Jealous ex-boyfriend Asher Maslin will spend a minimum of 24 years behind bars for the "merciless killing" of hairdresser, Hollie Gazzard.
A packed Gloucester Crown Court heard yesterday how the 22-year-old of Benhall Gardens in Cheltenham, sold his DVD player in order to buy a knife, hours before he stabbed Hollie to death.
The attack in front of colleagues and customers at Fringe Benefits and La Bella Beauty salon took place just days after she had made complaints to the police against Maslin, who was sending her threatening text messages and had stolen her bank card.
An Indpendent Police Complaints Commission is investigating and has already issued misconduct notices to two officers and a call handler in connection with ther case.
Gloucester Crown Court heard the former Chosen Hill schoolgirl, from Churchdown, had dated Maslin for a year and broke up with him four days before the stabbing.
Prosecutor Stephen Mooney said Hollie was considering getting an injunction out against Maslin in the run up to her death after he had previously tried to strangle and kick her.
The rejection led to Maslin stealing her bank cards and emptying her account of £300 before going on a crack cocaine binge and sending her abusive text messages – even threatening to throw acid in her face.
While Maslin bought the knife Hollie was telling customer, Elma Rogers, how she wanted a restraining order.
Mr Mooney said following Hollie's complaints to the police, officers had tried to arrest him but could not find him.
On February 18, Maslin walked into the Southgate Street salon.
When he refused to leave her co-worker and friend Sian Pryslak, dialled 999 and customer Mark Moyer attempted to step in after he punched the hairdresser.
Part of the investigation centred around CCTV footage taken from around the city.
In the footage, released by Gloucestershire Constabulary Maslin is seen selling his DVD player and buying a knife from Wilkinsons.
But Maslin, a former Churchdown School pupil, got out the knife and stabbed Hollie 14 times.
Mr Mooney said it was a "brutal and sustained" attack.
He told the court: "There was a significant degree of planning and premeditation. It was committed in a public place in front of a number of innocent bystanders. This was a case where the defendant had the intention to kill rather than cause grievous bodily harm."
Peter Blair QC, defending, said nothing he said was intended by Maslin, or his family, to diminish the magnitude of his actions that day.
He said: "The purchase of the knife was motivated by his paranoid fear of coming under attack himself."
He told the court Maslin suffered from emotional instability and a personality disorder and doctors had described him as narcissistic and with paranoia brought on by the illicit substances he had been taking.
In a letter to the judge Maslin said: "I know no words I can say will ever take away the pain I have caused through taking the life of a special person and I wish I could take that back."
Mr Justice Teare told Maslin he would spend 24 years in jail before parole would be considered.
He told Maslin: "You have denied that the knife was purchased to harm Hollie, but because you believed your life was in danger.
"I am unable to believe that. Your text messages and walking to her place of work shows you had hostile intentions.
"The number of stab wounds on a defenceless young woman shows this was a merciless killing."
Chloe Gazzard brought much of the court room to tears explaining the impact of her big sister's death.
She described Maslin's actions as evil and said she had not come to terms with never seeing Hollie again.
She said: "Hollie will never be forgotten and any sentence will never bring her back.
"The past few months have seemed like the longest of my life.
"Hollie was, and still is, my best friend."
Hollie's dad Nick said: "We came to this court today to see justice done for our beautiful daughter, granddaughter, auntie and wonderful sister, Hollie.
"We had no expectations but total faith that the judge would do the right thing by Hollie and ensure the outcome would reflect the horrendous actions of a cowardly individual.
"We feel like the length of sentence handed down today means we have finally received justice for Hollie.
"We would also like to thank our family and friends and the Gloucester community at large for their kind words, caring thoughts and continued support."
