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A HEINOUS killer dismembered his landlady and hid her remains in a storage unit for months before sending Christmas cards to her family.

Scott Paterson, 45, murdered Annette Smith at the home they shared in Fairfield, Bedfordshire, in November last year.

Scott Paterson, 45, pleaded guilty to murder in September
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Scott Paterson, 45, pleaded guilty to murder in SeptemberCredit: Unpixs
Annette Smith, 74, was killed at her home in Bedfordshire in November last year
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Annette Smith, 74, was killed at her home in Bedfordshire in November last yearCredit: Unpixs

He then dismembered the pensioner's body and hid her remains at a storage unit in nearby Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

To avoid suspicion over her disappearance, Paterson - who had previously completed a butchery course - told police she had left their home with an unknown woman.

He also sent Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to her family and friends to pretend she was still alive and cover his tracks.

A court earlier heard how Annette and Paterson had become friends and she had invited him to lodge in her spare room rent-free, in exchange for company and running errands following the breakdown of her relationship 14 years earlier.

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The pair had also gone on holiday together and hosted dinner parties.

After she had suffered a stroke in 2018, her mobility was affected and Paterson acted as her carer, collecting medicine and washing for her.

But Paterson suffocated Annette to death inside the property on November 8, 2023.

He then moved her body into a bathroom, drank a bottle of wine and went about "every day things like normal".

Paterson moved her body into a cupboard under the stairs when he received notice a photographer was to attend the property to take pictures for an estate agent.

He later dismember the body and hid her body in a suitcase before taking it to the storage unit.

As he tried to maintain the perception she was still alive to her family, Paterson used Annette's email address to send Christmas messages.

But concerns were raised by Annette's family in January.

Her family had previously raised concerns for her welfare with police in January 2021, nearly three years earlier.

When they contacted police regarding her disappearance, they were told there was  insufficient evidence to deem her a missing person.

But a high-risk missing person investigation was finally launched in April earlier this year when her family found her passport, clothing and the laptop that had been used by Paterson to send the Christmas messages.

A police probe later revealed Paterson had been in £30,000 of credit card debt and had stolen Annette's jewellery before selling it online for £5,000.

Paterson was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder, before making a full admission and directing detectives to a storage unit at which he had hidden her remains.

Paterson told cops he suffocated Annette to death and had initially attempted to hide her body in the house.

He told of how he would say to himself in the mirror: "I killed someone."

Paterson also revealed he had considered murdering Annette on two previous occasions, but stopped himself when he reached her bedroom door.

The killer, of no fixed address, formally pleaded guilty to murder during a pre-trial hearing at Luton Crown Court on September 9.

He appeared at the same court today, where he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years.

Paterson, wearing a blue polo shirt and grey trousers, bowed his head and kept his eyes closed during parts the sentencing hearing.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Murray told the court Paterson had told "an elaborate lie" to Annette's friends and family to cover up his lies.

He added: "You told her friends and family an elaborate lie. Because of your lies, the police concluded there was no evidence at that time to say she was genuinely missing."

The judge also described actions as “awful” and “callous”.

In a victim impact statement, Annette's stepson Jason Smith said his stepmother "was very vulnerable due to her mobility issues."

He added: "I considered Annette as my mother and I loved her dearly.

"She was one of the kindest and most caring people; I can't understand why anyone would want to harm her.

"I have to try very hard not to think about what he did to her.

"He seemed a nice friendly guy, but he was a murderer. I'll never forgive him."

Speaking after his guilty plea, Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias, of Bedfordshire Police, said: “Annette’s death is tragic, and deeply saddening. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones. 

"Paterson’s actions to conceal his horrific crime and later mislead Annette’s family and friends with a false sense of assurance, reveals the nature of a very cold and calculated individual who has no place in our community. 

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"Uncovering Annette’s death has required the finest level of police work, and I would like to commend the Major Crime Unit and supporting teams on their meticulous efforts over the last five months.

"Our hope is that this swift progression towards justice, provides some level of comfort to those affected by Annette’s death."

Paterson told police Annette had disappeared with an unknown woman
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Paterson told police Annette had disappeared with an unknown womanCredit: Unpixs
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