A dad who claimed he mistakenly stabbed his daughter in the heart while they were ‘mucking about’ in the kitchen has a history of serious violence, it can now be revealed. Simon Vickers, 50, moaned to police that ‘I must be the unluckiest man in the world’ when they arrested him for knifing 14-year-old daughter Scarlett Vickers at their home in Darlington on July 5 last year.
Image Credit: Metro [Dated: 14/01/2025 GIRL, 14, STABBED TO DEATH BY DAD AFTER "PLAY-FIGHTING" GAME WENT WRONG, JURORS HERE Scarlett Vickers, 14, who died on Geneva Road in Darlington, County Durham, on July 5 after suffering a stab wound to the chest. Her dad Simon Vickers, was arrested and later charged with Scarlett's murder and manslaughter. He denies both charges and is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court. See story North News]
He would go on to give several accounts of how she suffered the single fatal wound, each as far-fetched as the last. They included throwing the knife after unwittingly picking it up with some tongs as they hurled utensils at each other for fun, and a ‘theory’ the teenager may have walked onto the blade as it stuck out over the side of the counter.
Image Credit: Metro [Dated: 14/01/2025 GIRL, 14, STABBED TO DEATH BY DAD AFTER "PLAY-FIGHTING" GAME WENT WRONG, JURORS HERE Scarlett Vickers, 14, who died on Geneva Road in Darlington, County Durham, on July 5 after suffering a stab wound to the chest. Her dad Simon Vickers, was arrested and later charged with Scarlett's murder and manslaughter. He denies both charges and is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court. See story North News]
The only other person in the room at the time, Scarlett’s mum Sarah Hall, stood by Vickers but he was convicted of murder at Teesside Crown Court yesterday after experts concluded the blow could only have been struck deliberately. Scarlett died at her home in Darlington after a single stab with a knife that pierced her chest.
Image Credit: Metro [Undated handout photo issued by the Crown Prosecution Service of a knife allegedly used to fatally attack 14-year-old Scarlett Vickers on July 5 last year. Simon Vickers, 50, denies both the murder and the manslaughter of his daughter Scarlett in the kitchen of their home in Darlington. He has been accused of murdering her by stabbing her in the heart, and told the emergency services that they had just been play-fighting while they made their tea, Teesside Crown Court heard. Issue date: Tuesday January 14, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Darlington. Photo credit should read: Crown Prosecution Service/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]
The 14-year-old was a beloved year nine pupil at Haughton Academy in the town. Following her death, her classmates honoured her with an event at the park where they released balloons in the air in her tribute. Her friend Charley described her as a person who was ‘always nice to everyone’ and who did not deserve such a death.
Image Credit: Metro [BGUK_2968380 - Darlington, UNITED KINGDOM - Man and woman charged with murder of 14-year-old girl in Darlington Simon Vickers and Sarah Hall have been charged with the murder of a 14-year-old girl Police and paramedics were called to an address in Geneva Road at shortly after 11pm on Friday. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene, Durham Constabulary said. Simon Vickers and Sarah Hall ??? both of Geneva Road in Darlington ??? have now been charged with murder. They will both appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates??? Court on Monday. Pictured: GV: Darlington Murder BACKGRID UK 7 JULY 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: TERRY BLACKBURN / BACKGRID UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*]
![[Undated handout photo issued by the Crown Prosecution Service of a knife allegedly used to fatally attack 14-year-old Scarlett Vickers on July 5 last year. Simon Vickers, 50, denies both the murder and the manslaughter of his daughter Scarlett in the kitchen of their home in Darlington. He has been accused of murdering her by stabbing her in the heart, and told the emergency services that they had just been play-fighting while they made their tea, Teesside Crown Court heard. Issue date: Tuesday January 14, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Darlington. Photo credit should read: Crown Prosecution Service/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235945528-0ed0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[BGUK_2968380 - Darlington, UNITED KINGDOM - Man and woman charged with murder of 14-year-old girl in Darlington Simon Vickers and Sarah Hall have been charged with the murder of a 14-year-old girl Police and paramedics were called to an address in Geneva Road at shortly after 11pm on Friday. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene, Durham Constabulary said. Simon Vickers and Sarah Hall ??? both of Geneva Road in Darlington ??? have now been charged with murder. They will both appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates??? Court on Monday. Pictured: GV: Darlington Murder BACKGRID UK 7 JULY 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: TERRY BLACKBURN / BACKGRID UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_211924787-6f8b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
