Wells killer could be sent to Lithuania
By Laura Linham 29th Apr 2026
The killer of Wells mother-of-two Sarah Ashwell could be sent to Lithuania to serve the rest of his sentence.
Antanas Jankauskas was jailed at Bristol Crown Court in March 2022 after admitting Sarah's murder.
He was given a minimum term of 14 years and 10 months.
Sarah, 47, was attacked and killed at her home in Wells in November 2021.
Her death shocked the city and left her family, including her two sons, devastated.
Now her family have raised concerns that Jankauskas, 43, could be transferred to Lithuania under government prisoner transfer arrangements.
Under the scheme, foreign national offenders can be sent to serve their sentence in their home country if that country has a prisoner transfer agreement with the UK.
The sentence imposed in the UK is meant to remain in force, with the receiving country agreeing to enforce it.
Sarah's mother Lynne and her 18-year-old son Harrison met Justice Minister Jake Richards to discuss their concerns.
The family are understood to be worried about what a transfer could mean for victims' rights, future parole hearings and how the sentence would be managed.
Wells and Mendip Hills MP Tessa Munt said the meeting was constructive and that the family felt listened to.
After Jankauskas was sentenced in 2022, Sarah's family said she was "loved by so many people" and had "so many achievements in her life".
They also said "no punishment could ever be enough" for what had happened.
The Government says victims' views are taken into account in transfer cases.
Since 2010, 945 prisoners have been removed from the UK under transfer agreements with other countries.
More than 100 cases are understood to be ongoing.
The Ministry of Justice has said removing foreign national offenders who have no legal right to stay in the UK is a priority.
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