Man who murdered and dismembered his Bedfordshire landlady is jailed

Scott Paterson had lived as a tenant in Annette Smith’s home just 30 minutes from Bedford for several years but then began caring for her while she was recovering from a stroke.

He suffocated her on November 8 last year, saying the demands of her care caused him to ‘snap’. After her murder in Stotfold, he dismembered her body and hid the remains at a storage unit in Letchworth.

The 45-year-old even posed as Annette – sending emails, gifts and cards to her family and friends but relatives raised concerns to police in April.

However, detectives discovered there had been no activity on her bank account and her passport and clothing were still at the home, along with her laptop.

They also found CCTV and records which showed Paterson had sold Annette’s jewellery and other belongings for more than £5,000.

Paterson, of no fixed address, was today (Monday) sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years' imprisonment.

At sentencing, Judge Justice Murray said: “You had been contemplating killing Annette Smith before you had finally killed her. This shows you had been thinking about and planning her death for some time. After you killed Annette Smith, you told elaborate lies.”

A tribute put together by Annette’s family read: “We are totally heartbroken and devastated that Annette has been taken away from us in such a cruel and senseless way. She was a beautiful, caring, trusting and generous lady, who meant so much to so many people. Annette, rest in peace with those who will love and take care of you.”