Father and daughter convicted after body of woman with a 'beautiful heart' was dumped in West Bromwich canal

After a three week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, John Anslow and Hayley-Marie Ferguson, were found guilty with the following offences.

John Anslow of Stour Street, West Bromwich was found guilty of murder and preventing a lawful burial.

Ferguson of Heronville Road, West Bromwich was found guilty with assisting an offender and prevention of a lawful burial.

In addition to this, Anslow pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of Chereiss’ body ahead of the trial.

Anslow and Ferguson will be sentenced at a later date.

Back in autumn, a member of the public on October 4 reported that a woman had been killed and ‘disposed of’ in the canal network in Great Bridge.

Following an extensive investigation, officers were led to the address of 42-year-old Hayley-Marie Ferguson on Heronville Road, West Bromwich.

Officers found “suspected blood stained clothing” in a wheelie bin outside the home.

This led to Ferguson’s arrest.

While in custody, comments made by Ferguson led to the arrest of her father John Anslow, aged 65.

On October 7, Chereiss Bailey, aged 36 was found dead in the canal near Ryders Green Road.

Officers confirmed that she was found with a washing line cord attached to paving slabs and submerged in the water.

This led to the review of hours of CCTV footage by police that captured Chereiss going into John Anslow’s address on September 27 after they met on Great Bridge Street.

While at this address, Chereiss was subjected to a traumatic assault which had lead to her death.

The next morning, John Anslow cancelled his community carers and called for the help of his daughter.

Ferguson packed slabs and travelled to Anslow’s address in a taxi claiming she was helping him with his garden.

She then went home a few hours later, and attended a Peaky Blinders’ themed event that same evening.

Officers found that in the early hours of 29 September, Ferguson took another taxi to Anslow’s address and helped cover up Chereiss’ murder.

Ferguson's phone had footage and pictures that showed Chereiss's body being taken out of Anslow's address in his wheelchair, which had bright orange wheels.

John Anslow pushed the wheelchair, and Ferguson walked besides him in the direction of Ryders Green Road.

The pair then dumped Chereiss’ body at the ‘eight locks’ canal.

After that, Ferguson and Anslow made their separate way back, with Ferguson walking unaided and Anslow in his wheelchair.

Chereiss’ family have shared the following statement paying tribute to a woman who had a “beautiful heart”.

A family spokesperson said: “Chereiss was a much-loved daughter, sister, mother, auntie, granddaughter and friend, but those words alone could never explain what she meant to us.

"She had a huge personality, a beautiful heart and a way of making her presence known wherever she went. Life was never quiet when Chereiss was around, and we would give absolutely anything to have that noise back.

"The hardest part is knowing how much life she still had left to live. There should have been more birthdays, more Christmases, more laughter, more family memories and so many ordinary days that we never imagined we would have to live without her.

"Most heartbreaking of all, her little boy has been robbed of growing up with his mum beside him. We will make sure he grows up knowing exactly who she was, how much she adored him and how fiercely she was loved.

"We want Chereiss remembered for Chereiss. For her smile, her humour, her kindness, her love for her family and all the little things that made her who she was.”

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Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell, Homicide Unit at West Midlands Police said: “Chereiss was a vulnerable young woman with her whole life ahead of her. She was a mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, auntie and niece and was deeply loved by them all.

“It is difficult to comprehend the abhorrent actions of John Anslow and his daughter Hayley Ferguson late September last year.

“Anslow had presented himself as a vulnerable wheelchair user with extremely limited mobility. He was in fact a violent predator. His daughter Hayley had also presented as having limited mobility, evidence of which proves otherwise.

“Chereiss was killed in John Anslow’s home and we may never know what motivated him to commit such an awful attack on a woman. After killing Chereiss, he cancelled his carers and enlisted the help of his daughter.

“She travelled to his address with paving slabs from her garden, and together they hatched a sickening plot to dispose of Chereiss’ body.

“Our team have worked relentlessly to gather and present evidence shown during this trial. I hope today’s verdict provides some comfort to Chereiss’ family who have acted with incredible dignity and restraint throughout this difficult process, and who continue to grieve her loss”.