‘Reservoir Dogs’ Attack: Man Jailed 34 Years for Setting Woman on Fire 24 Years Ago
Steven Craig’s Savage Assault
Steven Craig, 59, launched a brutal attack inspired by a scene from the film Reservoir Dogs. On April 18, 1998, in Weston-super-Mare, Craig doused Jackie Kirk in gasoline and set her ablaze. The 40-year-old mother spent a month in a coma and suffered horrific, life-changing injuries.
From GBH to Murder Conviction
In 2000, Craig was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) and sent to prison. Jackie miraculously survived but battled the effects for over two decades. Tragically, she died in hospital in 2019, aged 62, after her old injuries triggered fatal complications.
Last month, Bristol Crown Court revisited the case. The jury found Craig guilty of murder, linking his savage attack to Jackie’s death 21 years later. Today, Mrs Justice Stacey sentenced him to a minimum of 34 years behind bars with no parole, deducting 18 years already served.
Judge Slams ‘Sadistic, Monstrous’ Attack
“There is no doubt that you planned and intended to engage in a gratuitous, deliberate, and monstrous attack on Jackie,” Mrs Justice Stacey said. “Your behaviour was sadistic, your attack premeditated and planned.”
“You even tried to play the victim, lying to police about a fictitious gang and blaming Jackie for spilling petrol on herself.”
How Medical Advances Sealed Craig’s Fate
The landmark murder ruling was made possible by changes in the law during the 1990s that accounted for advances in medical care. As Ben Samples from the Crown Prosecution Service explained, “We can now prosecute for murder if someone dies later as a result of their injuries.”
The savage assault left Jackie disfigured and scarred for life. After years of suffering related to the attack, her internal organs swelled, her diaphragm ruptured, and ultimately she died due to complications linked to Craig’s horrific crime.
Craig denies murder but the court has spoken. Justice, finally, has been served.
