Man jailed for murdering woman and burning her body

Police said Robert Brown showed a "deeply disturbing and calculated nature"

A man who murdered a woman and attempted to cover his tracks by burning her body has been jailed for at least 20 years.

Robert Brown, 38, of Hitchin Road in Luton, killed Victoria Greenwood, 41, whose body was discovered in a car park in Hertfordshire last year.

Det Insp Justine Jenkins, who led the investigation, said: “The violence and terror that Brown inflicted on a vulnerable woman, and the lengths he went to in covering up his crime, reveal a deeply disturbing and calculated nature.”

Luton Crown Court heard how he had arranged to meet Ms Greenwood, who was a sex worker, at his flat in the early hours of Friday, 10 November.

CCTV footage showed her on the ground outside trying to escape, but being pulled back inside the property.

Victoria Greenwood's body was discovered in a car park in Hertfordshire last year

A pathologist found that Ms Greenwood had suffered skull fractures suggesting she had been hit by a heavy, blunt object. There was no evidence she had inhaled fire fumes, which indicated she was dead at the time her body was set on fire.

Detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit found that Brown had made multiple trips to different shops over the weekend, buying items including a saw, a foldable sack barrow, a jerry can, and a large amount of cleaning supplies.

On 12 November CCTV recorded him using the sack barrow to transport a furniture unit wrapped in duct tape, containing Ms Greenwood’s body, from his flat to his car.

He was also seen at a local petrol station that evening filling a container with fuel.

Emergency services were called to a car park near Wallington, Hertfordshire, two days later to reports of a body on fire.

CCTV showed Robert Brown buying items to use to transport Victoria Greenwood's body

Brown had previously pleaded guilty to obstructing a coroner in the exercise of their duty. A jury found him guilty of murder.

Det Insp Justine Jenkins said Brown's actions "not only resulted in the tragic loss of life but also caused immense pain to Victoria’s loved ones".

She added: "Sadly, the nature of sex work can expose workers to a higher risk of violence, with perpetrators often taking advantage of being in a private or isolated place.

"We remain committed to apprehending dangerous individuals and providing comprehensive support, alongside partner agencies, to reduce the risks faced by sex workers and ensure their safety."