S10E04 | The Murder of Jane Longhurst | Villain: Graham Coutts

In this episode, I discuss the story of Jane Longhurst, a 31-year-old music teacher murdered by her best friend's partner.

This chilling story of obsession, murder and justice began on March 14, 2003, when Graham Coutts killed Jane in his Hove flat.

Coutts had been obsessed with physically harming women during sex since the age of 15 and fantasised about murdering someone in such a manner.

He was initially handed a life sentence in February 2004 at Lewes Crown Court, but his charge was later quashed.

A re-trial in 2007 ended with the same outcome, with Coutts being handed a life sentence at the Old Bailey that July with a minimum term of 26 years.

Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

References:⁣

A failed musician with a taste for violence. (2004, February 4). The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/feb/04/ukcrime1

Adams, M. (2004, February 5). Family of strangled teacher want violent websites closed. Irish Independent, 30.

Alexander, S. (2019, March 24). Sex killer obsessed with extreme porn gets ‘dream move’ to Scots jail with view of ‘snow-topped mountains’. Daily Record. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sex-killer-obsessed-extreme-porn-14179100

Alexander, S. (2021, May 12). Scots killer obsessed with extreme porn to get ‘dream move’ to jail with view of ‘snow-topped mountains’ by end of year. Daily Record. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scots-murderer-scottish-prison-move-24092686

Barlow, A. (2020a, June 3). Jane Longhurst murder Brighton: Graham Coutts’ jail moans. The Argus. https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18494115.jane-longhurst-murder-brighton-graham-coutts-jail-moans/

Barlow, A. (2020b, July 9). Brighton killer Graham Coutts moans over jail chips portion. The Argus. https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18571442.brighton-killer-graham-coutts-moans-jail-chips-portion/

Ford, J. P. (2007, July 5). Pervert jailed for teacher’s murder. Evening Herald (Dublin), 34.

Knapton, S. (n.d.). GRAHAM COUTTS: THE BONDAGE STRANGLER. Court News UK. Retrieved 13 November 2022, from https://courtnewsuk.co.uk/graham-coutts/

Morris, S. (2004, January 15). Man ‘kept dead victim as trophy in storage unit’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/jan/15/crime.uknews

Moyes, S. (2018, July 8). Fury as sex killer Graham Coutts bags £13,000 of taxpayer cash to fund musical for lags. The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6723652/killer-graham-coutts-taxpayer-cash-musical-lags/

‘Pervert’ strangled music teacher. (2007, July 4). BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6265376.stm