The family of Llanelli mum Sophie Evans say they will never forget her ‘beautiful smile and comforting ways’ as a man is jailed for life for her murder.
When the 30-year-old let her partner’s father into her home on July 5, 2024, she believed he was there to carry out a repair.
But less than 40 minutes after he arrived, Richard Jones had killed the mother-of-two.
After being found guilty of murder earlier this year, 50-year-old Jones, of Y Rhodfa in Burry Port, has today been jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years.
Swansea Crown Court heard the devastating impact his ‘disgraceful’ actions have had on Sophie’s family.
In a joint statement, they said: “Our Sophie was a kind caring and wonderful mother, daughter, sister, and auntie.
“We all adored her. She was the rock of our family and the best mum to her two little girls. She lit up every room, gave the best advice and loved her family so much.
“We are completely lost without her beautiful smile and comforting ways. Our lives have been completely destroyed by this senseless and cruel act.
“Nobody will ever compare to Sophie, we have to live our lives with an enormous part of us missing.”
During a two-week trial in January, the court was shown CCTV footage of Sophie dropping her daughters off at school just half an hour before Jones arrived at her home in Bigyn Road.
Within 40 minutes he had attacked Sophie and left her for dead in her kitchen.
It wasn’t until 5.27pm that the alarm was raised with emergency services, after Jones indicated through a series of text messages to an ex-partner that he had killed the 30-year-old.
Dyfed-Powys Police officers immediately made their way to Sophie’s home, where it was confirmed that she had tragically died. At that time, Jones was still in contact with his ex-partner, asking her not to disclose what he had done.
Through CCTV, digital and financial enquiries, Jones was found by police near the entrance to Pembrey Country Park at 8pm. He was arrested, and after nine interviews he was charged with murder.
Sophie’s family added: “There will never be enough justice for what he has done and caused us.
“Sophie trusted this man and let him into her home where she lived with her two girls, because that’s the person she was. This man took advantage of a young vulnerable woman in the most disgraceful way.
“Two little girls cry every night missing their mummy, a father lost his loving daughter and we have lost our amazing sister.
“He has taken everything from us all in the most despicable way possible.
“We will never forget our beautiful Sophie. She will remain in our hearts as that is all we now have.
“All for nothing because someone lost their temper.”
Dyfed-Powys Police Detective Superintendent Gareth Roberts said: “My thoughts remain with Sophie’s family, who have endured unimaginable heartbreak at the loss of their mother, daughter, sister and auntie.
“Sophie’s death was completely avoidable, a result of senseless violence triggered when Richard Jones lost his temper.
“Sophie was vulnerable when Jones attacked, alone in her home with no means of defending herself. She was left with fatal injuries when Jones fled the scene, feeling no remorse or sense of responsibility for what he had done.
“I can only hope that Sophie’s family take some comfort from today’s sentence. Now that legal proceedings are over, I am sure they will endeavour to focus on the happy memories they have of her.”
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