Liam Donlin and his mother Joanne Maxwell are in prison after being convicted of the murder of Paul Scott, a 37-year-old man from Blackburn, in June 2025. Along with Liam’s sister Amie Clegg, all three were sentenced to life imprisonment at Preston Crown Court in March 2026 in what the prosecution described as a premeditated revenge killing.
Who Was Paul Scott?
Paul Scott was a 37-year-old man from Blackburn, Lancashire, described by those who knew him as kind, caring, and well-loved within his community. He had no criminal record and no meaningful involvement in any dispute with his killers. His only connection to the events that led to his death was an attempt to break up a fight in September 2024 in which Joanne Maxwell was involved. That act of peace-making would ultimately cost him his life.
Following his murder, Paul’s family publicly condemned the three killers as a “trio of evil” and spoke about the devastating impact his death had on those who loved him. The case drew widespread coverage across Lancashire and beyond, with many expressing horror at the calculated nature of the attack.
Who Are Liam Donlin, Joanne Maxwell and Amie Clegg?
Joanne Maxwell is the mother of Liam Donlin and Amie Clegg. Liam Donlin was 25 years old at the time of the murder. Amie Clegg is Liam’s sister. All three lived in the Blackburn area. The family had a prior grievance stemming from the September 2024 incident in which Maxwell had been involved in an altercation. Despite Paul Scott having played no active role in that dispute beyond attempting to stop it, Maxwell harboured resentment towards him and orchestrated the revenge attack that followed.
What Happened on the Night of the Murder?
At approximately 3:30am on 22 June 2025, Joanne Maxwell, Liam Donlin and Amie Clegg armed themselves with knives. Maxwell drove the group to Paul Scott’s home on Peridot Close in Blackburn. Knowing that Paul was afraid of reprisals from the family following the earlier altercation, Amie Clegg knocked on his door and lured him outside under the pretence of speaking to him. As Paul came to the door, Liam Donlin stabbed him through the heart.
In a detail that particularly shocked the court and public, Amie Clegg filmed her brother committing the murder with the apparent intention of uploading the footage to Snapchat. Paul Scott died at the scene from the single stab wound. The prosecution argued throughout the trial that this was a planned, coordinated killing rather than a spontaneous act, and that all three defendants played essential roles in its execution.
The Trial at Preston Crown Court
All three defendants faced trial at Preston Crown Court. The prosecution presented evidence including witness testimony, CCTV footage, phone records, and the video filmed by Amie Clegg. The 13-day trial heard the prosecution argue that the killing was premeditated revenge motivated by Joanne Maxwell’s grievance against Paul Scott, who had done nothing to warrant the attack. Defence teams sought to challenge the degree of premeditation and individual culpability, but the jury was not persuaded.
After hearing all the evidence, the jury unanimously found all three defendants guilty of murder. The case then proceeded to a sentencing hearing to allow the court to consider reports on each defendant before passing sentence.
What Sentences Did They Receive?
On 20 March 2026, all three were sentenced to life imprisonment at Preston Crown Court. The judge set the following minimum terms before any of the three would be eligible to be considered for parole:
Liam Donlin received a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years, reflecting his role as the person who delivered the fatal blow. Joanne Maxwell received a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years, acknowledging her role as the organiser and instigator of the attack. Amie Clegg received a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years, recognising her role in luring Paul Scott to the door and filming the murder.
A minimum term is not a release date. It is the earliest point at which the Parole Board can consider whether a prisoner is safe to be released. For more information about how life sentences and minimum terms work in England and Wales, see our guide on prison sentences for murder offences and how the UK Parole Board works.
Which Prisons Are They In?
The Prison Service does not routinely disclose which specific institution a convicted prisoner is assigned to after sentencing. Liam Donlin, as an adult male convicted of murder, will be held in a Category A or Category B male prison given the seriousness of his offending. Joanne Maxwell and Amie Clegg will be held in the female prison estate. The UK has a small number of female prisons, the most well-known of which include HMP Styal in Cheshire and HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.
If you need to locate a prisoner held in a UK prison, you can request information through the Prisoner Location Service. This service allows family members and legal representatives to find out which prison a person is being held in, provided they have the relevant information to make the request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Liam Donlin and Joanne Maxwell in prison?
Liam Donlin and Joanne Maxwell are in prison after being convicted of the murder of Paul Scott, a 37-year-old man from Blackburn. Along with Amie Clegg, the three carried out a premeditated revenge attack on Paul Scott at his home in the early hours of 22 June 2025. All three were sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2026.
What was the minimum sentence for each killer?
Liam Donlin received a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years. Joanne Maxwell received a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years. Amie Clegg received a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years. None of the three will be eligible for Parole Board consideration until they have served those minimum terms.
Who was Paul Scott and why was he killed?
Paul Scott was a 37-year-old man from Blackburn described as kind and well-loved. He was killed because Joanne Maxwell held a grudge against him following a September 2024 altercation in which Paul had tried to intervene to break up a fight. He had no meaningful involvement in the original dispute and was targeted solely as a result of Maxwell’s desire for revenge.
Did Amie Clegg film the murder?
Yes. Evidence presented at trial indicated that Amie Clegg filmed her brother Liam Donlin stabbing Paul Scott, apparently with the intention of uploading the footage to Snapchat. This detail was cited by prosecutors and judge as evidence of the calculated nature of the attack and contributed to the serious minimum terms imposed on all three defendants.
How long will Liam Donlin, Joanne Maxwell and Amie Clegg actually serve?
All three will serve at minimum the terms set by the judge — 26, 23 and 20 years respectively — before they are eligible for Parole Board consideration. There is no guarantee of release at those points. The Parole Board will only authorise release if it is satisfied that the prisoner no longer poses a risk to the public. In practice, those convicted of particularly serious murders often serve considerably longer than the minimum term before being released on licence.
