Jet-Setting Executive Murdered by Abusive Boyfriend After Campaign of Terror
A high-flying executive who once mingled with celebrities and Formula One stars was brutally beaten to death by her abusive and alcoholic boyfriend, whom she had feared would 'batter' her. Tony Devenport, 57, waged a relentless campaign of terror against Stephanie Blundell, 46, which she chillingly compared to the horror movie The Shining in messages to friends.
A Life of Luxury Turned to Fear
Stephanie Blundell had built a successful career as a globe-trotting executive for luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer, working in Paris and traveling to cities like Los Angeles and New York. She attended glamorous Formula One events and rubbed shoulders with stars such as Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and Kanye West. However, her life began to unravel when she started drinking heavily, moved back in with her parents, and met Devenport in 2024.
Devenport, who had previously run a go-karting business and renovated properties in Chester, began abusing alcohol due to business issues. Prosecutors described him as a 'kind man' when sober, but during binges, his behaviour became possessive, angry, and paranoid, terrifying Stephanie.
The Abusive Relationship Escalates
The abuse culminated in Ms Blundell being confined to her home for ten days, where Devenport fed her vodka-laced ice lollies. She had multiple bruises on her face and body and weighed just 48kg when her father, rock musician Phil Blundell, discovered her remains on June 20, 2025. He told Chester Crown Court that his daughter looked 'like a zombie' when he found her at the apartment she shared with Devenport.
In a statement to police, Mr Blundell described the scene: 'I hammered on the door and Tony came to the door quite quickly. He was in a right state, physically and mentally and he said: "I think she's dead, I think she's dead." I go into the back bedroom, and it's just a terrible, terrible sight. The apartment was covered in filth, beer cans everywhere. It was absolutely disgusting.'
Failed Attempts at Intervention
In the weeks before her murder, the couple had taken an 11-day holiday to Kostice in the Czech Republic, where Stephanie posted seemingly happy social media pictures. However, they clashed over Devenport's heavy drinking during the trip. Upon their return, a taxi driver called police after Stephanie complained, 'He'll batter me when we go in - if I go in there now, he'll just punch me.' Police arrested Devenport for assault, but Ms Blundell asked that no action be taken, telling officers, 'He's like full on serious like gunna murder me...but I mother him and I shouldn't do that.'
The couple later booked into the Pied Bull hotel in Chester in a bid to save their relationship, but staff were called to a bust-up, and Devenport was thrown out in the early hours.
Devenport's Denial and Conviction
Devenport claimed in an interview that the only violence he inflicted was grabbing Ms Blundell's arms and pushing her onto a mattress the previous evening. He argued she must have suffered an internal injury from alcohol abuse and died unexpectedly. The court heard he had told his brother, 'I just slapped her about a few times the night before,' and had been planning to propose.
After a trial at Chester Crown Court, Devenport was found guilty of murder. Detective Inspector Andrea Price of Cheshire Police stated, 'Devenport was a coward. He has shown no remorse for his actions and throughout the investigation has refused to admit what he did.' Devenport, who denied wrongdoing, will be sentenced on February 28.
Stephanie Blundell's tragic death highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence, cutting short the life of a talented woman who once shone in the world of luxury and celebrity.
