A man who murdered and dismembered his 74-year-old landlady and hid her remains in a storage unit has been jailed for at least 19 years.

Scott Paterson, 45, of no fixed address, suffocated Annette Smith with a pillow at their shared home in Fairfield, Bedfordshire, in November 2023, Luton Crown Court heard on Monday.

He then used a kitchen knife, dismembered her body and hid the remains in a storage unit in Letchworth.

He used her email account to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends, to pretend that she was still alive, and even told police that he had left her home with an unknown woman, in an attempt to cover up the crime. murder.

However, in April relatives raised concerns and the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit launched an investigation.

Detectives discovered his passport and clothes were still in the house, along with his laptop that had sent the Christmas messages.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 19 years and 178 days.

The court heard they had met 14 years earlier and that Ms Smith had offered him free accommodation at her home after Paterson experienced a “relationship breakdown”.

The court was told he and Ms Smith had a close relationship, going on holidays together and hosting dinner parties.

In 2018, Ms. Smith suffered a stroke that limited her mobility and Paterson took on caregiving responsibilities, including collecting prescriptions and shopping.

In 2023, her ex-husband, Peter Smith, who had a 20% stake in the house, had asked her to sell the property due to his business difficulties.

At first Ms Smith did not want to move, but Mr Paterson claimed he “felt pressure” to encourage her to go ahead with the sale.

He also said he had become “more demanding” since suffering a stroke five years earlier.

On November 8, 2023, Paterson entered Ms. Smith’s bedroom and suffocated her with a pillow.

He left her on her bed and drank a bottle of wine before dragging her body to the bathroom and wrapping her in a green blanket.

Prosecutors told the court he had continued to talk to her about “everyday things as if they were normal.”

He moved the body to a closet under the stairs after receiving notice that a photographer from the estate agency was coming to take photographs of the house.

Paterson, who at the time worked on a deli and butcher counter at a farm shop, then dismembered Ms Smith’s body with a kitchen knife and saw.

He wrapped parts of his body in plastic bags and hid his torso inside a black suitcase, which he took to the storage unit in Letchworth.

In an effort to pretend she was still alive, Paterson used his victim’s email address to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends.

However, in January 2021, Ms Smith’s family raised concerns with Bedfordshire Police about her welfare.

When he was arrested, Paterson fully admitted and directed police to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains. He said he had considered killing Mrs Smith at least twice before and had only stopped when he reached her bedroom door.

He also told officers he had racked up £30,000 in credit card debts and admitted he had been stealing jewelery from Ms Smith, both while she was asleep and after her death. She had been selling the jewelery on Cash4Gold, the court heard.

Ms Smith’s stepson, Jason Smith, described his stepmother as a “very kind and caring person” who “was always there for me over the years”.

Paterson, dressed in a blue polo shirt and gray pants, bowed his head and kept his eyes closed as Mr. Smith spoke.

He told the court he had initially believed the defendant, described by other witnesses as a “gentle giant”, was a “good guy” but was actually an “evil man”.

And he added: “I will never forgive (him) for what he did, I hate him from the bottom of my heart.”

Sentencing, Judge Edward Murray described Paterson’s actions as “horrible” and “callous”, adding: “The sentence I passed today cannot compensate the families and friends of Annette Smith or their tragic loss.”

When he was sentenced to life in prison, Paterson stood, bowed his head and closed his eyes before leaving the dock.

“This was compounded by his efforts to make financial gains by selling Annette’s belongings.

“There is nothing to ease the impact this will have had on those who knew Annette, but the hope is that today’s sentencing will provide some comfort to her family and friends and put an end to what has undoubtedly been a terrible ordeal for your beloved ones.”

A tribute from Mrs Smith’s family read: “We are completely heartbroken and devastated that Annette has been taken from us in such a cruel and senseless way.

“She was a beautiful, loving, trusting and generous lady, who meant so much to so many people.

“Annette, rest in peace with those who will love and care for you.”