Show caption Adam Parkin, who was jailed for killing his primary school teacher wife. Photograph: Northumbria Police/PA Crime Man jailed for killing wife who discovered his sexual interest in a child Adam Parkin receives life sentence for stabbing his wife in frenzied attack at their home in Sunderland Patrick Greenfield and agencies @pgreenfielduk Fri 27 Oct 2017 16.19 EDT Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share via Email 2 years old

A man who murdered his wife after she confronted him over his sexual interest in a child has been jailed for life.

Adam Parkin, 35, was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing his wife Julie Parkin in a frenzied attack at their home in Sunderland in June after she discovered he had a sexual interest in a child and had made indecent videos.



The Crown Prosecution Service worker was jailed for life at Newcastle crown court on Friday with a minimum term of 23 years and the judge imposed a sexual harm prevention order as part of the sentence.

The court heard how Parkin packed a suitcase when his wife discovered his secret and was thought to be leaving the marital home, but instead “snapped”, grabbing a 20cm-long kitchen knife and stabbing his wife 23 times. He dragged the body into the kitchen where he left her face down with the tip of the knife lodged in her skull.

Adam Parkin also attempted to murder another person, who cannot be named, before speeding off in the family Mazda and driving to a police station where he confessed.

The court heard that Parkin later told police: “She was so sad when she found out what I really am. I should have killed myself. What is wrong with me? There is something wrong with me.”

Outside court, DCI Lisa Theaker said: “Outwardly Julie and Adam Parkin had what has been described as a happy marriage. However, behind the scenes the marriage was characterised by what has come to be called coercive control with Adam Parkin controlling significant aspects of Julie’s life.

“Coercive control tends to get worse with time and can escalate into violent abuse and, as with Julie, even murder.”

Investigating officers found search terms on his computer such as “Cambodia child abuse”, “teacher sexually assaulted” and “teacher viewing porn”. They also found three indecent videos on his phone.

Detectives found Mrs Parkin’s computer had accessed pages such as “what to do if you don’t feel loved enough in your relationship”, “top five signs your husband is demanding and controlling” and “fight for your marriage when your husband is emotionally distant from you”.

A statement from the family of Julie Parkin, a primary school teacher, read: “This has been the hardest year of our lives. We still cannot comprehend what has happened or why Adam killed our beautiful girl.