Chester man sentenced for murder

A man has been sentenced after he was found guilty of murdering a woman at his home in Chester.

Tony Devenport appeared at Chester Crown Court today, Friday 27th February, where he was given a mandatory life sentence and a minimum term of 22-years to be served in prison before parole eligibility. 

The 57-year-old was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend following a 16-day trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded on Wednesday 25 February.

At around 12.20pm on Sunday 20th July 2025, Cheshire Police were contacted by the father of the victim, who told police that he had found his daughter’s lifeless body at Devenport’s house on Canal Street.

Within minutes, officers and paramedics were at the scene. There, they sadly found the victim, Stephanie Blundell, dead inside the address.

She had visible injuries to her face, neck, and body. Devenport was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

During questioning, he denied being responsible for Stephanie's death. However, a post-mortem later confirmed that the injuries on Stephanie’s body were a result of a sustained and violent assault.

Devenport was charged with Stephanie’s murder and an additional count of manslaughter. Despite his denial, the casefile of evidence stacked against him led a jury to find him guilty of murder.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Andrea Price, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Major Investigation Team, said:

“Stephanie was loved and cherished amongst family and friends, and although today marks the day her killer is brought to justice, I want Stephanie to be the one who we remember.

“Stephanie’s family have shown remarkable strength throughout this investigation, and our thoughts remain with them as they navigate a future without her. No family should ever have to endure the devastation caused by such violence.

“While no sentence can ever bring Stephanie back, I hope today’s result provides her loved ones with some comfort in knowing that Devenport has now been held accountable for what he has done.

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge other victims of domestic abuse to come forward and contact us. We take all reports extremely seriously and will use every resource available to us to protect victims and bring offenders to justice.”

Stephanie’s family have paid the following tribute to her:

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the dedicated team at Chester Constabulary who led the investigation into Steph’s death over the past seven months. The professionalism, diligence and compassion they demonstrated throughout has been remarkable. The thorough case they carefully put together ensured that justice could be served, and we are profoundly thankful for their unwavering commitment. We would particularly like to thank our Family Liaison Officers Katie Ashcroft and Paul Davis, who have supported us since day one. They made a painful process much easier for us. They were with us every step of the way and truly went above and beyond for our family. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and we couldn’t have got through these last few months without them.

“We are equally grateful to the exceptional legal team, led by Owen Edwards KC and supported by James Coutts and Josh Gorst. Their clarity, integrity and meticulous presentation of the evidence brought the case powerfully to life in the courtroom. They approached their work with fairness and precision, ensuring that the truth was heard.

“Our sincere thanks also extend to the many witnesses who gave evidence. The police officers, paramedics, pathologists, neuroscientists, Steph’s friends and work colleagues, and members of the public who did not even know her. Their courage in coming forward and their compassion towards Steph have meant more to us than we can express. Their actions have been a powerful reminder of the goodness and humanity that still exists in the world.

“The collective efforts of everyone involved were reflected in the swift, unanimous verdict delivered on Wednesday. While no words can truly capture our thankfulness to those who helped secure justice, we are especially thankful to the jury for their decisive conclusion.

“Sitting through the trial over the past three and a half weeks has been one of the most painful experiences of our lives. We have heard distressing evidence and learned information that we were previously unaware of. It has been deeply difficult to process, particularly knowing that, had certain facts come to light sooner, Steph would still be with us today.

“Although we welcome the verdict, it does not ease our loss. It does not bring Steph back. The grief we carry is profound and will be with us forever. We now begin the long and painful process of learning how to live without her, and of finding a way to move forward while holding her memory close.

“Steph was, without question, one of the most radiant souls you could ever hope to meet. She was kind-hearted, quick-witted and effortlessly stylish. Her warmth and compassion have been evident throughout this trial and that brings us some comfort that her true loving nature has been seen by so many.

“We will cherish our memories of her forever and spend the rest of our lives honouring her memory in everything we do.”

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of domestic abuse, please report it by calling 101 or visit:

http://www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us

In an emergency always call 999.

Pictured - Tony Devenport.

You can watch Cheshire Police's video of the arrest here...