Man jailed for drug-fuelled 'sadistic' flat murder

The judge said Philip Watson carried out a "prolonged" attack on Paul Tillet, partly in revenge for previously reporting him to police

A drug user who tortured and killed a "defenceless" man in a revenge attack has been jailed for life.

Philip Watson, 35, subjected Paul Tillet, 56, to a "prolonged and violent" assault at his flat in Strawberry Dale, Harrogate in September 2024.

Leeds Crown Court heard Mr Tillet was tied up and gagged before being punched, kicked and burnt with a "makeshift flamethrower".

Watson, of Bower Street, Harrogate, who pleaded guilty to murder, was told he would serve a minimum of 32 years and 109 days before he is eligible for parole.

Prosecutor Jamie Hill KC said Mr Tillet had problems with drug dependency and a history of mental health issues, including schizophrenia.

He told the court he was a "well-liked" and "gentle character" but he had been "taken advantage of" by other drug users who would congregate at his flat

The barrister said Watson had previously "bullied" the victim, resulting in Mr Tillet going to the police.

In the weeks before his death the court heard Watson had threatened Mr Tillet with a knife, calling him a "grass".

Leeds Crown Court heard how Mr Tillet's Harrogate flat had been used by criminals to deal drugs

On the night of 28 September a witness told police they had been at Mr Tillet's flat with Watson and two other people taking drugs.

She said at some point Watson had begun to attack Mr Tillet and she had been forced to watch.

Mr Hill said: "Paul Tillet was punched and kicked in the head, stamped on, tied up, burnt with an aerosol can as a makeshift flamethrower [and] his ears and nose were cut with nail clippers."

He said he had also been stabbed in the buttocks and had the letter W carved into his forehead.

He said the attack amounted "effectively to torture".

The court heard Mr Tillet died in the early hours of 29 September as a result of his injuries.

Passing sentence Mr Justice Hilliard said Watson had carried out a "prolonged and violent attack on a defenceless Mr Tillet in his own home" and said he was sure "revenge" was one of the motivations for the murder.

He said Watson had shown a "great deal of enthusiasm for inflicting pain, suffering and humiliation", amounting to "sadistic conduct".

Defence barrister David Lamb KC said Watson had a "difficult social background" having been "disowned" by his mother at the age of 14 and said he had been "struggling with extreme paranoia, thoughts of suicide, self harm, anxiety and general depression".

In a statement Mr Tillet's mother, Marjorie, said she had been left heartbroken by her son's death.

"I'm living a nightmare and I want it to stop," she said.

"I have shut myself off from people and don't really talk. I don't sleep very well."

Separately his family said in a statement they felt "let down by services" saying it had taken "nearly a year" for Mr Tillet to be assigned a social worker.

They said they had also been told by police in the week before his death that he "needed to be moved for his safety".

North Yorkshire Council declined to comment.

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