Stoke City Academy star Andrew Hall jailed for murdering girlfriend, 15

A PROMISING footballer at Stoke City Academy has been given a life sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of his 15-year-old girlfriend.

Andrew Hall, aged 18, admitted stabbing Megan-Leigh Peat 60 times in the head and body at a mutual friend’s house.

Megan, from Westoning, Bedfordshire, died at the house in nearby Ampthill at around 1.30am on June 9.

Hall, who suffered injuries to his hands, was a scholar at Stoke City Academy at the time of the murder, and the court heard he was on the brink of signing as a professional player with the club.

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Judge Richard Foster gave Hall a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years at Luton Crown Court.

Judge Foster told Hall: “Megan was a bright, normal, gregarious 15-year-old with her whole life ahead of her. You so cruelly took that life.

“Megan will never experience the thrill and success of exam results, going on to higher education, or perhaps being a bridesmaid at a best friend’s wedding or an 18th birthday party. Her life ended in your hands at 15 years old.

“Only you know why you did what you did that night and what the catalyst was for such a ferocious attack. It is clear you were jealous of her innocent friendships with others.”

Hall, who had played for Premier League Stoke’s under-18s side in the midfield, ‘relentlessly’ stabbed her 60 times in the head, neck and upper chest and two knives, including a serrated bread knife, were found next to her body.

Judge Foster added: “You have thrown away a promising career as a professional footballer. Remorse is an over used word in this court, but clearly in this case it is an appropriate word to use.”

The argument that brewed that night could be followed by text messages between them. Megan wanted to discuss their problems but Hall wanted to leave it until Monday.

Megan met up with him and his friends at the White Hart pub in Ampthill at midnight.

Prosecutor Iain Wicks told the court: “The atmosphere had appeared to have thawed somewhat and they decided to leave the pub. There was nothing untoward and no cause for concern at that stage. They were last seen walking hand in hand.

“The next time the defendant was seen was outside the pub at 1.30am, bloodstained and dishevelled. It was the last time Megan was seen alive.”

Hall told doormen at the pub: “I have killed someone. Oh my God, what have I done? I really, really loved her.”

Mr Wicks said: “Megan was lying in a large pool of blood and was already lifeless.”

He said her jugular vein had been severed and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Peter McCartney, defending, said Hall had been player of the season for his team before the attack. He added: “This was a catastrophic loss of control. Nobody can quite believe what he did. He is extremely remorseful.”

Hall’s profile was missing from the list of under-18 players on Stoke’s official website yesterday just months after he scored a crucial goal to send his team through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. The club declined to comment.