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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Judith Richardson murder: Graeme Jarman jailed for life | Judith Richardson murder: Graeme Jarman jailed for life |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who bludgeoned a 77-year-old to death after tricking his way into her home has been jailed for life. | A man who bludgeoned a 77-year-old to death after tricking his way into her home has been jailed for life. |
| Graeme Jarman, 48, from Consett, County Durham, had denied murdering Judith Richardson in her flat in Hexham, Northumberland in August 2011. | Graeme Jarman, 48, from Consett, County Durham, had denied murdering Judith Richardson in her flat in Hexham, Northumberland in August 2011. |
| Miss Richardson was hit repeatedly with a hammer and left dying as her home was ransacked, Newcastle Crown Court heard. | Miss Richardson was hit repeatedly with a hammer and left dying as her home was ransacked, Newcastle Crown Court heard. |
| Jarman, who has a string of previous serious convictions, was sentenced to a minimum term of 35 years. | Jarman, who has a string of previous serious convictions, was sentenced to a minimum term of 35 years. |
| 'Everyday psychopath' | 'Everyday psychopath' |
| The jury at his murder trial was not told he had already served jail terms for offences including rape, kidnap, sexual assault and robbery. | The jury at his murder trial was not told he had already served jail terms for offences including rape, kidnap, sexual assault and robbery. |
| More than 20 years ago, he had locked a teenage girl in his car boot in Peterborough, raping her at gunpoint and saying to her: "I am your everyday psychopath." | |
| Judge Mr Justice Openshaw said Jarman "presents an extreme danger to women" and might never be released from jail. | Judge Mr Justice Openshaw said Jarman "presents an extreme danger to women" and might never be released from jail. |
| "That he will be detained until he is an old man is a price he must pay for committing such a terrible crime," he said. | "That he will be detained until he is an old man is a price he must pay for committing such a terrible crime," he said. |
| He added that Jarman had "shown not the slightest regret or remorse" after taking the life of "an entirely decent, respectful member of the community". | He added that Jarman had "shown not the slightest regret or remorse" after taking the life of "an entirely decent, respectful member of the community". |
| The judge said the minimum term of 35 years before Jarman can even be considered for release reflected the horrific nature of his crime. | The judge said the minimum term of 35 years before Jarman can even be considered for release reflected the horrific nature of his crime. |
| "There is no early release for such a sentence," he said. | "There is no early release for such a sentence," he said. |
| Miss Richardson was hit more than 30 times with a hammer and, after stealing her handbag and jewellery, Jarman repeatedly struck her again, fracturing her skull. | Miss Richardson was hit more than 30 times with a hammer and, after stealing her handbag and jewellery, Jarman repeatedly struck her again, fracturing her skull. |
| He then fled, taking buses to different towns where he bought clothes and shaved his head. | He then fled, taking buses to different towns where he bought clothes and shaved his head. |
| Librarian's tip-off | Librarian's tip-off |
| Jarman arrived in Newcastle and threw Miss Richardson's handbag in a bin before selling her jewellery for its scrap value of £300. | Jarman arrived in Newcastle and threw Miss Richardson's handbag in a bin before selling her jewellery for its scrap value of £300. |
| A member of the public found the bag, alerted police and officers responding to a simple lost property case discovered the pensioner's body, sparking a major manhunt. | A member of the public found the bag, alerted police and officers responding to a simple lost property case discovered the pensioner's body, sparking a major manhunt. |
| Jarman was arrested in Filey, North Yorkshire, a fortnight later following a tip-off by library staff. | Jarman was arrested in Filey, North Yorkshire, a fortnight later following a tip-off by library staff. |
| Det Ch Insp Paul Young, who led the investigation, said: "This was a brutal attack on an elderly woman, motivated pure and simply by greed and cruelty. | Det Ch Insp Paul Young, who led the investigation, said: "This was a brutal attack on an elderly woman, motivated pure and simply by greed and cruelty. |
| "This conviction means a dangerous and violent man has been apprehended and taken off our streets." | "This conviction means a dangerous and violent man has been apprehended and taken off our streets." |
| A statement on behalf of Miss Richardson's family said: "We have not looked for support from people but it has been provided to us and we are incredibly grateful. | A statement on behalf of Miss Richardson's family said: "We have not looked for support from people but it has been provided to us and we are incredibly grateful. |
| "The community in and around Hexham have been invaluable." | "The community in and around Hexham have been invaluable." |
| Jarman was found guilty by an 11 to one majority. | Jarman was found guilty by an 11 to one majority. |