THE police and Crown Prosecution Service have welcomed the life sentence handed out to double murderer Aaron Barley who brutally stabbed a Stourbridge mum and son to death in their own home.

Homeless man Barley, aged 24, was sentenced this morning (Wednesday) at Birmingham Crown Court to a minimum 30-year life term for the killings of Tracey, aged 50, and 13-year-old Pierce Wilkinson who were horrifically attacked at their home in Greyhound Lane, Norton, on March 30.

Stourbridge News:

Mrs Justice Carr also gave him a 10-year jail term for the attempted murder of husband and father Peter Wilkinson, aged 47, to run concurrently with the 30 years.

Ian Crooks, senior crown prosecutor with West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said after the sentencing: "Aaron Barley carried out a brutal and cruel attack on his victims who had shown nothing other than the utmost kindness and consideration to him over a number of years.

“In return for their support and kindness, Barley waited for the opportunity to gain access to the family home before fatally stabbing Tracey and Pierce and then attacking Peter Wilkinson, stabbing him several times.

“Our thoughts are with the Wilkinson family and their friends.”

Mrs Justice Carr said, taking into consideration time spent on remand, Barley would have to serve a minimum of 29 years and 178 days before being considered for parole – and in fact given the “significant risk of serious harm” that he poses to the public, he may never be released.

Deputy senior investigating officer Andrew Houston said after the case: “The sentence reflects the gravity of the crime. The judge’s remarks echo the heinous nature of the offending which is beyond comprehension.

“It’s something in the police force one only comes across, or ever wants to come across, on one occasion.

“The public can take comfort in the judge’s concluding remarks that it’s likely he will never be released.

“The psychiatric reports clearly indicate he is highly dangerous and it’s unlikely any parole board in the future would even consider such a highly dangerous individual being released.”

The Wilkinsons did not pass comment on the sentence after the case.

Stourbridge News:

But daughter Lydia Wilkinson, aged 19, (pictured above with father Peter) who was at university at Bristol at the time of the attacks, told Barley in court that she would "never forgive" him and said the pain of losing her mother and brother so brutally and suddenly would remain with her until her "heart stops beating".

Company director Peter Wilkinson, who has only recently been able to return to work part-time following the tragedy in which he was also critically injured, said his physical scars would heal but "the mental scars never will".