'I was always blown away by how smart she was': Leeds Rhinos legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan pays tribute to his cousin Bethany Fields after the man who stabbed her to death is given a life sentence

The Super League club's assistant coach spoke to the Yorkshire Evening Post after Miss Field's former boyfriend was given a life sentence for the manslaughter of the 21-year student from Bramley.

Paul Crowther was described as an "evil narcissist" in a family statement released after he was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (September 8).The statement also described how the family will always believe Crowther's "calculated and planned" act was murder.

Crowther, 36, from Batley, 'ambushed' Miss Fields in Huddersfield on September 12 last year and stabbed her repeatedly with a kitchen knife after she ended their relationship.

Paying tribute to his cousin after the court hearing, Jones-Buchanan told the YEP: "I imagine that there is a sense that there will never be closure for my auntie Pauline (Miss Fields' mum) but I hope the sentence at least creates a sense of justice now that he has been given a life sentence.

"I will always remember Bethany as being a bright, intelligent girl.

"I was always blown away by how smart she was.

"She was very into nature and the music scene. It's just so tragic that she has passed away at an age when she had the rest of her life to look forward to.

"My auntie Pauline has lost her only child and as a family we are now concentrating on supporting her."

Jones-Buchanan said Bethany was killed the day before he ended his illustrious career with the Rhinos when he appeared in his final game against Warrington Wolves.Recalling the tragic events: "It was bizarre. I have played for Leeds Rhinos for 22 years and have always been supported by my family throughout that time.

"My family didn't tell me about what had happened to Bethany and kept it from me until after the game.

"I had come to the end of a long career playing for my boyhood club and the Rhinos had put on a bit of a leaving do for me.

"I still remember waking up feeling nostalgic the next morning until my wife said to me 'I have got some really bad news. Bethany has been stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend.'

"It was just so awful. Straight away my thoughts and feelings were for my auntie Pauline.

"I could not imagine what she must have been going through."

"I was one of the people who helped to lower Bethany's coffin in to ground at her funeral. It is burned into my mind and something that I will never forget.

"I am in my late 30s and have not faced much bereavement in my life yet.

"To lose a girl as young as Bethany and to see what it has done to my family members has been horrendous.

"The overwhelming feeling is that it has been a senseless loss of life. Of losing someone who had so much to give."

Jones-Buchanan said the tragedy had also inspired him to become closely involved in a domestic violence campaign which was launched earlier this year.He said: "It is an issue that is really important to raise awareness for right now, especially since the lockdown period."

The campaign, backed by charity Inspire North and Leeds Rhinos Foundation, was launched to help raise awareness and to educate the public about how to spot and report the signs of domestic abuse.

The Leeds Rhinos Foundation has said its 'Tackle It' rehabilitation courses for domestic violence offenders in prison has also been producing positive results.

Jones-Buchanan, a trustee of the Rhinos Foundation, said: "We are trying to create awareness and get the message across that domestic abuse cannot be tolerated.

"If anyone suspects that there is abuse going on on they should report it.

"We are also trying to encourage victims or the abusers to seek help too."