‘I just need some shoes’ - watch chilling moment murderer is hand-cuffed over lover’s death

Chilling footage showing killer Sonja Blenkiron being arrested at her flat in Hartcliffe has been released by Avon and Somerset Police after she was given a life sentence at Bristol Crown Court.

Blenkiron, 41, stabbed to death Paul Wagland, aged 52, at her flat in Gatcombe Road in Hartcliffe in January. She had claimed it was in self-defence - but a jury dismissed the claim and found her guilty of murder.

Blenkiron got changed and fled to a friend’s after the attack - before returning to call 999. She was believed to have washed away some of the blood before police officers arrived.

Avon and Somerset Police have now released footage showing the arrest. It shows her initially not wanting to come out of her flat and then asking the arresting officer what she was being taken into custody for.

She pleads she ‘wants to check he is ok’ before being led out of the flat. Outside of the flat, she says ‘I just need some shoes’. She adds: “You can keep me arrested by can I just put some shoes on.”

After her sentencing today, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond, the senior investigating officer, said: “Footage from officers body worn cameras when she was arrested appeared to show Blenkiron was more concerned with ensuring she had shoes to wear when taken into custody.

“Blenkiron clearly had no respect for the man she claimed to love and who’s life she had just taken.”

The family of Mr Wagland released a tribute statement. It read: “We do not want the tragic circumstances of which he died to be how he is remembered. “Wags will live on and always be remembered for the loving, caring and charismatic son, dad, brother, husband, grandad and friend he was.”