The devastated mother of a woman found dead inside a tent on church grounds has launched a furious attack on the justice system, after learning the victim's former partner has been released from prison on parole.
A Tragic Discovery and a Conviction
Colette Law, a 26-year-old woman from Greenock, Scotland, was discovered deceased inside a tent in the grounds of St Mary and St Nicolas Church in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on July 17, 2023. Her body had lain undiscovered for approximately a week. A delayed post-mortem examination meant the precise medical cause of her death could not be definitively established.
Her partner, Paul Neilson, then aged 30, was arrested. He was initially charged with Colette's murder, but the Crown Prosecution Service later dropped this charge. However, Neilson was found guilty of assaulting Colette on multiple occasions in the days before her death and of the separate offence of perverting the course of justice by preventing her body from being found.
He admitted to knowing she had died in the tent but deliberately failed to alert any authorities, instead falsely telling people she had returned to Scotland. In January 2024, Neilson was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.
Early Release Sparks Family's Outrage
Colette's mother, Patricia Law, has now spoken of her horror after Neilson was spotted in his hometown of Kilmarnock, indicating he has been granted early release. He has served less than two years of his sentence.
"It's an insult that he served less than two years of a four-year eight-month sentence," Patricia told the Daily Record. "He should be suffering for what he did to my girl but instead, it feels like I'm the one serving a jail sentence."
She revealed the Parole Board had contacted the family earlier this year, and she had vehemently opposed Neilson being allowed near them. "I've been made aware that Neilson has been visiting Kilmarnock where he's originally from. That means he's an hour away from where me and our family live," she said.
Patricia expressed her frustration that, as long as Neilson complies with his parole conditions, authorities can do nothing to stop him visiting Ayrshire. She also warned that he has changed his name on social media to Paul Moxley. "He gets to start a new life and my daughter is dead," she stated.
A Legacy of Grief and a Warning to Others
Patricia described Colette as her "best friend" and said the family, including husband John and Colette's two sisters, will never recover from their loss. Her health has suffered, and she struggles to sleep or find any joy, even at Christmas.
She recalled repeatedly reporting Neilson to the police for domestic abuse during his three-year relationship with her daughter, witnessing him shouting in Colette's face while in a rage. Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski of Lincolnshire Police later confirmed Neilson was "a domestic abuse perpetrator" and praised the community for coming forward with crucial evidence.
"If I can save just one lassie from his clutches, I'll be happy," Patricia said, issuing a stark warning to other potential victims. Neilson will be completely free from licence conditions in 2028.
