In September 1986, George Stephenson, a handyman previously employed at Burgate House, a secluded mansion on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, orchestrated a horrific massacre during a dinner party at the estate. Intending to steal shotguns, Stephenson and his accomplices invaded the home, subjecting the occupants to unimaginable torture. The victims included Joseph Cleaver, 82, and his wife Hilda, 82, their son Tom Cleaver, 47, and the family's live-in nurse, Maggie Murphy, 70. They were bound, gagged, doused in petrol, and set alight, resulting in their agonising deaths. Tom's wife, Wendy Cleaver, was brutally raped by Stephenson and his accomplices before being strangled to death by one of them, John Daly. Even the family's beloved dog, Tina, was subjected to extreme violence, suffering a kick so severe that its eye was dislodged.
The attack, described in court as a 'mansion massacre', shocked the nation due to its sadistic brutality. Stephenson, who had a long criminal history with over 70 prior convictions for offences including burglaries, violence, drug possession, and deception between 1967 and 1987, showed no remorse. The trial judge initially recommended a minimum term of 25 years, but this was later extended to 35 years imprisonment. Stephenson was jailed in 1987 following his conviction for the four murders, the rape, and a related robbery.
Stephenson spent 37 years behind bars at high-security HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire. In 2023, he was denied parole, sparing the victims' family further distress. He died on 20 April 2025 at the age of 73 from heart failure and ischaemic heart disease while in hospital care. A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, published this week, reviewed his treatment at Full Sutton and found no concerns, noting 'several examples of kind, respectful and compassionate interactions' between healthcare staff and Stephenson.
Melissa Cleaver, daughter of Tom and Wendy, expressed a complex mix of emotions upon learning of Stephenson's death. In an interview with the Mirror, she stated: 'First a feeling of elation – no-one capable of such unbridled sadism deserved to live. This was the end of nearly four decades of living with the appalling horror and cruelty of his crime.' She also shared the harrowing details of her mother's fate: 'My mum was brutally raped by this man and his accomplices, then strangled. My father, who was disabled, my granny, a stroke victim in a wheelchair, my grandpa and the live-in nurse were tortured, tied up, doused in petrol and burnt alive. Theirs was not a quick death.' Melissa's reaction included elation, regret that family members who had passed away could not witness the event, and overwhelming sadness, leaving her feeling numb as she began processing the news.
The case remains a stark reminder of the depths of human cruelty, with Stephenson's actions leaving an indelible scar on the surviving family. Reports from Teesside Live and Yorkshire Live highlight the ongoing impact, underscoring the relief felt by those affected that Stephenson would never be released to society.