# Former hairdresser sentenced to life after stabbing wife > Former hairdresser Michael Pyke, 79, stabbed his wife Beryl Pyke to death after she refused a cuddle, court hears. - Title: Former hairdresser sentenced to life after stabbing wife - Summary: Former hairdresser Michael Pyke, 79, stabbed his wife Beryl Pyke to death after she refused a cuddle, court hears. - Keywords: michael pyke, beryl pyke, domestic abuse, stabbing, murder, life imprisonment, west sussex, Dailymail - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16291197/hairdresser-abused-wife-stabbing-death-bed-cuddle.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-11-13T21:33:51+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: michael pyke, beryl pyke, domestic abuse, stabbing, murder, life imprisonment, west sussex, news, entertainment ## Michael Pyke sentenced Michael Pyke, 79, was sentenced to life imprisonment after murdering his wife Beryl Pyke, 84, at their home in Aldwick, West Sussex, in May 2026. > A man who violently abused his wife for decades stabbed her to death after she refused to cuddle with him, a court has heard. ## Years of domestic abuse Pyke, a former hairdresser, began years of domestic abuse against Beryl when he turned 60, leading to repeated violence and breaches of restraining orders. > Pyke, a former hairdresser, stabbed Beryl to death in a 'terrifying and sustained' attack which followed years of domestic abuse against her that began when he turned 60. ## Murder timeline The murder occurred between 10:30pm on Saturday, May 30, and 2:00pm on Sunday, May 31, 2026, after the couple attended a friend's house. > The court heard the couple spent the evening at a friend's house together on Saturday, May 30, with the murder occurring between 10.30pm that evening and 2.00pm on Sunday, May 31. ## Murder scene details Crime scene investigators found Pyke had showered and cleaned the scene, with a blood-stained knife in a bedroom and black trousers with blood stains. > Crime scene investigators found the property to be very clean and indications that Pyke had showered after the killing and cleaned up the scene. ## Post-mortem findings Beryl Pyke had 11 stab wounds and defensive injuries, with the knife measuring 8cm in length, indicating she anticipated a blow. > A post-mortem examination found 11 stab wounds and defensive injuries which showed Ms Pyke anticipated a blow from the knife, measuring at 8cm in length. ## Pyke's confession Pyke confessed to his cousin Roger Taylor that he killed Beryl after she told him to 'f*** off out of my bedroom' when he asked for a cuddle. > Pyke initially confessed to his cousin, Roger Taylor, that he killed his wife, telling him he went into her separate bedroom and asked for a cuddle, where she told him to 'f*** off out of my bedroom'. ## Pyke's criminal history Pyke had 47 convictions for 80 offences between 2008 and 2022, including 13 for violence against people and 26 for harassment breaches of restraining orders. > Pippa McAtasney KC, prosecuting, told the court he already had 47 convictions for 80 offences between 2008 and 2022. ## Previous violence Pyke stabbed a friend and neighbour in 2008 after Beryl had gone to their house to avoid his drinking, leading to a 10-month prison sentence. > He had also served a number of stints in prison, the longest for 10 months in 2008 for stabbing a friend and neighbour who walked Ms Pyke home in July 2007, after she had gone to their house to avoid her husband's drinking. ## Defence arguments Pyke's defence claimed he was a 'happy family man' until turning 60, when he became a 'teetotaller' who became 'addicted to alcohol' and started violent behavior. > Defending Pyke, Martin Rutherford KC said a 'really bizarre' feature is throughout his adult life, until turning 60, he was a 'happy family man with no previous convictions recorded against him'. ## Police statement Sussex Police Detective Sergeant Elliott Lander described Pyke's actions as 'cruelly' taking Beryl's life and showed no remorse while in custody. > Following the sentencing, Sussex Police Detective Sergeant Elliott Lander said Pyke 'cruelly' took Ms Pyke's life in the home they shared. ## Family impact Pyke's son and wife attended court but did not make a victim statement, stating they 'cannot put into words the impact this had on the family'. > Pyke's son, who attended court with his wife, did not make a victim statement. Instead, it was heard 'they cannot put into words the impact this had on the family'. ## Judge's remarks Judge Jeremy Gold KC described Beryl as 'defenceless' and stated Pyke intended to kill her with 'no mercy' in the 'terrifying and sustained' attack. > Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Gold KC described Ms Pyke as 'defenceless' against her husband, who regularly subjected her to 'domestic abuse and violence' in the last decades of their marriage. ## Pyke's remorse Pyke made comments in police custody saying 'F*** this life, I want to die' and 'Dead forever, dead forever, thank f****** god for that'. > Pyke was then arrested, with police body-worn camera footage recording him saying: 'F*** this life, I want to die' and 'Dead forever, dead forever, thank f****** god for that'. ## Minimum sentence Pyke received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years at Hove Crown Court after pleading guilty to Beryl's murder in October 2026. > On Friday, the father-of-two was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years at Hove Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to her murder in October. ## Rehabilitation efforts Pyke's defence noted he had a history of homelessness and self-destructive behavior, but he was a 'teetotaller' until turning 60. > Another relevant factor in the case, he added, was Pyke was a long-term 'teetotaller' who became attracted and 'perhaps addicted to alcohol'. ## Family's reaction Beryl's family expressed shock and grief, with her son stating he 'cannot put into words the impact this had on the family'. > Pyke's son, who attended court with his wife, did not make a victim statement. Instead, it was heard 'they cannot put into words the impact this had on the family'. ## Key takeaway Michael Pyke, 79, received life imprisonment after murdering his wife Beryl Pyke, 84, in a stabbing that followed years of domestic abuse.