Baines, a former postman known to his friends as Willy, died from a single stab wound to the left side of his chest following the incident in the kitchen of his home in Ropery Road, Gainsborough.

His grieving family have released the following statement after the sentencing.

They said: “Willy was a son, a father and a brother who had lots of friends in the Gainsborough area.

“His death was both needless and tragic, he is greatly missed and the fact he was killed by Pamela, someone that we know he loved has made it even more difficult to understand and come to terms with, but we would like to thank the wider community of Gainsborough for their support and help since his death.

“The last few months have been incredibly difficult for the family but the support from people that knew Willy has helped to show us that he was a good man who will be missed by many.

“We would also like to thank the police for their support and help during this time and whilst the fact that Pamela has accepted her responsibility for causing his death and now been sentenced.

“Her actions have meant that Willy has been taken from us far too early.”

Pamela McLaggan has been jailed for seven years at Lincoln Crown Court.

Detective Inspector James Hodgson from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said: “This case highlights the dangers of knife crime, and how a spontaneous incident and single stab wound can have devastating and tragic consequences, not only for the victim but for all his family and friends and the wider community of Gainsborough.

“I would like to thank the family of Willy, his mother June, father Jerry, sister Annette and also his son, Ross for helping the police investigation during this very difficult and traumatic period.

“I know that they have been angered, frustrated and deeply upset following Willy’s death and no sentence will ever reflect their loss and death of Willy.

“I hope that this guilty plea and sentence will hopefully help to bring some closure for his family although the death of any person in such circumstances will always have a lasting effect.”