Search icon

News

30th Mar 2021

Man jailed for murdering and dumping wife in park over bag of chips

Claudia McInerney

Thomas McCann has been sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in jail for the murder of his wife

A 49-year-old man has today been jailed today after he murdered his wife and dismembered her body following an argument about frozen chips.

Thomas McCann, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, argued with his wife of 24 years after she accidentally defrosted a bag of frozen chips.

McCann strangled his 46-year-old wife, Yvonne, before leaving her body parts in eight bin bags in Reddish Vale Park in Stockport on 23 May 2020. Her body was discovered two days later by dog walkers.

McCann reportedly messaged Yvonne’s friends and family after her murder, which gave the impression that she was still alive.

After pleading guilty to his wife’s murder at a hearing in Manchester Crown Court earlier this month, McCann has been sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in jail.

Upon sentencing, Judge Alan Conrad QC told the defendant: “Your actions after the killing amount to serious aggravating factors.

“The defence suggest a combination of self-interest and panic, but what you did makes a terrible case even more horrific and even more upsetting to those concerned.

“Yvonne McCann was a woman with a great deal to live for and a great deal to look forward to when her life was so cruelly cut short by you.”

He added: “She was loved by so many people. Many of those people also care a great deal for you and are devastated by what happened.”

Yvonne sent a text message to her neighbour alluding to the argument over frozen chips. This was the last sign of the 46-year-old being alive.

In a statement by Yvonne’s children, her daughter, Rachel Lawson, said: “We are all really struggling with this. We love our mum very much, we also love our dad.”

Topics:

News,sensitive