Killer warned he would 'go on a murder spree' but was freed early and stabbed ex-partner to death

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

Robert Sabat, 60, murdered Dickiesha Nurse, 42, a mother-of-two, at her flat in Tulse Hill, south London, just four days after being released from Wandsworth prison — freed early under Labour's automatic release rules after serving only 40 per cent of a 12-month sentence for possessing two knives and harassing an ex-girlfriend. The Old Bailey has jailed him for life with a minimum term of 17 years. Sabat has convictions dating back to 1987 including assault, wounding with intent, and multiple restraining orders for targeting women.

On arrest, Sabat begged officers to lock him up, saying: 'I've done wrong. I killed before and got away with it.'

Sabat was released the day after being sentenced at Kingston Crown Court, under rule changes introduced the previous month that cut automatic release from 50 per cent to 40 per cent of a sentence.

Dickiesha Nurse joins a growing list of women murdered by violent men freed early on licence, including Zara Aleena, killed nine days after her attacker's release in 2022.