Killer who hid body in bin for two weeks jailed

Mark Metcalfe, 40, moved Theresa Jordan's body after neighbours complained about the smell

A man who killed a woman then hid her body in a wheelie bin for two weeks has been jailed.

Theresa Jordan died at the home of Mark Metcalfe on 11 June 2022 but nearly a fortnight later he was seen on CCTV moving a bin containing her body to some bushes near an Asda store in Harehills, Leeds.

Ms Jordan's cause of death is unknown but asphyxiation is a "possible cause" and Metcalfe, 40, was convicted of manslaughter and preventing a lawful burial following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

He was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison earlier.

The court heard that Ms Jordan, also known as Terri, was at Metcalfe's house in Compton Crescent, also in Harehills, with a female friend where they were all taking crack cocaine and drinking heavily.

An argument broke out and the two women left but Ms Jordan, 32, returned shortly after and was attacked and killed.

She was stripped of her clothing and placed in the wheelie bin outside the house until complaints about a strong smell forced Metcalfe to move it.

The court also heard that his housemate had heard bangs on the night of the incident and had seen Metcalfe with a cut to his hand.

A support worker who visited his home also found him cleaning the house in an "anxious state".

No motive for her death has ever been established.

Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Guy Shackleton of West Yorkshire Police, said: "The circumstances of Terri's death and the discovery of her body presented us with some significant challenges, but we remained determined to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion on behalf of her family and we carried out extensive and painstaking enquiries over nearly two years to achieve that aim."

A pathologist described the circumstances of Ms Jordan's death as "very concerning" and the last confirmed sighting of her was on 11 June at Metcalfe's house.

Theresa Jordan was last seen at Metcalfe's house before her body was found by a member of the public

The court heard the length of time between her death and when she was found presented "significant challenges" but officers were able to identify her from tattoos and DNA.

After Metcalfe left the body on Kimberley Road he was also seen on camera walking back towards his address with the bin.

Further enquiries showed he had then withdrawn cash from an ATM at a nearby shop before travelling with others to buy drugs.

Metcalfe was initially arrested in July 2022 and was bailed until March this year.

He denied murder and was found guilty of manslaughter.

Metcalfe, of Ashton Mount, Harehills, received 14 years for the manslaughter charge and three for preventing the lawful burial of a body.

Det Ch Insp Shackleton said: "Terri's family are understandably still struggling to come to terms with her being so cruelly taken from them in such awful circumstances."

He added: "Metcalfe's denials, both in police interviews and at his trial, have meant that her family still don't have the answers they need about why he killed her, but we hope it will provide at least some degree of comfort to them to know he has now been criminally held to account for the pain he has caused."

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