Lauren Harris: Colwyn Bay murderer bids to appeal against sentence

Lauren Harris, 30, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty in August of murdering David Wilcox, who she had been in a relationship with, on November 20, 2023.

Harris, of no fixed abode but from the Colwyn Bay area, has since applied for leave to appeal her sentence, the Judicial Office has confirmed.

There is no such record of an appeal from Harris’ co-defendant; David Webster, 43, of Lacey Street, who was handed a 23-year minimum term.

David Webster (Image: North Wales Police) Should Harris be granted leave to appeal her sentence, the matter will proceed to a full hearing in the criminal division of the Court of Appeal.

The deadline has now passed for Webster to make the same application, as prisoners can only do so within 28 days of their sentencing hearing.

During a two-month trial at Mold Crown Court, the jury heard that Harris, who had moved in with Mr Wilcox at his home on Bay View Road in mid-2023, had depleted his bank account of funds in the months that followed.

On the evening of November 19, she, Webster, and 34-year-old Thomas Whiteley, of Old Colwyn, who was cleared of murder, were drinking and taking drugs at Mr Wilcox’s home.

David Wilcox (Image: Flora Camacho-Clowes) But an argument ensued, and Mr Wilcox, whose bank account was empty by then, was attacked and stabbed in the early hours of November 20.

Harris stabbed Mr Wilcox twice, while Webster bludgeoned him with a vodka bottle; he was also kicked, punched and stamped on.

Despite being unable to drive, Harris then urged Webster and Whiteley to join her in Mr Wilcox’s Volvo – when they did, she drove off, only for the car to crash moments later.

Mr Wilcox was found unconscious in his living room by police shortly after.

Lauren Harris and David Webster after killing David Wilcox and crashing his car (Image: North Wales Police) Twice while giving evidence at the trial, Webster described Harris as a “crazed animal” when she stabbed Mr Wilcox. Whiteley told police she had a “face to kill” and appeared “evil”.

At sentencing on August 12, trial judge Mr Justice Edward Pepperall labelled Mr Wilcox’s murder “brutal and senseless”, and told Harris she had committed an “abuse of your partner’s trust”.

He added to her: "Even if the offence was not committed for gain, it was, in my judgment, committed at least in part out of your anger that Mr Wilcox could no longer provide the ready source of funds with which he had supported you throughout your relationship.

“You committed this offence against the man who had loved and supported you. I detect no remorse.”